To obtain a portable telephone in which an optimal signal level of surrounding sound can be set automatically depending on a pair of earphones or an earphone being fixed to the telephone body section and surrounding sound can be confirmed even when a stereo headphone substantially covering the ears is used.

The portable telephone 100 being used by connected it with the pair of earphones 17 or a earphone 18 comprises a telephone body section 11, means 12 for detecting which of these earphones 17 and 18 is fixed to the telephone body section 11, an amplifier 14 for delivering the surrounding sound to these earphones 17 and 18 while amplifying, and a controller 13 for regulating the signal level of the surrounding sound outputted from the amplifier 14 depending on the output from the detecting means 12. When any one of these earphones 17 and 18 is fixed, the controller 13 feedback controls the signal level of the surrounding sound outputted from the amplifier 14 depending on the output from the detecting means 12.