call round

visit someone at their home, usually without planning it first

B2

What does "call round" mean?

To call round means to visit someone at their home in a casual, informal way — often without planning it in advance. The idea is that you simply drop in on someone, perhaps a neighbour, friend, or family member, rather than making a formal arrangement to see them. It carries a strong sense of spontaneity and friendliness, suggesting the kind of easy-going visit where you might pop in for a cup of tea or a quick chat. This phrasal verb is firmly rooted in British and Irish English; if you are speaking with an American English speaker, they would be more likely to say 'stop by', 'come by', or 'drop by' to express the same idea. Because of its informal tone, you would not typically use it to describe a formal or professionally arranged meeting.

Examples

How to use it

call round (+ time expression)

The most common pattern — used without an object, often with a time expression to say when the visit will happen.

I'll call round tomorrow afternoon if you're going to be home.

call round to + place/person

Use 'to' followed by a place or someone's name to specify where you are going for the visit.

She called round to my flat to drop off the book she'd borrowed.

call round at + place

Use 'at' followed by a place, such as someone's house or address, to indicate the destination.

He called round at his parents' house on the way home from work.

call round to + infinitive (purpose)

Use 'to' followed by a verb to explain the reason or purpose of the informal visit.

My neighbour called round to check on me after I'd been ill for a few days.

call round for + noun (purpose)

Use 'for' followed by a noun to describe what the visit is about, often something social and relaxed.

Why don't you call round for a chat this evening?

Common Collocations

call round latercall round tomorrowcall round for a chatcall round to see someonecall round at the weekendcall round after work

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'call round' with 'call around'

'Call around' (used mainly in American English) means to contact several people or places, for example to gather information. It does not mean to visit someone at home. These two phrases look very similar but have quite different meanings.

✗ I need to call around to my friend's house later.
✓ I need to call round to my friend's house later.
Adding a direct object after the verb

'Call round' is intransitive, which means it never takes a direct object. If you want to mention the person you are visiting, you must use a prepositional phrase with 'to' or 'at', not place the person directly after the verb.

✗ I'll call round her this evening.
✓ I'll call round to her place this evening.
Using 'call round' in formal or professional contexts

This phrasal verb is strongly informal and is associated with casual, unplanned home visits. In formal writing or professional situations, 'visit' is a more appropriate choice.

✗ The consultant will call round the client's office at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
✓ The consultant will visit the client's office at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Usage

This phrasal verb is informal and almost exclusively British and Irish English. American English speakers would say 'come by', 'stop by', or 'drop by' instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'call round' British English? Would an American understand it?

Yes, 'call round' is almost exclusively British and Irish English. American English speakers are unlikely to use it naturally and may find it confusing. In American English, the equivalent expressions are 'stop by', 'come by', or 'drop by'.

What's the difference between 'call round' and 'come round'?

'Come round' is used from the perspective of the person who is arriving — for example, 'I'll come round later' means you are the one making the visit. 'Call round' can also be used from the visitor's perspective, but it is the more common choice overall. In practice, both are often interchangeable in everyday British English.

Does 'call round' always mean the visit is unplanned?

Not strictly — you can arrange in advance to call round on someone and still use this phrase. However, the strong implication is that the visit is informal and relaxed rather than formal. If a visit is very deliberately planned and official, most speakers would use 'visit' instead.

Can I use 'call round' in the present continuous to talk about something happening right now?

Using 'call round' in the present continuous to describe something happening at this exact moment sounds a little unnatural. It works much better in the present continuous as a near-future arrangement, for example: 'I'm calling round this evening.' For a current action, past simple or present perfect tends to sound more natural.

What kinds of people or places can you 'call round' to?

The verb is almost always used for informal visits to private homes — you might call round to a friend's, a neighbour's, or a family member's house. It strongly implies a casual social context, so it would sound odd with workplaces, shops, or any kind of formal setting.

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