Speaking

Survival Phrases

The exact phrases you need for real life abroad — with practice dialogues and audio, for every level.

ALL LEVELSA1A2B1B2C1
ALL TOPICS👋 Greetings & Socializing🍽️ Eating & Drinking Out✈️ Travel & Transport🏨 Hotels & Accommodation🛍️ Shopping & Money🩺 Health & Pharmacy🏦 Banking & Daily Admin🏠 Renting & Housing✂️ Everyday Services🚨 Emergencies & Safety💼 Work & Study
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Greetings & Socializing

Meeting people, small talk, and everyday politeness.

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Greetings & Introductions

Use these greeting phrases when you meet someone for the first time in everyday situations.

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Making Small Talk

These phrases help you start a friendly conversation with someone you have just met. You can use them at events, meetings, or while waiting in line. They are simple, polite, and work well in everyday situations like cafés or parks. Using them shows interest and makes the other person feel comfortable quickly. Feel free to adapt the wording to match your own style and the context.

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Saying Goodbye

Two friends meet at the station, chat briefly, and realize the train is about to leave. They exchange polite goodbye phrases, wishing each other a safe journey and good health. One mentions the train departure time, while the other notes they will message next week. They promise to keep in touch, agreeing that a quick text will be enough for now. As the train doors close, they wave and say their final farewells before parting ways.

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Thanking & Apologizing

These expressions help you show gratitude, apologize politely, or ask to move past someone in everyday situations. You can use them when thanking a friend, replying to a compliment, or apologising for a small mistake. They are also useful when you need to pass someone in a crowd or interrupt a conversation politely. Using the right phrase shows respect and keeps communication smooth and friendly. Practice them often so they become natural in your daily English interactions.

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Invitations & Making Plans

Making plans with friends can sometimes be difficult when everyone is busy with work. If you want to suggest a meeting, you can check their availability for the weekend. People often decide to meet in a cafe or they may choose to go out. You might need to decline an invitation politely because you have already made other plans. However, you can still suggest another time that is more convenient for your schedule.

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Making Friends

Use these practical phrases to build deeper connections and talk about shared interests with new friends.

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Giving Opinions & Disagreeing

Use these phrases when you want to share your opinion or disagree politely during conversations.

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Congratulations & Celebrations

Use these phrases to congratulate people on their achievements and celebrate special events with them.

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Talking About Family

Use these phrases when you want to discuss your family and ask other people about theirs.

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Saying No Politely

Use these phrases when you want to decline an invitation or an offer without sounding rude.

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Eating & Drinking Out

Restaurants, cafés, bars, and ordering food.

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Making a Restaurant Reservation

You can use these helpful phrases when you want to book a table at a local restaurant.

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Ordering at a Restaurant

You can use these useful phrases when you eat out at a restaurant and need to order food.

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Allergies & Dietary Needs

Use these phrases when you are ordering food at a restaurant and need to explain your dietary needs.

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Sending Food Back & Complaints

Use these phrases when you have a problem with your food or service at a restaurant.

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Paying & Splitting the Bill

Use these expressions when you have finished your meal and you want to pay the restaurant bill.

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Ordering Drinks at a Bar

Use these helpful phrases when you visit a bar to order drinks and pay your bill.

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Takeaway & Delivery

Use these phrases when you want to order food for takeaway or delivery, and when resolving order issues.

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Travel & Transport

Airports, trains, taxis, and getting around.

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Checking in at the Airport

Use these phrases when you arrive at the airport and need to check in for your flight.

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Going Through Security

Use these essential phrases when you are going through the airport security check before your flight.

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Customs & Immigration

Use these phrases when you are passing through customs and immigration control at the airport.

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Reporting Lost Luggage

Use these helpful phrases when your suitcase has not arrived at the airport baggage carousel.

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Buying Train Tickets

Use these phrases when you are travelling by train and need to buy tickets or ask for information.

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Using Buses & the Metro

Use these phrases when you travel around a city by bus or metro and need help from local people.

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Taking a Taxi or Rideshare

Use these English expressions when you travel by taxi or rideshare in a city.

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Asking for Directions

If you get lost in a foreign city, these phrases will help you ask for directions.

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Renting a Car

Use these essential phrases when you want to rent a car for your holiday.

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On the Plane

These essential English phrases will help you communicate clearly with staff and passengers on a plane.

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Missed or Delayed Connection

Use these phrases when your flight or train is delayed and you need to rebook your travel.

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At the Tourist Office

You can use these polite phrases when you visit a local tourist information office.

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Renting a Bike or Scooter

Use these phrases when you want to rent a bicycle or a scooter in a city.

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Hotels & Accommodation

Checking in, problems, and amenities.

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Checking into a Hotel

Use these essential phrases when you arrive at a hotel and want to check in.

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Hotel Room Problems

Use these phrases when you experience issues with your hotel room and need to ask for help.

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Asking About Hotel Amenities

You can use these practical phrases to ask for services and find hotel amenities during your stay.

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Checking Out

Use these phrases when you are ready to leave your hotel and need to pay.

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Booking a Room

Use these phrases when you want to book a room or change your hotel reservation.

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Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals

Use these phrases when you stay in a holiday apartment and need to talk to your host.

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Staying at a Hostel

Use these English phrases when you are staying at a hostel to communicate with staff and other travelers.

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Extending Your Stay

Use these English phrases when you want to extend your stay at a hotel.

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Shopping & Money

Stores, markets, prices, and paying.

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Health & Pharmacy

Doctors, pharmacies, and describing symptoms.

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Banking & Daily Admin

Banks, post office, phone, and internet.

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Renting & Housing

Finding a place, utilities, and repairs.

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Everyday Services

Hairdresser, laundry, gym, and appointments.

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At the Hairdresser

You can use these phrases when you visit a hairdresser to get your hair cut and styled.

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Laundry & Dry Cleaning

Use these phrases when you visit a laundry or dry cleaner to clean your dirty clothes.

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Joining a Gym

Use these phrases when you want to ask about membership options and join a local gym.

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Booking an Appointment

Use these phrases when you need to book, change, or cancel a meeting with a service provider.

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At the Mechanic

Use these phrases when you need to discuss car repairs with a mechanic.

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Phone & Device Repair

Use these phrases when you visit a shop to repair your damaged mobile phone.

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Spa, Nails & Massage

Use these phrases when you want to book treatments or discuss details at a beauty salon.

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Tailor & Alterations

Use these phrases when you visit a tailor to alter or repair your everyday clothes.

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Emergencies & Safety

Getting help fast when something goes wrong.

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Work & Study

Interviews, the workplace, and enrolling in courses.

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A Job Interview

Use these phrases during a job interview to talk about your experience and ask important questions.

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Your First Day at Work

Use these useful phrases when you start your new job to communicate politely with colleagues.

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In Meetings

Use these phrases when you need to participate in business meetings and share your progress with colleagues.

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Enrolling in a Course

Use these phrases when you visit a school to sign up for a new English class.

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Asking for Time Off

Use these phrases when you need to ask your boss for time off from work.

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Work Email & Phone Calls

Use these phrases when you need to write emails or talk on the phone at work.

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University Admin

Use these phrases when you visit the university registrar to manage your academic studies and payments.

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At a Networking Event

Use these intermediate English phrases when you attend professional events and meet new business contacts.