As human beings, we are always trying to express ourselves. Even as babies we try to communicate. We cry out loud to say hello to the world. After that, we start to imitate our parent’s weird sounds (words), and we begin to identify things by associating them with what we hear.
Conversational words and phrases are expressions commonly used in speaking. They are the things we say to one another on a daily basis.
Maybe you have heard some of them, maybe not!
Let’s begin with basic phrases and then to serious business!
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Informal conversational phrases
Sometimes formalities can be left aside but sometimes they can’t. Whichever the case, you will still need to speak to others. It’s cool if you can add some interesting words for both scenarios to your active vocabulary!
Below you will find an informal dialogue with expressions and their meaning in parenthesis for you to learn!
Hi, what’s new? (How are you doing on that day or moment?).
I'm a little nervous (I’m scared) but please bear with me (to ask people to be patient with you). I was planning to go out tonight, but I changed my mind (I decided to do a different thing). I will stay at home.
Currently, I’m broke (I have no money). My iForex business is in the red (the business is losing money). I have to figure out (to solve) what to do to change that! I’m not sure if someone can give me a hand (to provide help) but I have to keep my chin up (to remain brave and keep trying).
Now, I have to hit the sack (go to bed). It was good catching up (to be up to date with what is going on in their lives) with you. I will take it easy (to relax) for now and sleep on it (think about an issue before making a decision). Have a good night!
Other useful, common phrases you can say in an informal conversation are:
“It's on the tip of my tongue”
You use it if you do know something but you just can't remember it in that very instant.
“I think we've got our wires crossed”
This is to express the speakers are not understanding each other.
Today is freezing (very cold weather) or boiling (very hot).
It was dirt cheap (very inexpensive thing) or that's a rip-off (overpriced)
Formal conversational phrases
If you are at work talking to your job partners, at school doing a presentation, or talking to someone for the first time, you will need to speak with some more politeness and be more formal.
Let’s see some questions:
What is your name?
How are you doing? (To ask someone how they are).
Where are you from? (To ask for someone’s country or city of origin).
What do you do? (To ask for occupation)
Let’s suit you up with another story!
In a meeting:
Good morning everyone, Can I jump in here? (To politely interrupt an ongoing conversation). Regarding this issue, I’d like to point out (to highlight something) that, from my point of view (from the speakers’ eyes), the strategies being shared here are good, but we need to be bolder (be more courageous).
I don’t know about you (don’t know if others agree), but I think we should start fresh (commence something from zero) with totally new ideas tomorrow if we want to succeed. What time suits you to do so? (what is the best time). I hope we help each other to get the ball rolling (to start something, especially something big).
Other useful, common phrases you can say in formal conversations are:
“I'm afraid, I don't follow you”
You're suggesting you need the speaker to explain the subject again or in a different way.
“Correct me if I’m wrong”
To be open to receiving corrections about your idea.
“It's a win-win situation”
everybody will be pleased.
Leveling things up!
In English, there are expressions associated with culture. They are linked to the way of living and development of a society and they integrate into the language or get lost as time passes. Let’s see what we are talking about!
Some Interesting Idioms
Idioms are “a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words”. They are used every single day in English speaking. Let’s find out some!
“Bite the bullet”: we use it when we are procrastinating something for whatever reason but now it is time to do it, bite the bullet and just get it done.
“Good things come to those who wait”: means to have patience
“I’m on cloud nine”: someone is very happy
“I was left out in the cold”: I was being ignored
“Maybe I will boil the ocean, but I’m still doing it”: means taking up an almost impossible or overly ambitious project
“A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush”: current opportunity is better than a prospect in the future.
“Every cloud has a silver lining”: this means that bad things one day eventually lead to good ones.
“I bear a grudge for John”: someone still feels angry or unfriendly for someone – or something – because of a particular past incident.
Slang and common informal phrases
Slang is a unique language that developed throughout the years. Its words and phrases are considered very informal but they help to ease the social interaction and have a less serious, intense conversation.
As an example, teens create their own way to communicate but what is current for you right now will probably be different for future generations. Some words or expressions stay but some evolve.
Here you have some common slang:
“Dunno”: contraction of “I don’t know”.
“Dope”: Cool or awesome
“Beat”: somebody that is very tired or exhausted.
“Busted”: someone that is caught doing/saying/hiding something they shouldn’t.
“Hits different”: Something that is a lot better than normal
“Be a chicken” and “chicken out”: to express someone has no courage and someone who losses the courage to do something, respectively.
“To go bananas”: if you hear this, it means someone is going crazy!
“Cheugy”: something that is out of date or a person who is trying too hard.
“Spill the Tea”: this is for asking someone to spill gossip.
“Lit”: when something is very good, enjoyable, or exciting. This article is lit!
“Filthy rich”: means to have a lot of money. Yes, we want to be filthy rich!
“GOAT”: Greatest of All Time, like Nadal and Federer in tennis, like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in soccer, like The Beatles and Freddie Mercury in music.
“Bye, Felicia”: q cold way of dismissing someone.
Lost in time
As we’ve said, with time some words are less used and forgotten. We will give you a few just for you to know in case you come across or want to use one of them (we think you might!):
“Lanspresado”: the person who always shows up but with no money.
“Airgonaut”: people who journey through the air as skydivers or balloonists.
“Groke”: to stare at someone that is eating hoping they share.
“Crapulous”: is the opposite of fabulous.
Wrapping Up
We could go on and on all day long but, at least for now, we know these expressions we’ve just shown you will for sure improve your skills and give you more confidence to communicate better in English. Hope you get to practice all of them!