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téléphone

telephone

noun teh-leh-FON Common
Communication Technology

Origin: From Greek tele- (far) + phone (voice).

Also means

phone

Usage Note

Téléphone is the standard word for phone; colloquially, speakers often clip it to le tél in rapid speech, though le portable is the more common shorthand for a mobile phone. The verb téléphoner à ('to phone someone') takes the preposition à before the person.

Examples

"Mon téléphone sonne sans arrêt."

Natural Translation

My phone rings non-stop.

Literal Translation

My phone rings without stopping.

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