Common English phrases for daily conversation, with what to say back
Knowing a phrase is not enough: you also need to know when to use it and what the other person will say. These 45 common English phrases are grouped by what you want to do in a conversation, with the usual reply. Learn them in pairs, say them aloud, and you will start sentences with less thinking.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 8 min read
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Starting a conversation
Greetings and openers. The reply is usually short and then you ask back.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| How’s it going? | Casual greeting | Good, thanks. How about you? |
| How are you doing? | Casual or neutral | I’m doing well, thanks. And you? |
| Nice to meet you. | First meeting | Nice to meet you too. |
| What do you do? | Asking about work | I’m a designer. What about you? |
| Where are you from? | Getting to know someone | I’m from Brazil. How about you? |
| Long time no see! | Friends you haven’t seen in a while | I know! How have you been? |
| What have you been up to? | Catching up | Not much. Working a lot. You? |
Asking and being polite
Requests sound softer with “could” and “would”. Use “please” and “thanks”.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| Could you help me with this? | Polite request | Sure, what do you need? |
| Would you mind opening the window? | Very polite | Not at all. (= I will do it.) |
| Excuse me, where is the station? | Asking a stranger | It’s two blocks that way. |
| Do you know how much this costs? | Shopping | It’s twenty dollars. |
| Is it okay if I sit here? | Asking permission | Of course, go ahead. |
| Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it. | Thanking someone | No problem. / You’re welcome. |
| Sorry, I didn’t catch that. | You didn’t hear | I said it’s on the left. |
When you do not understand
The most useful phrases for learners. Native speakers expect you to ask.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| Could you say that again, please? | Asking to repeat | Sure. I said… |
| Could you speak a little slower? | Too fast | Of course. Is this better? |
| What does “…” mean? | A new word | It means… |
| What do you mean by that? | Unclear idea | I mean that… |
| So you’re saying that…? | Checking you understood | Exactly. / Not quite, I meant… |
| How do you say … in English? | Missing a word | We say “…”. |
Giving an opinion and agreeing
Soften opinions with “I think”, and show you are listening.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| I think it’s a great idea. | Giving your view | Really? Why do you think so? |
| In my opinion, … | Slightly formal | That’s interesting. |
| I totally agree. | Strong agreement | Me too. |
| That’s a good point. | Showing respect | Thanks. I’ve been thinking about it. |
| I see what you mean, but … | Polite disagreement | Go on, I’m listening. |
| I’m not sure about that. | Mild disagreement | What worries you? |
| It depends. | There is no simple answer | On what? |
Reacting and keeping it going
Short reactions make you a good listener, and invite the other person to continue.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| Really? Tell me more. | Interested | Well, it started when… |
| That sounds great! | Positive news | Thanks! I’m excited. |
| I’m sorry to hear that. | Bad news | Thanks, it’s okay. |
| No way! / Wow! | Surprise (informal) | I know, right? |
| That makes sense. | You understand the reason | Yeah, exactly. |
| What happened next? | Wanting the story | So then… |
Making plans
Invitations, suggestions and answers.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| Do you want to grab a coffee? | Casual invitation | Sure, when are you free? |
| How about Friday evening? | Suggesting a time | Friday works for me. |
| Let’s meet at six. | Making a decision | Sounds good. See you then. |
| I’d love to, but I can’t. | Polite refusal | No worries. Another time? |
| I’ll get back to you. | You need time | Sure, no rush. |
| Let me check my schedule. | Before answering | Okay, take your time. |
Ending a conversation
Close warmly: give a reason, then a goodbye.
| Phrase | When | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| It was nice talking to you. | Polite ending | You too. Take care! |
| I’d better get going. | Leaving politely | Okay, see you soon. |
| I have to run. I’ll talk to you later. | Casual | Sure, bye! |
| Let’s keep in touch. | Staying in contact | Definitely. |
| Have a great weekend! | End of the week | You too! |
How to practise these phrases
- Say both halves aloud. Read the phrase and its reply as a mini dialogue, not as a list.
- Change one word. “Do you want to grab a coffee?” becomes “Do you want to grab lunch?” That is how phrases become flexible.
- Use contractions. In speech, “I’m” and “don’t” sound normal. See contractions in English.
- Practise full situations instead of isolated lines: small talk, keeping a conversation going and short English conversations.
- Talk to someone who answers back. A voice conversation with an AI tutor lets you use the phrases at conversation speed, with no one judging you.
Phrases for specific situations
- At work and in interviews: tell me about yourself and why should we hire you.
- Other ways to say common things: hello, thank you and I agree.
- Eating out and health: ordering at a restaurant and at the doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common English phrases?
Greetings (How’s it going?), polite requests (Could you help me?), clarifying phrases (Could you say that again?), opinions (I think…, I agree), plans (How about Friday?) and endings (It was nice talking to you). They are in the list above with usual replies.
How do I learn English phrases fast?
Learn them in pairs (phrase and reply), pick five a day, say them aloud, change one word to build new sentences, and use them in real conversation or with an AI tutor.
What should I say when I do not understand English?
Say “Sorry, I didn’t catch that,” “Could you say that again, please?” or “Could you speak a little slower?” These are polite and normal; native speakers expect them.
What is a polite way to disagree in English?
Say “I see what you mean, but…” or “That’s a good point, but I think…”. They acknowledge the other person before giving your view.
Use the phrases in a real conversation
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