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These are the spoken English words and phrases that come up constantly in everyday conversation: greetings and small talk, giving opinions, thinking phrases, shopping, asking for help, apologising, thanking, phone calls and saying goodbye. Each one comes with its meaning and an example, so you know exactly when to use it.
Textbooks teach written English; conversation runs on short, ready-made phrases. Learn these as whole units, say them out loud, and they’ll start coming out naturally when you need them.
Everyday conversation runs on short, ready-made phrases: greetings (“How’s it going?”), reactions (“That makes sense”, “Fair enough”), thinking phrases (“Well…”, “I mean…”) and polite phrases for asking, thanking and apologising. Learn them as whole units, say them out loud, and use a few for a real situation each week.
Why Spoken English Sounds Different from Written English
Spoken and written English use the same grammar, but conversation sounds different. It uses contractions (“I’m”, “don’t”), short replies (“Fair enough”), and phrases that help you think or take your turn (“Well…”, “I mean…”). Formal writing is planned and edited, so it avoids most of these.
- Contractions such as “I’m” and “don’t” are normal in almost all speech.
- Informal reductions such as “gonna” and “wanna” are very casual: fine with friends, not in an interview.
- Thinking phrases such as “well” and “I mean” are optional, but they help conversation flow.
Greetings and Small Talk
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| How’s it going? | A casual “How are you?” | “Hey, how’s it going? Long time no see.” |
| Long time no see | We haven’t met for a while | “Long time no see! How have you been?” |
| What’s up? | A casual greeting, or “What are you doing?” | “What’s up? Anything new?” |
| Not much / Same old, same old | Nothing new | “Not much, just the usual. How about you?” |
| Catch up | Spend time together sharing recent news | “Let’s catch up sometime this week.” |
| Keep in touch | Stay in contact | “It was great seeing you. Let’s keep in touch.” |
The phrases that open and keep a casual conversation going.
Giving Opinions, Agreeing and Disagreeing
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I think… | Giving an opinion | “I think we should leave a bit earlier.” |
| If you ask me… | A personal opinion, slightly informal | “If you ask me, the second option is better.” |
| I’m not so sure about that. | Mild disagreement | “I’m not so sure about that. What if it rains?” |
| That makes sense. | Agreeing that something is logical | “Oh, that makes sense. I didn’t think of it that way.” |
| I see what you mean, but… | Accepting a point before disagreeing | “I see what you mean, but I still think it’s risky.” |
| Fair enough. | Accepting a point, even if you don’t fully agree | “Fair enough, I get why you’d think that.” |
| To be honest… | Giving a frank opinion | “To be honest, I wasn’t impressed.” |
How to give your view, and react to other people’s.
Filler Words and Thinking Phrases
Fillers give you a second to think and keep your turn in the conversation. Use them naturally, but don’t let them replace your answer.
| Expression | Use it to… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Well… | Start or soften an answer | “Well, I need to check first.” |
| I mean… | Explain what you just said more clearly | “It was useful. I mean, the examples were useful.” |
| Let me think… | Ask for a moment to consider | “Let me think… Tuesday might work.” |
| You know… | Check the listener is following (informal) | “It’s that new place, you know, near the market.” |
| Actually… | Correct or add something | “Actually, I was there last week.” |
Short phrases that keep conversation flowing.
Everyday Situations
Shopping and Paying
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Just looking, thanks. | You don’t need help yet |
| Do you have this in a different size / colour? | Asking for other options |
| Is this on sale? | Asking about a discount |
| I’ll take it. | Deciding to buy something |
| Can I get a receipt, please? | Asking for proof of purchase |
Shopping phrases
Asking for Help
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Could you give me a hand with this? | Asking for help with a task |
| I was wondering if you could help me out. | A polite way of asking for help |
| Do you mind if I ask you something? | Introducing a question politely |
| I’m a bit stuck on this. | Admitting you need help with a problem |
Asking for help, politely
Apologising, and Replying to an Apology
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sorry about that. | A casual apology |
| My bad. | A very casual way of admitting a small mistake |
| I didn’t mean to… | Explaining something wasn’t on purpose |
| No worries. / No problem. | Accepting an apology casually |
| It’s all good. | Reassuring someone everything is fine |
Apologies
Thanking, and Replying to Thanks
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Thanks a lot. / Thanks so much. | A warm, everyday thank-you |
| I really appreciate it. | A stronger, more personal thank-you |
| You’re welcome. | The standard reply |
| No problem. / Anytime. | A casual reply |
| It was nothing. | Saying the help was easy to give |
Thank-yous
On the Phone
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hi, it’s [name] here. | Saying who’s calling |
| Is now a good time? | Checking the person can talk |
| Sorry, you’re breaking up. | The line is bad |
| Could I call you back? | Asking to talk later |
| I’ll let you go. | Politely ending the call |
Phone phrases
Saying Goodbye
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| See you later. / See you soon. | A casual goodbye |
| Take care. | A friendly goodbye |
| Talk to you soon. | Goodbye, when you’ll speak again |
| It was nice talking to you. | A polite end to a conversation |
| Have a good one. | A casual “have a good day” |
Goodbyes, from casual to warm
Contractions and Informal Reductions
| Full form | Spoken form | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| I am / do not / cannot | I’m / don’t / can’t | Almost all speech, and informal writing |
| I would / I will / it is | I’d / I’ll / it’s | Almost all speech, and informal writing |
| going to / want to | gonna / wanna | Only casual conversation with friends |
| got to | gotta | Only casual conversation |
Contractions are fine almost everywhere in speech; reductions such as “gonna” are only for casual talk.
In an interview, or in the IELTS Speaking test, contractions such as “I’m” and “don’t” are completely natural. “Gonna” and “wanna” are best kept for friends.
How to Practise These Words and Phrases
Five phrases a week, really used, is worth more than fifty read once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practise These Phrases Live, with a Real Teacher
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