mobile phone — cell phone
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
A small electronic device you can carry with you and use to make calls, send messages, or access the internet.
Say it like a native
Textbook I shall retrieve my cellular telephone.
Native Let me grab my phone.
In speech natives just say 'phone'; 'cellular telephone' is dated and formal.
Pattern: noun (countable): a/the/my/your mobile phone
In use
- I forgot my mobile phone at home, so I couldn't call anyone all day.technology
- In my opinion, having a mobile phone is essential these days because it helps people stay connected and access information quickly.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I bought a new handphone.
✓ I bought a new phone.
'Handphone' isn't standard English — use 'mobile' (UK), 'cell phone' (US), or just 'phone'.
Common collocations
mobile phone— on my phone, a new phone, mobile number, charge my phone
Don't confuse it
'Mobile phone' and 'cell phone' are the same, but 'mobile phone' is more common in the UK, while 'cell phone' is used in the US.