In a family the following might be used:Familie Meyer
Hello, the Meyers/the Meyer householdAnother way of announcing the family name, or of answering someone’s telephone for
them, is:Hier bei Bauer.
The Bauer’s (home).(Note that on letters bei Bauer means ‘c/o the Bauers’.)If the caller has asked to speak to you personally, say:Am Apparat/Ja, bitte?
Speaking/how can I help?To speak to someone else, say:Kann ich bitte (den) Günther sprechen?
Can I speak to Günther, please?See 23.2g (p. 40) for the use of the definite article here.
(b) To find out who is on the line, ask:Mit wem spreche ich, bitte?
Who(m) am I speaking to, please?Wer spricht?/Wer ist am Apparat, bitte?
Who’s calling?/Who is it, please?Sabine, bist du es? (informal)
Is that you Sabine?A possible response upon discovering who is calling might be:Ach, du bist es!
Oh, it’s you!A firm will identify itself as follows:Hier Firma Hahn.
This is the firm of Hahn & Co.Hahn und Co., guten Morgen.
Good morning, Hahn & Co.An individual may identify himself or herself:Hahn und Co., hier Schneider.
This is Hahn & Co., Mr/Ms Schneider speaking.(c) When calling a switchboard or some other contact person, the following will be
useful:Ich möchte bitte Apparat 671 (sechs sieben eins).
Can you give me extension 671, please?61
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