Learn English – Sorry, I didn’t recognize “you”, or “your voice”

connotationsconversation

Someone calls you on the phone, but you don't know who they are. The conversation goes like:

Caller: "GIBBERISH… GIBBERISH… GIBBERISH…"

You: "Um.. Who am I speaking with, please?"

Caller: "It's ThisGuyWhoseVoiceYouShouldHaveRecognized…"

Should your response be:

"Oh, hi! Sorry, I didn't recognize YOU."

Or

"Oh, hi! Sorry I didn't recognize YOUR VOICE."

Could the former be used in a phone conversation at all?

Does it not sound like that you don't recognize them/they're importance/their existence?

Please also let me know if you'd go with an alternative phrase to begin with, and if you could give two examples, one polite/formal and one for casual situations.

Best Answer

  1. Oh, hi! Sorry, I didn't recognize you.

Yes, I think this can be used in a phone conversation for the simple fact that it is understandable. I don't believe it suggests that you did not recognize that person's "importance" or "existence". Actually, 1. might be fitting if you are very close or intimate with the speaker.

  1. Oh, hi! Sorry I didn't recognize your voice.

This seems preferable over 1. since it is clear that you are talking about the person's voice.

Some casual alternatives are:

  1. Sorry about that!
  2. Sorry, I didn't realize it was you!

I feel like I used 2. regularly.

As for formal/polite, I would just change "sorry" to "my apologies" or "pardon me" in 2. Maybe even something like

Pardon me. I did not realize/recognize with whom I was speaking.

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