Already speak some English and want to impress the native speakers with your knowledge? We've gone to the trouble of creating this list of everyday words and expressions that will finally help you achieve native-level fluency in your conversational English. So say "see you later" to "hello" and "yes", and say "'sup?" to "hey" and "yeah". Alright, time to "knock it off" and stop "faffing around".
a rip-off / to get ripped off
A rip-off is something that is very overpriced, for example a fake Rolex watch being sold at the price of a real one despite being of inferior quality. If someone bought the fake Rolex, only later to realise that it was fake, they could say, “Oh no, I got ripped off!”.
I better...
This is another way to say “I should…”
E.g. “I better go buy food before the shop closes”.
can't make it
This phrase simply means “can't attend”.
E.g. “ I can't make it to the football match. I've already made other plans”.
cheesy / corny
This is used to describe things that are overused, unoriginal and obviously sentimental, especially certain films, music and chat-up lines.
chill / chill out
While “chill” can be used similarly to “hang out”, but not necessarily requiring company, “chill”, “chill out” and “calm down” can also mean to relax after feeling upset, angry or excited. They are often used in the imperative, when someone thinks someone is overreacting.
coulda / shoulda / woulda
Short for “could have” / “should have” / “would have”.
couldn't care less
You can probably work out the meaning of this one. If you really don't care about a topic and someone asks your opinion, this is the right phrase for you.
doesn't matter / don't mind / don't care
These phrases can be used when you have been asked for your preference between different options, but you really have no preference. They are short for, “I don't mind”, “I don't care” and “It doesn't matter”.
E.g. “Do you want to watch an action movie or a romantic movie?” Response: “Don't mind”.
Don't worry about it /No worries / No problem
These are informal ways to say “You're welcome”.
Down to earth
This is a phrase used to describe people who are practical, realistic and not arrogant or overly dramatic.
dude / man
These are informal ways to refer to your friend, especially if male
Dunno
Short for "don't know".
easy-going / laid back
Two phrases used to describe people who are relaxed and tolerant.
fair enough
This is an informal phrase used to express that something you have been told is acceptable or understandable.
E.g. “I'm sorry I can't come to your party, I have a really important exam the next day.” Response: “Oh that's such a shame! But fair enough.”
to be free
While being free means being able to do what you want or that an item costs nothing, it is also often used to mean having time to do something.
E.g. “Hi dude, are you free tomorrow? Want to play football?”
I get it
This simply means “I understand”.
Go ahead / Go for it
This is an informal phrase used when giving someone permission to do something.
gonna / wanna / gotta
Short for “going to” / “want to” / “got to”.
Gotcha
This is short for "I've got you" and is an informal way to say “I understand".
to grab...
Although “grab” often means “hold”, people often use it informally to mean “get”.
E.g. “Hey man, want to grab a coffee?”. This person is asking their friend if they want to go out to get a coffee together.
Hey / Hi / Hiya / Yo / What's up? / 'Sup / How's it going? / How you doing?
English speakers rarely say “hello”, and it's far more common to hear them use one of these greetings in informal situations. The question greetings normally function more as greetings than questions, but it is just as acceptable to answer the question as to simply greet the person in response:
E.g. 1: “How's it going?”. Response: “Hey. What's up?”
E.g. 2: “How's it going?”. Response: “Good thanks. You?”
Hang on
This phrase simply means “wait”.
to hang out
This means to spend time enjoying yourself with other people in your spare time. E.g. “Mum, I'm going to hang out with my friends today”.
How come?
This question often confuses non-native speakers when they are first asked it, but it is simply another way of asking “why?“. Keep it in mind though, as English speakers use it very often.
I'm afraid...
Although afraid normally means the same as “scared”, it is often also used to mean “I'm sorry but…”.
E.g. “I'm afraid the tickets are already sold out for the show today. You will have to try again tomorrow”.
It's up to you
When you are with someone else and you or they have a decision to make, and you want to express that they can make the decision, just say “It's up to you”.
E.g. “Shall we order Chinese or Indian food tonight?” Response: “It's up to you”.
Long time, no see
This is what you say to someone when you see them for the first time after having not seen them for a long time (i.e. at least a few weeks)
Make yourself at home
A phrase used when welcoming people into your home and trying to make them feel comfortable.
may as well / might as well
These phrases are used to agree to do something reluctantly when no better option seems available or when the something is seen as an inevitability.
E.g. 1: “I know he's not our best friend, but there's nothing else going on tonight. Shall we just go to his party?” Response: “Yeah, might as well”.
E.g. 2: “As it's raining, shall we just clean the house now so we don't have to do it when the weather is nice?” Response: “Yeah, might as well”.
My bad
This means “my mistake”.
not my thing
Used to express that something is not what you like or are interested in.
No way!
This is also an exclamation of surprise, but is common among all English speakers.
Speak of the devil!
When people are talking about someone else, and the person who is being talked about arrives, one of those talking can say “speak of the devil” to express that the person who just arrived was just the subject of their conversation.
Take care / Take it easy
These are both friendly and informal ways to say “good bye”.
To be up for...
Very common phrase when organising plans in your spare time. Being up for something simply means wanting to do something. E.g. “Hi James, are you up for playing football today”. Response: “Yeah, I'm up for that”.
What are you up to?
This phrase simply means “What are you doing?”, and is mainly used in informal situations.
E.g. “What are you up to later? Do you want to go to the cinema?”
What do you do?
This is short for “What do you do for a living?”, which simply means “What is your job?”. This is a very important one to remember, as native English speakers often ask this question the first time they meet somebody.
Whatever
Whatever has a few different meanings:
- It can be used in the same way as “any” or “no matter what”. E.g. “I'm going to go to the park whatever the weather”
- You're probably more likely to hear it used as a response to express that you don't fully believe what someone has just told you. E.g. “I promise, it wasn't me who broke your CD”. Response: “Whatever”.
Whatshisface / Whatsherface
These are very useful terms for when you want to mention someone but you can't remember their name. If it's a male, simply use “whatshisface” in place of his name, and if it's a female use “whatsherface”.
"Yeah" instead of "Yes"
This one is very important. Although yes is the word most people are taught in their English lessons, outside a few formal situations it is almost always more appropriate to say “yeah” as “yes” makes you sound more irritable. Therefore, “yes” is mostly used when someone feels impatient, sad, angry, argumentative or generally in a bad mood.
