Voicemail: meaning, definitions and examples
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voicemail
[ ˈvɔɪsmeɪl ]
phone communication
Voicemail is a system that allows callers to leave voice messages for the recipient to listen to later. This technology became prevalent in the 1980s and serves as an alternative to traditional answering machines. Voicemail can store messages that can be retrieved at a convenient time for the recipient. It is widely used in both personal and business environments for efficient communication.
Synonyms
answering service, voice message.
Examples of usage
- I checked my voicemail this morning.
- Please leave a voicemail if I don’t answer.
- Her voicemail was full, so I couldn't leave a message.
Translations
Translations of the word "voicemail" in other languages:
🇵🇹 caixa de correio
🇮🇳 वॉयसमेल
🇩🇪 Sprachnachricht
🇮🇩 pesan suara
🇺🇦 голосова пошта
🇵🇱 poczta głosowa
🇯🇵 ボイスメール
🇫🇷 messagerie vocale
🇪🇸 buzón de voz
🇹🇷 sesli mesaj
🇰🇷 음성 메일
🇸🇦 البريد الصوتي
🇨🇿 hlasová schránka
🇸🇰 hlasová pošta
🇨🇳 语音邮件
🇸🇮 glasična pošta
🇮🇸 röddpóstur
🇰🇿 дауыстық пошта
🇬🇪 ხმის ფოსტა
🇦🇿 səsli poçt
🇲🇽 buzón de voz
Etymology
The term 'voicemail' is a compound word formed from 'voice' and 'mail'. 'Voice' derives from the Latin word 'vox', meaning 'voice' or 'sound'. 'Mail' originally comes from the Old English 'male', which referred to a bag or pouch used for transporting letters. The combination of these terms reflects the function of recording spoken messages that can be sent and retrieved like written correspondence. The technology began developing in the late 20th century as digital recordings replaced older answering machine systems. The commercialization of voicemail systems escalated in the 1980s, particularly with the rise of mobile phones, altering how people manage and communicate messages.