telefonema

[tɛ.lə.fo.ˈne.mə]

nounmasculinepl: telefonemas

phone call; telephone message

1. A communication made by telephone; a phone call or telephone conversation

I received an important phone call this morning.

Recebi um telefonema importante esta manhã.

2. A message or news conveyed by telephone

She sent me a message via phone call.

Ela me mandou um telefonema com a notícia.

NYC Slang

phone call; ring

Synonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

telefonema

Standard usage, though 'ligação' is more commonly used in everyday speech

São Paulo

ligação

Preferred colloquial term over telefonema

Rio de Janeiro

ligação

Commonly used instead of telefonema

Portugal

telefonema

More formal; 'chamada' also used

dar um telefonema (to make a phone call)

receber um telefonema (to receive a phone call)

retornar um telefonema (to return a phone call)

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