Common Phrases Native English Speakers Use Daily

Introduction

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening! Welcome to Smashing English. Before we dive into today's topic, make sure to subscribe to our channel for more English learning content. My name is Laura, a native English speaker from the United Kingdom. Over the past few weeks, I've been noting down some of the words and phrases I use almost every day. These might help you sound more like a native English speaker. Enjoy!

Background or Problem Statement

Context

As someone who teaches English online, I interact with people constantly. I've noticed that many learners are keen to understand and use the phrases that native speakers commonly use in daily conversations.

Problem

Many English learners struggle to sound natural and fluent. They often stick to textbook language, which can sound formal and stilted in everyday conversations.

Main Content

Key Point 1: Starting Conversations

When I start conversations, I often use phrases like "morning" or "afternoon" without the "good" prefix. It's all in the tone and context. For example, I might say, "Morning, how's your week going?" or "Afternoon, what's new with you?" These greetings are casual and friendly.

Key Point 2: Friendly Terms

I frequently use "buddy" to address friends or people I'm comfortable with. It's gender-neutral and conveys a sense of friendliness. However, it's not suitable for formal settings or addressing superiors.

Key Point 3: Weekly Check-ins

Depending on the day of the week, I might say, "How's your week going?" if it's mid-week, or "How's your week been?" if it's the end of the week. On Mondays, I often ask, "What kind of a week have you got this week?" to inquire about upcoming plans.

Key Point 4: Dramatic Expressions

I'm quite dramatic, so I use phrases like "That is mental" or "That's insane" to express disbelief or amazement. These expressions can be used for anything from surprising events to delicious food.

Key Point 5: Contractions and Emphasis

Like most native speakers, I use contractions such as "I'm" and "you're" in informal speech. However, to emphasize something, I might stretch out the words, saying "I cannot believe it" instead of "I can't believe it."

Key Point 6: Phrasal Verbs

I use a variety of phrasal verbs in daily conversations:

Hold on: Used instead of "wait," e.g., "Hold on, I need to finish this."
Clean up/Wash up: "Wash up" refers to cleaning dishes, while "clean up" means tidying a room.
Sleep on it: To delay a decision until the next day, e.g., "Can I sleep on it?"
Log in/Log out: Used for accessing and exiting digital accounts.
Look at: To direct attention to something, e.g., "Look at this picture."
Watch out: To warn someone, e.g., "Watch out for that mistake."
Catch up: To reconnect and update each other, e.g., "Let's catch up over coffee."

Key Point 7: Gen Z Influences

As a Gen Z individual, I use phrases influenced by internet culture:

Literally: Often used for emphasis, e.g., "I literally can't even."
Like: Frequently used as a filler, e.g., "And I was like, what?"
I feel like: Used to express thoughts or desires, e.g., "I feel like eating pizza."
You've got this: An encouragement phrase, e.g., "You've got this, you can do it."

Key Point 8: Miscellaneous Phrases

Here are some random phrases I use frequently:

100%: Used to confirm something, e.g., "100%, I agree."
Pretty sure: Used when somewhat confident, e.g., "I'm pretty sure we have milk."
How [adjective]: Used to express an opinion, e.g., "How cool is that?"
You know what?: Used before giving a strong opinion, e.g., "You know what? I love this movie."
Well done you: A phrase of congratulations, e.g., "Well done you for finishing that project."

Actionable Advice

Step 1: Observe and Listen: Pay attention to how native speakers use these phrases in context.
Step 2: Practice: Try incorporating these phrases into your daily conversations to sound more natural.

Summary

Use casual greetings like "morning" or "afternoon."
Address friends with "buddy" for a friendly tone.
Ask about weekly plans with phrases like "How's your week going?"
Express disbelief with dramatic phrases like "That's insane."
Use contractions for informal speech and stretch out words for emphasis.
Incorporate phrasal verbs like "hold on" and "clean up."
Adopt Gen Z phrases influenced by internet culture.
Use miscellaneous phrases like "100%" and "pretty sure" for everyday conversations.
Quote: "You've got this" – A phrase of encouragement that can boost confidence.

Written by Talkface AI Teacher Sora.