If you are interested in the English language of business communication and basic, standard business phrases, then you have come to the right place by visiting our website. Here you can find a lot of diverse and interesting material that deals with business English vocabulary, writing business letters and many phrases for business communication in English.

As you have already seen, the English language is a kind of world of norms and rules. The English language of business communication also has its own laws and rules: nothing personal, just business. Today we will take a closer look at those phrases and expressions that are suitable for business communication, which have become standard for business correspondence and conversations. If you're interested, then let's get started.

How to start a business conversation?

So, you want to contact the interlocutor. There are several types of business address, you choose the one you need, it all depends on how closely you know the person. So, you are addressing the interlocutor in English, you will need the following vocabulary:

• Mister / Missis / Miss + surname - Mr / Mrs / young lady ...
• sir - sir
• Dear Sir - dear sir
• Dear mister + surname - dear mister ...
• Doctor + surname - doctor ...
• Dear friend - dear friend
• Ladies and gentlemen - ladies and gentlemen

Any conversation begins with a greeting, a business conversation is no exception. Greeting the interlocutor, you show respect for him and set up a dialogue in a friendly and polite way. Pay attention to these expressions in English and their translation:

• How do you do? - Hello
• How are you? How are you doing/feeling?
• Good morning/afternoon/evening/day - Good morning/afternoon/evening/day
• Glad to see you / meet you - Glad to see / meet you
• You are welcome - Welcome
• Welcome, dear guests - Welcome, dear guests
• Happy to receive you / see you - Happy to receive / see you
• Let me introduce you ... - Let me introduce you ...

To express a request or petition, use standard phrases in English, such as:

• Please, can you ... - Please, could you ...
• Please, give me ... - Please, give me ...
• Please, be so kind to...
• Would you like to ... - Would you like to ...
• Can I trouble you? — Can I disturb you?
• Can I ask you? — May I ask you?

How to continue a business conversation?

Pay attention to the phrases that business English offers us, with which you can invite the interlocutor somewhere and their translation:

• Please, come to my place ... - Please, come to me ...
• Can you come to me? — Could you come to me?
• I would like to see you at my place - I would like to see you at my place ...
• I would like to invite you ... - I would like to invite you ...
• Shall we go there together? - Can we go there together?

Now let's look at what phrases the business vocabulary of the English language offers to express consent. Please note that answers can be short:

• certainly - of course
• Willingly - willingly
• With pleasure - with pleasure
• All right - good
• You are right - you are right
• I agree with you / this - I agree with you / with this
• It sounds well - it sounds great

It happens that in a business conversation we need to apologize, ask for forgiveness. Pay attention to how business vocabulary in English allows you to do this and how you can answer:

• pardon - sorry
• I beg your pardon - I apologize
• Excuse me - sorry
• sorry - sorry
• I am sorry - I'm sorry
• It's my fault - this is my oversight
• Please, forgive me - please forgive me
• It's all right - everything is fine / it's okay
• Never mind - don't worry
• Be more attentive - be more attentive
• Forget it - forget about it
• No need to be sorry - it's okay

Now let's look at common phrases in business English vocabulary and their translation. Such expressions will help you in the general conversation of business communication.

A fairly common phrase in English that can be found in business communication is:

• Nothing personal, just business - nothing personal, just business

Let's look at it in an example: I don't understand what your hints mean! Why do you ask about my husband? - Excuse me, you didn't understand me. Nothing personal, just business. "I don't understand what your hints mean!" Why are you asking about my husband? Sorry, you didn't understand me. Nothing personal just business.

Word " Just " in English can be expressed in different ways:

• Just - just, only
• Simply - simply
• Nothing in it - just like that
• Nothing to it - just like that

Business conversation on the phone

Telephone business conversation is also a special vocabulary in English. Certain expressions in English are required here, as in other business situations. Here are some of them:

• Hello! — Hello!
• Yes? - Yes?
• Speaking! - talk/listen
• Could I speak to…, please? “Can I speak to… please?”
• Hello! Is that Mr Green? Hello, is this Mr Green?
• Mr Green, is that you? Mr Green, is that you?
• Sorry, wrong number - Sorry, wrong number
• Wrong number, I'm afraid - I'm afraid you have the wrong number
• Is Mr Green there? — Is Mr Green at home?
• I want to speak to Mr Green - I would like to talk to Mr Green
• Call Mr Green, please - Call Mr Green, please

As you understand, such vocabulary requires a special approach, behavior and courtesy. Be correct about business English, and you will definitely succeed! Soon we will publish new phrases for business communication in English, follow the news of our website.

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related topics:

1. – Excuse me. Are you Mr. Hitchcock from Sydney? – Yes?… – I am Charles Atkinson from Telecom Systems. How do you do! – How do you do! Thank you... ...
2. In English Translation into Russian Peter: Hi, Jean! I haven't seen you for ages! How have you been? Peter: Hey Jean! Haven't seen you in years! How are you? Jean: Hi... ...
3. English Translation into Russian (At the airport) (At the airport) Secretary: Excuse me, are you Mr. Popov? Secretary: Excuse me, are you Mister Popov? Mr. Popov: Yes, I am. I am Ivan... ...
4. In English Translation into Russian Mr. Green: Good afternoon James. How are you? Haven't seen you for a long time. Mr Green: Good afternoon, James. How are you? Haven't seen you for a long time.... ...
5. English Translation into Russian Dan: Hello Johnny! How are you? Dan: Hey Johnny! How are you doing? Johnny: Hi Dan! I'm fine, thank you. And how are you? Johnny: Hey Dan! I... ...
6. – Hello. My name is Sandra. What's your name? - I'm Jack. Nice to meet you, Sandra. Glad to see you too, Jack. Are you alone at this... ...
7. Peters Please have a seat. Please have a seat. Albert Thank you. Thank you. Peters Peters I'm Mr. Peters. The personnel manager. What can I do for you? I am mister... ...
8. – Good morning! Can I see Mr. Watson, please? - Good morning, sir. Do you have an appointment? – Yes, I have an appointment at 10 o’clock. My name is... ...
9. – Hello. Can I have your ticket, please? – sure. Here you are. – Thank you. Is everything OK in here? Are you comfortable? – Yes, it's very nice. But... ...
10. In English Translation into Russian Mr. Richards: Goog morning, Michael. I'm Phil Richards from the personnel department. Mr Richards: Good morning, Michael. I'm Phil Richards from Human Resources. Michael: Good morning... ...

Business telephone conversation in English is one of the most difficult tasks that employees of international companies have to perform. The point here is the language barrier, and the fear of not understanding the interlocutor. Therefore, we will tell you what phrases can be used in a telephone conversation in English in different cases, and give general advice on how to properly communicate on the phone with native speakers in order to understand and be understood.

We have written a simple travel phrasebook that contains dialogues, phrases and a dictionary on 25 essential topics. Go on a journey with the main character and improve your English. You can download the book for free at.

Useful phrases for talking on the phone

Greetings

The theater begins with a hanger, and a telephone conversation in English begins with a greeting. In addition to the usual Good morning/afternoon/evening, you need to introduce yourself. According to the rules of etiquette, you need to immediately tell the interlocutor who is bothering him. In this case, it is advisable to give not only your full name, but also the company that you represent.

Welcome phrases in English on the phone:

And after the person greets you, be sure to ask a simple but very important question:

If the person is busy, immediately ask when you can talk to him. Consider the following phrases:

It may also happen that you dial the wrong number. In this case, you can use the following phrases:

How to respond to a greeting

And now imagine the opposite situation - they called you and introduced themselves. How to answer the interlocutor correctly?

First, be sure to say hello in the usual words Good morning/afternoon/evening, then, depending on your position and the specifics of cooperation with foreign partners and clients, you can use the following phrases to talk on the phone in English:

Are you busy at the moment? Politely ask the person to call you back later.

Did the person have the wrong number? Tell him about it with one of the following phrases.

There are situations when a person did not make a mistake with the number, but his call is unpleasant for you, for example, if he obsessively offers you unnecessary goods or services. How to politely answer an unwanted call?

How to check caller information

Let's say you get a call, but you don't introduce yourself. In this case, you need to avoid pauses in the conversation and immediately clarify who is calling and for what purpose. In this situation, use the following phrases:

How to ask to be connected to the right person

You call the firm, but you get to the secretary or the general phone of a large department. In this case, you need to ask the employee to call the person you need to the phone. You can also ask to be connected to the internal phone of a specific employee. Use these phrases:

How to ask to wait for a connection with the right person

And again the opposite situation - they call your company, and you understand that the interlocutor needs another employee. In this case, you need to ask the person not to hang up and wait for the connection. In a telephone conversation in English, depending on the specifics of your activity, the following phrases are used:

What to do if the connection is bad

Interference on the line is the main phobia of any person who needs to conduct a telephone conversation in English. However, don't be discouraged, a few simple phrases will help you deal with this situation. These phrases will help you out in case of technical problems:

Sometimes not a bad connection, but a call on another line prevents you from talking. If a call on the second line is more important than a call on the first, you can apologize to the interlocutor and ask him to enter into your position. Use these phrases:

How to make an appointment

If you are calling a person to make an appointment with them, use the phrase templates below. They sound polite and will help you quickly negotiate with the interlocutor. Use the following phrases to make an appointment:

How to politely interrupt a person

During a telephone conversation with a foreign partner or client, it is better not to interrupt the interlocutor, but there are times when this is necessary. You can do this politely with the help of such phrases:

And you will find even more similar phrases in the article “How to masterfully interrupt an interlocutor? Dealing with interruptions".

How to ask to tell the person that you called

Have you called your foreign partners, but the person you need is not in place? Ask him to tell him about your call and do not forget to leave your contact details. Politely ask for a call in the following ways:

If it's more convenient for you to call the person back yourself, say the following:

How to take a message to someone

Did you get a call and were asked to hand over the phone to a colleague, but he is not in place or is he busy? In this case, you should politely inform that the person cannot answer the phone and offer to leave a message. In this case, do not forget to specify the name of the caller, as well as his contact phone number. Learn these phrases:

You can also ask the other person to call you back later by using these phone phrases in English:

How to leave a message on the answering machine

If you only got through to the answering machine, do not rush to hang up. Leave a message so that the person can call you back as soon as they are free. You can leave a simple message like this:

What message to write for your answering machine

Do not neglect the auto answer function in your own phone, because this option will allow you not to miss any important calls. Take 5 minutes and record a simple text for the caller. The text might look like this.

Parting

Have you successfully talked on the phone, resolved all the issues? Then the time has come to say goodbye, and this must also be done correctly: without sentimentality and politely. You can say goodbye to the interlocutor like this:

And to see and hear what a telephone conversation in English looks like in practice, we recommend watching the following video:

Successful telephone conversation in English: general tips

1. Write a conversation plan ahead of time

If you are going to call your partner or client abroad, your task is simplified, because you can think in advance what you will talk about, what words and phrases to use. Do not be too lazy to write a short plan of your conversation on paper, in this way you will kill not even two, but three birds with one stone: study the phrases while writing them, make the most accurate and complete plan of the conversation and save your nerves, because during the conversation you will know what to say and when.

2. Try rehearsing the dialogue

To sound confident, try saying the dialogue a few times in front of a mirror or on the phone with a friend. This way you will remember the phrases faster, and during the conversation you will not have to check your plan.

And if you are learning a language online, try to study with your teacher without a camera. This will be a complete imitation of a telephone conversation. Try acting out a dialogue with the teacher using your plan. If you practice this way at least a few times, then when talking on the phone it will be easier for you to understand the person on the other end of the line.

3. Don't worry

Excitement affects understanding in the same way as poor communication: if you listen to interference (or an inner voice that says you will not understand anything), they will interfere with you, and if you do not pay attention to them, you will be able to understand the interlocutor . The more relaxed you are about a telephone conversation in English, the easier it will be for you and the person on the other end of the line.

4. Be formal

The formal style of communication is different from the usual conversational. We communicate politely with business partners, avoid slang, word abbreviations, etc. You can read more about the features of the formal style of English.

5. Be as polite as possible

The concept of "politeness" in our country and abroad is quite different. Pay attention to the phrase templates we have proposed: in almost every one of them there is a “Could you please” construction, in every sentence there is the word “please”. Moreover, in translation into Russian, the word “please” does not even always fit logically into the phrase. It sounds like obsessive politeness to us. In sentences in English, be sure to use words such as “please” and “thank you”, otherwise you may seem rude to the interlocutor.

6. Keep an electronic dictionary handy

Are you unable to understand a certain word that plays an important role in your partner's speech? Ask the interlocutor to spell this word and look up its meaning in the dictionary. It is impossible to learn all the words from the English dictionary, so your partner will normally react to the request to repeat the word. So before every business conversation on the phone in English, turn on the computer and open one of the electronic dictionaries.

7. Ask to repeat what you don't understand.

Remember, even when we have a telephone conversation in Russian, sometimes we don’t understand the interlocutor or we can’t hear some words due to poor communication. In this case, without a shadow of embarrassment, we ask the interlocutor to repeat what was said. What prevents us from doing the same when talking on the phone in English? Your partner or client understands that you are speaking a non-native language, so they will calmly accept a request to repeat a phrase.

8. Develop Your Listening Skill

The more often you listen to foreign speech, the faster you will get used to it and begin to understand (if you also study grammar and new words at the same time). Therefore, listen to podcasts and audio books, watch videos and news in English. And you can check your understanding of the language by ear and at the same time listen to sample dialogues on the phone in English on the Simple English website. Choose one of the dialogues, turn on the audio recording and try to insert the missing words into the exercise under dictation. And also read our articles "" and "".

9. Work on pronunciation and intonation

Take care not only of yourself, but also of your interlocutor. Try to speak clearly, take your time, pronounce words and sounds correctly. Fluent speech is good in a normal conversation, but not in a dialogue on the phone with business partners. It will be ideal if you try to adjust to the pace of your interlocutor’s speech, in which case you will be “on the same wavelength” with him. If you know that your pronunciation is not yet perfect and you may not be understood, speak at an average pace. A measured pace of speech will allow your interlocutor to understand you and give your words a confident sound. Be sure to read the article "". Keep an eye on your intonation: speak confidently, but in a calm, friendly tone.

10. Learn useful phrases for communication

Those phrases that we presented in the article are excellent "blanks" for your speech. It is best to learn them by heart, so that when you call, do not pick up words, but speak in patterns you already know.

11. Read examples of dialogues in English on the phone

To see how the phrases you have learned "work" in a natural conversation, study examples of telephone conversations, for example, on the official website of the BBC company. On the pages of the resource, you will see several examples of telephone conversations on various topics and pass a test for knowledge of "telephone" vocabulary.

12. Study professional vocabulary

To leave a positive impression of yourself after the conversation, study not only the phrases we have presented, but also the professional vocabulary of your field of activity. Understanding between you and the interlocutor will arise when you speak the same language both literally and figuratively.

Complete list of phrases for download

We have compiled a document for you that will make it easier for you to conduct a dialogue over the phone. You can download it from the link below.

(*.pdf, 292 Kb)

Now you know how to successfully conduct a telephone conversation in English. Engage in listening, learn the phrases we have proposed in English for a telephone conversation and improve your pronunciation, then the interlocutor will understand you, and you will understand him. We wish you successful telephone negotiations!

And if you want to thoroughly study business English with a competent teacher, we suggest studying in. Our teachers will help you master the business style of communicating in English, teach you to understand the speech of the interlocutor and speak so that you are understood.

Phrases for partners and colleagues are an integral part of the success of any businessman.

Conversation in English during negotiations or in the office should be conducted easily and naturally. The outcome of the transaction almost always depends on the overall impression of the company representative present at the business meeting.

Always go into meetings or negotiations with a positive attitude. Tell yourself you "re going to make this the best deal for all parties.

Always participate in business meetings or negotiations with a positive attitude. Tell yourself that this will be the best deal for all parties.

~Natalie Massenet

In the article, we have already outlined what phrases and expressions should be avoided when communicating in English with business partners.

This article contains key phrases for communicating with business partners in English. Having learned them, you can easily strike up a conversation, direct it in the right direction, and, of course, emerge victorious from a business meeting.

Business greeting in English

Compliance with etiquette is the hallmark of any company.

The whole course of negotiations will depend on how you start the conversation. Be decisive and extremely polite, do not forget to smile.

Remember that business etiquette for the British and Americans may differ. We advise you to read the article to know how to properly address a colleague from the UK and the USA, what to wear and how to behave during a business meeting.

Phrases for finding out details in English

If during the conversation you need to clarify something, then be sure to use these phrases:

Phrases for summing up the results of a business meeting

At the end of any business meeting, regardless of its outcome, be sure to thank your partner and express your hope for further cooperation.

During debriefing, speak key points and clarify terms implementation of agreements.

Phrases for expressing agreement and disagreement in English

Every day, in life and work, we must decide whether we agree or disagree with other people's ideas.

In the office, you must be ready to respond to other people's suggestions. It could be a serious discussion about who to hire or how to cut costs, or a simple conversation about where to go for lunch.

And here you just need phrases in English, how to agree or disagree with the proposal of your colleagues.

Expression of consent, confidence, approval

When you hear an idea you like, you want to show your support, right? Learn the necessary phrases in advance, how to agree in English and show approval and interest.

Expression of disagreement, disapproval, refusal

In the business world, it is very important to be categorical and decisive. If something does not suit you, do not be afraid to refuse, but at the same time be polite so as not to offend the interlocutor, be sure to follow his reaction to your words - this will help to avoid all sorts of conflicts and misunderstandings.

To learn how to disagree, see the video “How to Disagree with Ideas in English,” from the same Business Podcast series of business video podcasts.

Phrases in English for communication in the office with colleagues

In a closed room like an office, it is very important to control your emotions and carefully select phrases in English so as not to offend any of the partners.

We have our own opinion on this or that situation, and, often, it does not coincide with the opinion of our friends, partners, colleagues.

In such a situation, it is important to simply advise a certain solution, and not impose your own opinion. Do not forget that a person always has the right to choose, and no one has the right to take it away.

Expression of regret, sympathy, sympathy

When communicating with colleagues, it is important to remember the human factor. After all, you see, it is difficult to make important decisions if something happened to you.

Sometimes elementary words of support and sympathy can calm and help in further work.

Expression of uncertainty, doubt, hesitation

It often happens that it is difficult to make a decision at lightning speed. In such cases, it is important to gain time and at the same time not look indecisive in the eyes of partners.

Pre-learned phrases and your persuasiveness will partially help with this.

Finally:

In the business world, we need to talk to different people every day, hold meetings, negotiate. To achieve heights, you must always maintain firmness and determination. At the same time, do not forget to be polite and follow the rules of business etiquette.

For greater confidence when communicating with foreign partners, we suggest taking our course and be sure to learn the key phrases presented in this article.

In contact with

Conducting business negotiations in English is often a double stress. Indeed, in addition to demonstrating the best business qualities and business acumen, it is also necessary to monitor foreign speech. And here it is important not only to hear and understand, but also to express yourself correctly. To develop your listening skills, practice listening, repeating and learning.

Oral speech can only be improved by speaking directly, which will help you, for example, as well as viewing and discussing in English. Using ready-made clichés for conducting business negotiations in English, you will never be taken by surprise by an unexpected offer or question. You will also reduce the risk of using inappropriate or out of place phrases and expressions. Today we will learn the most common stable phrases of greeting, goodbye, gratitude and others, without which no business negotiations can do.

When conducting business negotiations in English, also remember to show respect for colleagues and partners, using polite words and phrases, for example, please (please), excuse me (I'm sorry) and others.

Business negotiations in English. Dialogue exercises.

To consolidate the material studied above, test your knowledge by choosing the correct answers in the dialogue exercises.