Whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee of a company, when dealing with people you need to be fluent in business English.
And if you've ever heard business English phrases commonly used in the workplace, you already know that most of them are pretty much...well, meaningless. Phrases like "let's go back" or "I just wanted to touch base" feel like they're referring to geometry or sports rather than a business situation.
But no, they are part of a commonly accepted business terminology. And despite how mean they sometimes feel, they are considered polite, formal and respectful.
Are you ready to become fluent in business language?
That's great, because we've compiled a long list of professional English words for every occasion - from office talk to industry-specific business terms.
Importance of business vocabulary
Whether you're at a networking event, a team meeting at the office, or trying to close an important deal with a client, you need to have business conversations. Without a good business English vocabulary, you will soon find yourself swimming in a sea of business jargon and unfamiliar terms.
Becoming fluent in business English and terms will help you handle business conversations with more confidence and leave a lasting impression on your boss, colleagues or clients.
In addition, it helps you avoid embarrassing situations. Imagine accidentally breaking a contract because you didn't fully understand something, or making a mistake on a project because you didn't understand what the client wanted.
Knowing a few basic business terms can help you avoid drowning in embarrassment or legal trouble.
50 common business English words and phrases
English is the lingua franca of business. It is the most common language we use to transact with each other, regardless of our culture, nationality or mother tongue.
This is why many languages use English terms to talk about marketing or sales concepts. Even if you are not a native English speaker, you may already be familiar with terms like A/B testing, SEO or branding because your native language uses them too.
However, regardless of the increasing number of English business terms used in other languages, English business terminology still contains many words and phrases that you need to learn if you plan to work with English speakers.
Daily Business Vocabulary
Even if you're not business savvy (it's okay if you're not!), it's important to know the most common words and phrases used in everyday business interactions.
You need them when you introduce yourself to a new client or when you talk to your colleagues in the office.
Here is a list of everyday vocabulary that will come in handy if you want to gossip with your colleagues or complain about your workload to your office mate.
1. As soon as possible (as soon as possible):
To do something as soon as possible means to do it quickly, urgently.Ex: "I need to submit the report as soon as possible so that we can review it before the meeting tomorrow."
2. Backburner:
To put something on the back burner means to put tasks or projects aside for a while.Ex: "We have put this project on hold until further notice."
3. Balls in the air:
No, it's not what you think. If you have several tasks or responsibilities at once, you have many balls in the air.Ex: "With the deadline and client meetings, I have a lot of balls in the air right now."
4. Too much on my plate:
If you feel overwhelmed or have too many tasks or responsibilities, you have "too much on your plate".For example: "I can't take on any more projects right now, I already have too much on my plate."
5. Bandwidth:
We're not talking about radio. Bandwidth is one's ability or availability to take on additional tasks or projects.Ex: "I'd like to help, but I don't have the bandwidth right now."
6. Boil the sea:
If we have "boiled the sea", we have simply taken on an overly ambitious project that is unlikely to succeed.For example: "Let's focus on smaller goals instead of trying to boil the ocean with this project."
7. Braindump:
In other words, putting many ideas on paper.Ex: "I had a quick brainstorm and came up with a great idea."
8. Deliveries:
These are the tangible results or outcomes expected from a project or task.Example: "What are our deliveries for this month?"
9. Game Changer:
Game changer means something that has the potential to significantly affect or transform a situation.Ex: "This new organizing tool I'm using is a game changer for me!"
10. Good to go:
If something is "good to go", it's done.Ex: "The sentence I've been working on is good for today's presentation."
11. Herding cats:
This term does not mean that a person literally keeps dozens of cats in his apartment. It's just a weird way of saying that you're trying to manage people or tasks that are difficult to manage.Ex: "Coordinating the schedules of different departments on this project feels like herding cats."
12. Raise the flagpole:
To run something to the flagpole is to present an idea, proposal or plan to gather feedback.Ex: "I'm not done with the project yet because I still have to drive it to the flagpole."
13. Throw under the bus:
This is a common phrase that you may have heard in other contexts. It means to falsely accuse or victimize someone for your own benefit or to avoid responsibility.Ex: "John tried to throw me under the bus by blaming me for the failure in the presentation."
14. Micromanagement:
Micromanaging can be the most annoying thing in the workplace! It is the practice of excessive or unnecessary control over small details in tasks or projects.Ex: "I'm so annoyed with Susan! She controls everything I do."
15. Do not:
They are probably the two scariest words in the office! When someone was "released" they were fired.For example: "Have you heard? Jack was released yesterday!
16. Keep me updated:
When you ask someone to keep you updated, you are asking them to keep you updated and include you in the conversation.For example: "Keep me posted! I want to know what's going on between John and Susan!
17. Workflow:
Workflow refers to the sequence of steps or tasks involved in completing a particular process or project.Ex: "The workflow for this project is crazy... I don't know how I'm going to get it done in time!"
Vocabulary business meetings
In recent years, we have become accustomed to online team meetings via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. And we're also used to hearing the same corporate statements at every team meeting.
Even if you are not fluent in English, you may have heard certain phrases used during business meetings in English. But to help you navigate your next meeting with confidence, here's a list of key phrases with their meanings.
1. Agenda for the meeting:
It is a structured plan that outlines the topics, objectives, and order of discussion for a meeting.
2. Introductory remarks:
These are the comments or statements your team members make at the beginning of a meeting. Their purpose is to provide context and introduce the rest of the team to the topic of the meeting.
3. Action plan:
It is a detailed plan that states what needs to be done. It outlines the tasks and timetable for achieving the set goals.
4. Press Base:
If someone wants to contact you, it doesn't mean they want to play hockey. They just want to discuss something with you.
5. Break the ice:
It is an expression commonly used in everyday situations. It means starting a conversion and can be used during a meeting to get things started.
6. Get the ball rolling:
It means to start something. In this case the meeting.
7. Call back:
If someone says, "Let's go back," they want to discuss something again or want to discuss it with you later.
8. Forward:
It is an expression used to move from one topic to another during a group meeting.
9. Think outside the box:
This is a popular idiom. But in business, it simply means coming up with innovative ideas.
10. Win-Win-situation:
If something is a win-win situation, it is an outcome or solution that benefits everyone involved. Everyone wins!
11. Move the needle:
If someone moved the needle, they made significant progress or accomplished something that had a positive impact on the situation.
12. Get it offline:
At first I thought it meant making the online chat face to face. But no, this means that you have to discuss something outside the current meeting, so that you do not exceed the planned meeting time.
13. Back to the drawing board:
When someone wants to go back to the drawing board, they feel the need to start over. Primarily because something didn't go as planned or because they want to reassess the plan.
14. Cut the fat:
This funny phrase means removing unnecessary elements to make something more streamlined or efficient.
15. On the same page:
If someone says, "Let's make sure we're on the same page," they want to know if you feel the same way.
16. Deep Dive:
When someone wants to dive deep into something, they just want to explore the topic in detail.
17. Ducks in a row:
If your boss says, "Let's get our ducks in a row," it means they want to organize to get the job done.
18. On board:
When you engage in something, you agree. If you don't do that, you can always move the goalposts.
19. Move target posts:
If your manager wants to move the goalposts, he wants to change something: the project's goals, scope, or requirements.
20. Park it:
If you park it, you're delaying a project or milestone until you get approval from whoever's in charge.
21. Push the envelope:
If your boss asks you to push yourself, he just wants you to do your best.
22. Zoom ind:
To zoom in on something is to examine or analyze it in detail.
23. Planning ahead:
As you might have guessed intuitively, forward planning is the process of anticipating and preparing for future needs or events.
24. Silver Ball:
A silver bullet is a simple or quick solution that solves a complex problem or produces significant results.
25. Cuts:
This is a popular idiom in everyday English that means to take shortcuts. This is usually done to save resources (like money or time), but it is not always the best way.
26. Call it a day:
The phrase you look forward to the whole meeting! "Let's call it a day" means the meeting is over. Ask!
27. Follow-up questions:
Follow-up questions are additional questions you or your teammates may have after you have discussed something. Their purpose is to clarify questions or gather more information.
28. Concluding remarks:
The opposite of the initial remarks. Closing remarks are the remarks or statements made at the end of a meeting, usually to summarize what was discussed.
29. Summary:
When you get things done, you finish something—a task, a project, or a meeting.
Occupation-specific business vocabulary
In addition to the general terms used in everyday business conversation, each industry and profession has its own terms.
Your marketing colleagues keep saying 3 letter words that sound like a secret code. People in the legal department use phrases that make them sound like Harvard Law geeks, and people in HR scare their employees with words like "termination" or "benchmarking."
But once you know what these terms mean, it becomes clear what all these people are talking about.
Well, here is a list of the professional vocabulary for that profession that you might want to familiarize yourself with.
Marketing Vocabulary
English is the dominant language of marketing. Terms like B2B, ROI or CTA fly around like arrows in the marketing world. And if you're not a marketing expert, you might be wondering what these terms mean.
From the outside, they may look like some kind of secret code that only marketers understand. That's why we've compiled this list of marketing vocabulary to help you crack the code.
| Term/gen | Feeling | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| B2B (business to business) | It is a business between two companies, rather than between a company and an individual. | We are a B2B brand. We sell software to marketing companies. |
| Fire knowledge | Spread the word about your brand as much as possible. Usually via social media or Google. | Increasing brand awareness is the primary goal of our social media strategy. |
| Name | To create a unique and recognizable identity (visual and non-visual) for a product or company. | The branding of this company is unique. |
| Call to action (CTA) | The button on a website that requests an action, such as making a purchase. | The CTA on our landing page says, "Sign up for free." |
| Case study | A story about someone's experience with your product or service and how they benefited from it. | You need solid case studies if you want your customers to trust you more. |
| Clickbait | Sneaky headlines that entice you to click. Once you do, it turns out it's not what you expected. | The title of this blog article was clickbait! It was a waste of time. |
| Cold call | Call people who have never heard of your brand to sell them your products or services | Cold calling can be an effective marketing strategy if done right. |
| Content Marketing: | Promote your brand through written, audio or video content. | Our content marketing strategy involves publishing informative blog posts to build brand credibility. |
| Exchange rate | The percentage of visitors who take the desired action on your site (such as making a purchase or subscribing to your email list). | We implemented a new checkout process that increased our conversion rate by 10%. |
| Customer journey | The process your customers go through before they buy your stuff. | The customer journey usually has a number of phases. |
| Customer segmentation | Organize your customers into groups based on common characteristics. | We use customer segmentation to customize our email campaigns. |
| It goes viral | You go viral when one of your social media posts gets a ton of engagement that you didn't have before. | One of my Instagram reels went viral and I became a travel influencer. |
| Influencer-marketing | Get a famous person on social media to promote your product or talk about your brand to their followers. | We have a fashion influencer promoting our clothing line on Instagram! |
| Landing page | A page designed to promote a specific product or offer and entice visitors to do something, such as download a freebie or buy something. | Our landing page is not converting. We'll have to redo it. |
| Marketing research | Collect data to understand your audience's preferences and learn what your competitors are doing. | We did market research to know what customers want. |
| On board | Helping new employees get started so they don't feel like confused puppies. Or set it all up for new customers so they can use your product or service without feeling confused (like puppies). | Let's get our new hire up and running. |
| ROI (return on investment) | The measure we calculate to see if the money we invested in something has given us more money. | Let's calculate the return on investment (ROI) to know if we have made a profit on our investment. |
| SEO (Search Engine Optimization) | Optimizing a website or content to improve its visibility and ranking in search engine results. | We need to hire an SEO expert to help us appear on the first page of Google. |
| Engagement on social media | It measures how people interact with your social media content through likes, comments, shares and saves. | Our engagement on social media is very low. We need to post better content! |
| Audience | The group of people who share similar characteristics and are likely to be most interested in your product or service. | Our target group is young mothers who want to get in shape with quick training at home. |
| Statements | The written or recorded opinions people have about your products or services. | How many testimonials should we put on our website? |
| Unique Selling Proposition (USP) | It is the feature that differentiates your product or service from your competitors. | Our USP is our environmentally friendly packaging, which appeals to environmentally conscious consumers. |
Sell vocabulary
Sales are the ultimate goal of any business. Whether you work for a company or for yourself, you need to be fluent in sales language to successfully deal with customers.
We've compiled a list of the most common sales terms and phrases used in the English language to help you better understand their meaning.
| Term/gen | Feeling | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Get a good offer or discount on a purchase. | This new dress was a bargain! |
| Buy in bulk | Buying large quantities of the same product. | When it comes to buying office supplies, I buy them in bulk. |
| Buyer | The person or company that buys something. | The buyer did not agree with the proposed fee for the service. |
| Could | The person who purchases our services. | Our clients are happy with our web design service. |
| Close the sale | Successfully persuaded someone to make a purchase. | After overcoming the customer's objections, I was able to close the sale. |
| Could | The person who buys our products. | Our customers are satisfied with our beauty products. |
| Value for your money | A reasonable and valuable return for the amount spent. | This hotel was good value for money. I will stay there again. |
| Invoice | A document that shows the details and costs of a product or service. | I have invoiced the client for my copywriting services. |
| Negotiate | To try to reach a fair agreement between buyer and seller on terms and price. | We negotiated with the supplier to get a better price for the materials. |
| Out of stock | When a product is temporarily unavailable, it is out of stock. | Sorry, but our t-shirts are sold out. |
| Pay for everything | Paying the full price of a product or service at once. | The customer decided to pay in full so we gave them a discount. |
| Payment with terms | The practice of paying for a purchase in small, regular amounts over a period of time. | You buy the car with a convenient payment plan in monthly installments. |
| Payment plan | An arrangement for paying for something in a structured and planned way. | We offer a flexible payment plan for our consulting packages. |
| Expectation | A potential customer who fits the company's target market and shows or is likely to show interest in the company's products or services. | We have a large number of potential customers to call. |
| Buy | I'm buying something | I recently bought a new car. |
| I quote, reference | To make an offer for a product or service. | I sent the client a quote for our web design service this morning. |
| money back | The money a business returns to a customer for returning a product or canceling a service. | We have issued a refund to the customer who was not satisfied with our service. |
| Dealer | A store or business that sells products directly to customers. | Our store employees sell our goods. |
| Selling sales | A persuasive presentation to convince someone to buy your product or service. | I delivered an epic sales pitch that left the customer speechless. Buy our service now! |
| Selling | The person or company that sells something. | The seller charges a high price for his product. |
| Out of stock | When a product runs out, the store has nothing else. | Tickets for Beyoncé's concert are already sold out. |
| Supplier | A company that supplies another company with the products it will later sell to its customers. | Our clothing supplier did not deliver the t-shirts we ordered on time. |
| Attempt | Try a product or service before making a purchase. | I signed up for a free trial to see what this app has to offer. |
| Wholesaler | A company that sells products in bulk to retailers. | So call the wholesaler and order the usual amount of Coca-Cola cans. |
Vocabulary in finance and accounting
To a non-economist, terms like assets, liabilities and accruals mean nothing more than Egyptian hieroglyphs. Even if you studied accounting in high school or college, you've probably forgotten what these terms mean.
Money is important to all of us, especially when running a business. Whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur, knowing some of the basic finance and accounting vocabulary in English will help you make better business decisions.
Here is a list of important financial and accounting terms in English that you may find useful.
| Term/gen | Feeling | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Activa | Things that a company owns and has value. | Our assets include property, equipment and fixtures. |
| balance | A financial statement showing assets, liabilities and equity. | We need to update the balance sheet for the year-end report. |
| Extreme kick | The level of sales at which a company makes no profit or loss. | We need to sell 500 units to break even. |
| Budget | A plan for how much money a company can use and where it will go. | Let's create a budget for your marketing campaign. |
| Capital | Money invested in a business to start or grow. | We have raised funds from investors to expand our operations. |
| Cash flow | Money flows in and out of a business. | Good cash flow means we can pay our bills on time. |
| devaluation | Depreciation of assets over time. | We must take depreciation into account when calculating the value of the asset. |
| Equity | The company's value after deducting liabilities. | Our equity increased as our business grew. |
| Expenses | The money a business spends on things it needs to run the business. | Our expenses include rent, wages and office supplies. |
| Gross profit | Money back after deduction of cost of goods. | Our gross profit has increased due to cost-cutting measures. |
| Income and loss account | A financial report showing income, expenses and profits. | The income statement showed strong growth in our sales. |
| Inventory | Any products or goods that the company has in stock and plans to sell. | We need to manage our inventory to avoid overstocking or shortages. |
| Debt | Money that a business owes to other people (such as investors or stakeholders). | The loan from the bank is an obligation that we must pay back. |
| Tab | If a company spends more than it earns, it suffers a loss. | Last quarter we had a deficit due to unexpected expenses. |
| Net profit | Money back after deducting all expenses. | We had a net profit of $100,000 this quarter. |
| Profit | The money a business makes from selling products or services. | Our sales skyrocketed after the new product was launched. |
HR Vocabulary
HR people often use many terms that their employees are not familiar with. And it should be! Even if you're not an HR professional, you should know what HR is doing when they use terms like "broadband" or "confidentiality agreement".
Knowing these terms will be useful in many situations, such as signing an employment contract or leaving your job. Here is a list of some basic HR vocabulary you should know.
| Term/gen | Feeling | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant Tracking System (ATS) | A system that helps recruiters keep track of all the applications they receive. | Our ATS saves recruiters a lot of time by manually tracking applications. |
| Behavioral ability | The skills and attributes that contribute to effective work performance. | We assess some of the behavioral skills as management and decision-making skills. |
| Comparative assessment | Compare your performance to industry best practices to identify areas for improvement. | We compare our customer service response time with that of our biggest competitor. |
| Broadband | Consolidation of multiple job levels across wider pay ranges. | Thanks to our broadband approach, we can reduce personnel costs. |
| Confidentiality Agreement | It is an agreement that employees sign that prevents them from using confidential information that they handle outside of their responsibilities as part of their job. | The company made me sign a confidentiality agreement to be approved for the position. |
| End the chat | A conversation that takes place when an employee goes to gather feedback and ideas. | During the exit interview, we asked departing employees to rate their overall experience with us on a scale from 1 to 10. |
| Serious misconduct | An action that is unacceptable in the workplace and should be punished with immediate dismissal. | Did you hear that John committed a serious offence? Immediately fired! |
| Job description | A description that shows everything you have to do in a particular job, usually part of a job posting. | According to my job description, I am responsible for handling customer inquiries 24/7. |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPI'er) | HR KPIs are the metrics used to measure how HR contributes to the company's success. | Average call cost is one of the most important KPIs for measuring HR success. |
| On board | The process of training new employees and making them fully functional team members. | The onboarding process includes 3 weeks of training under the supervision of the team leader. |
| briefing | First day of work for new employees, including a tour of the office and a series of meetings explaining the nature of the work. | During the introduction, we gave new employees a crash course in office culture. |
| RECRUITMENT | The process of finding new employees to work for a company. | We are hiring a team of expert web developers for our new project. |
| Succession planning | Identifying and preparing potential candidates for future key positions. | We train our interns to become future employees as part of our succession planning. |
| Talent management | Cultivate and develop employees' competencies and skills. | Our talent management efforts help our employees stay longer with our company. |
Legal terms and concepts
For some reason company law terms sound scary to those of us who are not well versed in company law. However, any employee, freelancer, entrepreneur or business owner should be familiar with some basic legal terms.
It is important to know these terms when signing contracts and agreements, negotiating an agreement or dealing with a legal matter.
To help you familiarize yourself with these terms and make sure you understand their meaning, we've put together the list below.
| Term/gen | Feeling | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment | An agreement between two or more parties, usually set out in a contract. | Finally, a satisfactory agreement was reached between the two sides. |
| Appendix | An additional part of a contract that contains additional information. | The project proposal contains an appendix that describes the project's results. |
| breach of the convention | This happens when one of the two parties does not comply with the terms agreed in the contract they signed. | The supplier's failure to deliver goods was a breach of contract. |
| clause | A section of a contract that deals with a particular subject. | The non-compete clause prohibits our employees from working for our competitors. |
| Contract | A document that describes the agreement between two parties. | Finally, the customer signed the contract. |
| reign | The exclusive legal right given to the creator of an original work to protect it from unauthorized use. | The author has secured copyright protection for his novel. |
| It does not comply | Failure to comply with the requirements or terms of a signed contract. | The contractor did not comply with the safety regulations. |
| Fint print | The small text, usually at the bottom of a document or contract, that contains important information. | Reading the fine print carefully can help you avoid unpleasant surprises. |
| copyright | Intangible creations of the mind, such as inventions, designs or works of art, that are protected by law. | The company has applied for a patent to protect its intellectual property. |
| Legal dispute | A conflict between two parties that requires legal intervention. | The company has entered into a legal dispute with a former employee. |
| Legal expert | Someone who knows the tricks of the trade and can advise the uninitiated. | The company contacted a legal expert to review the contract. |
| Legally binding | If something is legally binding, it is enforceable. | The contract you have signed is legally binding. |
| Blank | This means that a contract is considered void and has no legal effect. | The court declared the contract void due to false information from one of the parties. |
| Party | A person or company involved in a contract or legal dispute. | Both parties agree on the terms of the employment contract. |
| Contract termination | To terminate the contract before the completion date. | The parties mutually agreed to terminate the agreement. |
| Conditions | The requirements you accept when you sign a contract. | The terms of the contract are clear: You cannot simply terminate it. |
| Feel | A legally registered symbol, word, phrase or logo used to identify a brand or product. | The company registered its logo as a trademark. |
General Terms and Conditions to avoid confusion
Even if you are fluent in business English, there are some commonly used terms that can be confusing.
Did you know that customer and customer are not actually interchangeable? The same applies to sales and profit or marketing and advertising.
What are the differences between them? Let us explain ourselves.
Could vs. could
No, it's not the same. There is a subtle but important difference. A customer is a person who purchases a service. A customer is a person who buys a product.
Collaboration vs Collaboration
Although used interchangeably by most people, there is a not-so-subtle difference between these terms.
Collaboration is when you work together with other people to achieve your own goals. However, cooperation is when you work together with others to achieve a common goal.
Market share vs. market penetration
If you are not a marketing professional, these terms can be very confusing! Both talk about the market share the company claims, but about measuring different things.
Market penetration is the percentage of the total target market that the company sells to. Market share is more detailed and refers to the segment of the target market that buys the company's products.
Sales versus profit
Contrary to popular belief, these two terms are not interchangeable. Revenue is the total income a business generates through its operations. Profit is the income left over after deducting the expenses the business must incur in order to generate income at all.
Marketing vs. advertisement
These two terms are often confused as they overlap. Advertising is part of marketing.
Marketing is the practice of promoting your brand or products to your audience. However, advertising is the practice of paying to publish your content on specific websites (such as social media platforms or Google) to reach your target audience.
Let's wrap it up
Business jargon and business vocabulary can sound intimidating if you're not familiar with it. But with the vocabulary covered in this article in your arsenal, you'll never feel confused again during business or legal discussions.
Once you've mastered them, you'll begin to navigate the business world with increasing confidence while leaving a lasting impression on your boss, colleagues, and clients.
And if you think you need a little more support in business English, check out ourBusiness serviceIcultural educationprograms for employees.
FAQs
How can I speak good English in business? ›
- Read English language newspapers and business websites. ...
- Watch English language TV shows and movies. ...
- Watch English language business and financial news. ...
- Set targets. ...
- Review before bedtime. ...
- Learn aloud. ...
- Put yourself in 'real life' English situations.
- “Good morning / afternoon”
- “Let's begin”
- “I'd like to welcome everyone”
- “Since everyone is here, let's get started”
- “I'd like to thank everyone for coming today”
What are business vocabulary words? Business vocabulary words and phrases are terms used to describe events, outcomes, tasks, entities and processes in the workplace. The stronger your business vocabulary is, the better you will be at communicating important thoughts and concepts to others in your work environment.
How to teach business English like a pro? ›- Focus on high-frequency vocabulary for work. ...
- Help students with vocabulary learning. ...
- Maximize student speaking time. ...
- Provide support for speaking tasks. ...
- Practice work skills your students need. ...
- Teach functional language phrases.
The best way to achieve a C1 level is to have more practice, mainly in the 4 core areas of English - listening, speaking. reading and writing. Afterwards, taking a comprehensive English test can help you assess how much you have improved.
What is business fluency in English? ›Business level fluency
That means being able to converse with other staff, customers and clients, as well as being able to read and write emails and company documents.
Conversational English is the everyday language we use in social situations. Academic language is the formal language of universities, classrooms, and research. And business English is used in the workplace and business dealings.
What is an example of business English dialogue? ›Welcome everyone, please be seated. I am [your name and position] with [your company/team]. These are my colleagues [colleague's name] and [colleague's name]. We are here today to tell you about [your project, product, service, etc.].
Who speaks first in business meeting? ›If everyone doesn't know one another in the meeting room, you need to make introductions. You should do this by starting with the person of the highest rank first, says Pachter.
What do you say to end a meeting? ›- To conclude, we have decided on…
- That just about covers everything for today.
- We have covered everything from our agenda.
- We will have to finish here, but our next meeting will be scheduled for…
- If there's nothing more to discuss, we can end here.
What are the four features of business English? ›
There are a number of characteristics that are important in business English. These include clarity, conciseness, precision, and politeness. Of these, clarity is perhaps the most important.
What is important in business English? ›It is important to have a good basis of General English to be able to communicate effectively. However, Business English courses focus on particular vocabulary, topics and skills that are applicable to the workplace and enable you to communicate accurately. Here are some examples: making phone/conference calls.
Where can I learn business vocabulary? ›Keep up with related blogs, podcasts and videos
Just like non-fiction books, business-related blogs and websites are also easier to understand than newspapers, magazines and novels. Also, bloggers want to keep their audience interested so they don't use unnecessary words or boring language.
To sound more professional, be concise and to the point. Short and uncomplicated sentence structure that uses active verb phrases and minimizes passive voice will express your point more quickly and clearly, avoiding potential miscommunication and confusion.
How do you speak like a leader? ›- Instead of saying “I” say “We.” ...
- Instead of saying “You need to fix this.” say “Let's figure out how to fix this.” ...
- Instead of saying “What are you going to do?” say “What do you think we should do?” ...
- Instead of saying “Who's responsible for this?” say “What is the best way to resolve this?”
- Practice. ...
- Don't articulate a statement as a question. ...
- Slow down. ...
- Use your hands. ...
- Throw away caveats and filler phrases. ...
- Stay hydrated. ...
- Express gratitude. ...
- Insert smiles into your speech.
The answer is yes! You will need to work a lot harder and be serious about your preparation for the C1 Advanced exam. While the B2 First shows you have a good grounding in English, the C1 Advanced is closer to the level of a native speaker.
How fast can you go from B2 to C1? ›| Level of English (CEFR) | Number of hours of instruction |
|---|---|
| A2 to B1 | 300 hours |
| B1 to B2 | 200 hours |
| B2 to C1 | 200 hours |
| C1 to C2 | 200 hours |
B1-B2 is easier because you don't learn as much vocabulary, it's more about idiom."
What level is business fluent? ›C2 – Mastery or Proficiency
This is the highest language proficiency level according to the CEFR scale. A person in this level is already fluent and can already speak with native speakers of the target language naturally and with ease. He/she can already: Understand everything heard or read with ease.
Is fluent better than conversational? ›
Proficient speakers are more comfortable with a language than conversational speakers. Fluent: indicates a high level of comfort using the language and can converse in the same manner as a native speaker.
Is business proficient higher than fluent? ›Proficient – The word, proficient, means a well advanced skill level. In terms of language, the “proficient” label can refer to someone who is very skilled in the use of a language but who uses the language less easily and at a less-advanced level than a native or fluent speaker.
What level of English is conversational? ›Most conversations are held at B2 level, so you can speak with natives without difficulty and with spontaneity. You can also understand the main ideas of texts about topics you are familiar with. You can express yourself fluently in almost any situation, without the need to search for expressions.
What level is business English? ›There are three proficiency levels you can work to obtain: B1 Business Preliminary – working knowledge of business English. B2 Business Vantage – ability to be successful in an international business setting. C1 Business Higher – an advanced level of business English.
What is the standard business English? ›Business English is the type of English used in business contexts, such as international trade, commerce, finance, insurance, banking, and many office settings. It entails expectations of clarity, particular vocabulary, and grammatical structures.
What are 3 examples of dialogue? ›- "Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
- "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
- "You must be,' said the Cat, 'or you wouldn't have come here."
- Start your dialogue in the middle after all of the introductory stuff would have been said, like “Hello,” and “How are you?” Get right into the meat of the conversation.
- Don't have the person talking include the other person's name. ...
- Don't create expositional dialogue.
Assigning tasks to employees, receiving and responding to customer feedback, and publishing a press release are all examples of business communication.
What is professional etiquette? ›Professional etiquette is an unwritten code of conduct regarding the interactions among the members in a. business setting. When proper professional etiquette is used, all involved are able to feel more. comfortable, and things tend to flow more smoothly.
What are the do's and don'ts of a business meeting? ›- Do obtain or create an agenda in advance. ...
- Don't forgo your own note-taking. ...
- Do sit appropriately and comfortably. ...
- Don't keep personal items on the table. ...
- Do try to contribute. ...
- Don't speak too softly. ...
- Do keep people on topic. ...
- Don't discourage ideas or fun.
How do you politely end a meeting? ›
To close a meeting effectively, provide clarity by summarizing the main meeting ideas and clarifying any questions, agree on the action items and due dates, and end with energy, on a positive note, by thanking the participants.
How do you politely end a meeting early? ›“Looks like we've hit everything on the agenda. If no one has anything else to discuss, see you all at next week's meeting.” “There's another meeting in this conference room right after us, so we should probably clear out and let the next guys in.” “Great to see we finished 15 minutes early!
How do you nicely exit a meeting? ›Gather your things quietly, stand up, wait for a breath (if the person is too long-winded) and politely say, “Excuse me. I must leave. I'll catch up with you later,” and LEAVE. Or, “I need to be somewhere else.” Smile, leave.
What are the 5 C's in Business English? ›Construct marketing and other messages effectively by using the 5 C's as a guide: Context, Content, Clarity, Color and Carrier. Make the messages simple, engaging, easy to comprehend and with calls to action. Get more business.
What are the 4 pillars of English? ›Skill #1: Listening. Skill #2: Speaking. Skill #3: Reading. Skill #4: Writing.
What are the 4 points of business? ›A successful small business must have 4 things in their corner – product, market, money & people. Whether you're a startup looking for venture capital or you want to become a successful small business all on your own, there are a few basic – but important – components every business must have.
What are 3 types of processes? ›The 3 main types of process: management, implementation and support In the context of the cross-functional management of an organization, it is essential to model and control its processes.
What are the three importance of business? ›Firstly, it provides high-quality goods and service to the people required for their enjoyment, comfort, and health. Secondly, a business offers employment opportunities to the people by which they can generate income and improve the quality of life.
Why English is the key of business success? ›English language is vital for that success you have in your mind for your enterprise. A sound knowledge of English enables effective communication with your potential customers. When you advertise your business, greet your customer, execute transactions, follow-up to ensure customer satisfaction, English comes handy.
What is the most efficient way to learn vocabulary? ›Use spaced repetition
Repetition fixes new words in your memory. However, repeating them a hundred times over the course of one day will not be as effective as repeating them a few times over a period of several days or weeks (i.e., spaced repetition). Use the new word immediately. Then try to recall it in an hour.
How do you master vocabulary? ›
- Use Memory Techniques. ...
- Create a learning environment. ...
- Put the words in context. ...
- Learn from real-life situations. ...
- Take it to the next level. ...
- Find the tools that work for you. ...
- Make it interactive. ...
- Focus on useful words.
Time to completion can vary based on your schedule, but most learners are able to complete the Specialization in about 6 to 7 months. The specialization focuses on students who have an intermediate level of English, with a minimum of two years of formal language study.
How do you say hello in business English? ›“Hello!” “Good morning”, “Good afternoon,” “Good evening” “It's nice to meet you.” “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
What are fluent business English skills? ›Business level fluency
That means being able to converse with other staff, customers and clients, as well as being able to read and write emails and company documents.
Dear [Name],
This is the most formal option for a general introduction. It addresses your recipient by name and pulls them right into the message. The primary difference between this greeting and others is that, although it's formal, the phrase is also antiquated.
- Good morning/afternoon/evening. These are classic, formal phrases to use when greeting someone, whether it's the first time meeting them or if you've already met them before. ...
- Pleased to meet you. ...
- It's nice to meet you. ...
- It's good to see you. ...
- How are you?
- “Hello!”
- “Good morning.”
- “Good afternoon.”
- “Good evening.”
- “It's nice to meet you.”
- “It's a pleasure to meet you.” (These last two only work when you are meeting someone for the first time.)
- Research. Take some time to read up on the most valuable business skills needed in your industry. ...
- Find a mentor. Having a mentor who has extensive business experience can provide you with the guidance you may need to develop professionally. ...
- Take a business skills course or class.
1. English. English is one of the most important languages for business, as it's spoken by around 1.35 billion people around the world as a first or second language. Many top economies also use English as an official language, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.