Greetings and small talk
| You'll hear | What it means | A natural reply |
|---|---|---|
| How's it going? | How are you? (a greeting, not a real question) | Good, thanks. You? |
| Good weekend? | Did you have a nice weekend? | Yes, pretty quiet. I went for a walk by the river. You? |
| I'm getting a coffee. Want one? | An offer to buy or fetch you a coffee | Oh, thanks, that'd be great. |
| Not bad at all. | Often means quite good. People often understate. |
Small talk topics that are almost always safe: the weekend, the weather, sport, food and holidays. Avoid salary, religion and politics until you know people well.
In meetings
- Can I just jump in here? (politely interrupting)
- Sorry, could you run that by me again? (asking someone to repeat)
- Just to make sure I've got it right… (checking understanding)
- I'll take that one. (volunteering for a task)
- Let's take that offline. (discuss it later, not in this meeting)
Asking for help
Asking questions is seen as a good thing in most workplaces, not a weakness.
- Have you got a sec?
- Sorry to bother you, but could you show me how to…?
- When you get a chance, could you have a look at this?
On the phone
- Hi, it's Priya calling from Westside Plumbing. (introduce yourself and where you're from)
- Is now a good time?
- Sorry, you're breaking up. Could you say that again?
- Thanks for that, I'll get back to you by Thursday.
Polite emails
Work emails are usually short and friendly.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for sending the report. I've had a look and added a couple of comments.
Would you be free for a quick chat on Thursday afternoon to go through them?
Thanks, Ana
Thanks is a friendly sign-off for colleagues. For clients or formal messages, use Kind regards.
More help with work English: phone calls, emails, resume English and job interviews.
Frequently asked questions
What English phrases are useful at work?
Phrases for small talk, asking for help, meetings, emails and giving updates, like 'Have you got a minute?' and 'Just to check…'.
Is workplace English formal?
It depends on the company and country, but most workplaces today are friendly and use first names, while staying polite.
Where can I practise English for my job?
Try our free workplace English packs for safety, aged care, hospitality, warehouse, cleaning and trades.