How to Sound More Natural in English: Common British Phrases for Everyday Conversation
Do you want to take your English to the next level and learn how to sound like a true English native?
It is one thing learning from a textbook and being able to speak “perfect” English, and an entirely different thing sounding like a native speaker.
Of course, it is important that you first learn the correct way to speak, as this is useful in formal settings. Regular spoken English practice online helps bridge the gap between textbook knowledge and natural fluency.
But you’ll find that this kind of English is rarely used in day-to-day language. If you want to impress your British friends, then keep reading as we’re going to show you some of the most local ways to speak!
In this article we will go over some genuinely common phrases, words and tips that are used in everyday British English. Combining these with spoken English practice online will allow you to incorporate truly British English into your vocabulary.
For each of the sections we’ll give you a definition, and example, so that you know exactly how to incorporate them. Get ready to sound more local than ever!
Table of Contents
- Common greetings/farewells
- Common phrases
- Idioms
- Irony and Sarcasm
- Text Abbreviations
- Conclusion
Remember, these are British phrases specifically. There might be some crossovers with other varieties of English, but your American friends may not be familiar with all of them.
Useful Tip: Here at English Language & Literature we offer spoken English practice online, where you can practice using these new phrases. Sign up here (insert link).
Common Greetings/Farewells
You are probably already familiar with the most obvious greetings and farewells: Hello, hi, hey, bye, and see you later.
But there are many other ways that British people greet each other.
Diversifying your greetings will give people the impression that you are confident in English. This is especially useful when it comes to first impressions!
| Greeting/Farewell | Meaning | Example |
| “Alright?” | A casual way of saying hello. It does not necessarily mean that you are asking someone if they are actually alright. | “Alright Greg?”“Hey John yeah how’s it going?” |
| “How’s it going?” | A casual way of saying hello. | “How’s it going mate?” |
| “What’s new?” | A way to ask for updates on someone’s life since you last saw them. | “So, what’s new with you?” |
| “Fancy seeing you here” | Used when you run into someone in an unexpected location. | “Luna, what a surprise! Fancy seeing you here” |
| “Toodle-oo” | A playful or old-fashioned way of saying goodbye. | “I’ve had such a nice day with you Megan. Anyway’s toodle-oo!” |
| “Got to run” / “Got to be on my way” “Got to head off”“Pop off” | Indicating you have to leave. You are not actually saying that you have to run. | “I’ve got to run, my Zoom call starts in 5 minutes and I’m going to go make a cup of coffee first.” |
| “Catch you later” | A casual way of saying goodbye when you expect to see someone again soon. | “Anyways, I’ll catch you later. Have a good day!” |
Why not try out some of these greetings and farewells in your next spoken English practice online session? Your tutor will be impressed!
Common Phrases
Common phrases are not only useful for specific situations. They can also be used to fill gaps in conversation and make your English sound more natural.
Whether you are just starting out with English, or are already at a more advanced level, these phrases will boost your confidence.
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
| Taking the mickey | To tease or mock someone, usually in a lighthearted way. | “I don’t actually think you’re a bad cook, I was just taking the mickey” |
| To be honest / Not going to lie | A way to introduce an honest opinion that may be considered slightly impolite. | “To be honest, I don’t like working with him”“Not going to lie, this food isn’t great” |
| Like | A filler word, commonly used while thinking about what to say next. | “I was like, running down the road and then like, a bike almost crashed into me. It was like, kind of scary” |
| Darling, lovely, sweetheart, babe | Terms of endearment used with friends, family, partners or even sometimes with strangers. | “How are you feeling today, lovely?” |
| Fair enough | A way of accepting or acknowledging someone’s choice or opinion, even if you don’t necessarily agree. | “I just couldn’t stay at the party any longer, I was too tired”“Fair enough” |
| Sorry | Used to be polite, get someone’s attention or ask someone to repeat themselves. | “Sorry, would you be able to pass me the milk from that shelf?”“Sorry, could you just repeat that please?” |
| Is it | A short response to show interest or surprise about something someone has said. | ”I just got back from my holiday.”“Is it?” |
The best way to learn these phrases is by practicing them. Only then will they start to feel natural.
Next time you’re having a conversation with someone, whether in a spoken English practice online session, or in group English classes online, try incorporating one or more of these phrases.
Some of these terms are slang and would not be considered “proper” English in every situation. For example, using like in every other sentence is not recommended.
However, using it occasionally is common in casual conversation and can give you a little more time to think about what you want to say.
Idioms
Like in all languages, idioms are common turns of phrases.
Idioms are some of the hardest phrases to learn, as they can seem totally nonsensical if you are not used to them. This is why spoken English practice online with a tutor can be so helpful when learning them.
But if you manage to incorporate an idiom correctly, you’ll amaze your conversation partners!
Don’t worry if you use them incorrectly at first. You’ll learn as you go. At worst, if you use them slightly incorrectly, you might give your British friends a good little chuckle (which is never a bad thing!)
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| “Not black and white” | There is not such a clear line between right and wrong; the situation is more complicated or nuanced. | “Sara and Jane fell out because Sara felt Jane had been a bad friend, but it’s not that black and white. Sara made some mistakes too” |
| “Whole different kettle of fish” | A completely different situation or matter to the one previously discussed. | “The bus works great in London, but when it’s rush hour, that’sour thats a whole different kettle of Fish” |
| “Let’s call it a day” | To suggest finishing up what you’re doing, particularly after working. | “We’ve almost finished sorting out the house, let’s call it a day and go to the pub” |
| “Bigger fish to fry” | There are more important problems that need your attention. | “I’m not sure if I am going to get fired, but honestly I’ve got bigger fish to fry with everything else going on” |
| “Hit the nail on the head” | To identify or describe a problem or situation exactly. | “Yes, that’s exactly what I am saying. You’ve really hit the nail on the head” |
| “The final straw” | The final problem or event that makes an already difficult situation too hard to handle. | “After he didn’t show up to dinner, I had to break up with him. It was the final straw.” |
| “Fish in the sea” | A comforting phrase when a romantic connection doesn’t work out, suggesting that there are other romantic possibilities. | “Cheer up Annie, there are plenty more fish in the sea!” |
Fun Fact: British English has many fish-related idioms, which is connected to Britain’s long history of fishing and maritime culture.
When you are undergoing English learning for beginners, idioms can be confusing.Their literal meaning is often completely different to their actual meaning.
The best way to learn them is to pay attention to the context in which native speakers use them. The Cambridge Dictionary is also a great resource for finding idiom definitions and example sentences.
Irony and Sarcasm
British people are known for their dry sense of humour and sarcasm. It is often used to make light of unfortunate situations.
Humour is another difficult thing to master in another language. Luckily, many of these phrases can be used in a variety of slightly unfortunate situations.
The key to British humour is to not take yourself, or any situation, too seriously. If done right, you’re going to get a good laugh out of your British friends or tutors.
Understanding this kind of humour can also help you feel more comfortable in everyday conversations and your spoken English practice online sessions, as British people often use sarcasm without directly explaining that they are joking.
| Word / Phrase | Use | Example |
| Brilliant / Great | Used sarcastically as a response to an unfortunate statement or event. | “I don’t think Mary likes your new haircut.hair cut”“Brilliant” |
| Could be worse | Used to lighten the mood when something bad has happened. | “And then the mechanic said my car was broken beyond repair. But hey, it could be worse.” |
| Not ideal | An understated way of describing something quite unfortunate. | “Our flight was cancelled and the next one wasn’t for another 24 hours. It wasn’t ideal.” |
| Right | Can be used when you hear something that sounds slightly unbelievable, suspicious, or like a poor excuse. | “I’m sorry I didn’t do my homework, my dog ate it.”“Right” |
| Living the dream | Used sarcastically to make light of an unfortunate or tiring situation. | “At the moment I’m working 50 hour weeks. You could say I’m living the dream” |
| Seen better days | Used when something or someone looks particularly dishevelled. | “That shirt has about six holes in it. It’s seen better days.” |
| Twist my arm | Used when someone wants to do something but jokingly pretends they need convincing. | “Alright fine, twist my arm, let’s go to the pub.” |
Sarcasm can be difficult to recognise at first, especially when you are learning through textbooks. Spoken English practice online can be particularly useful here because you can hear how someone’s tone of voice changes the meaning of the words.
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Nowadays, a lot of our communication happens over text. English, like any other language, has developed its own texting language, including abbreviations and specific styles of writing.
An abbreviation is usually made up of the first letter of each word, that represents the entire phrase. For example, “thank you” can be abbreviated to “TY”. Here, the T represents thank and the Y represents you.
As much of your English language learning may be happening online, through spoken English practice online sessions, online communities or social media, learning these can help you understand how people actually communicate with each other.
Remember that texting is much more informal than speaking or writing in a professional setting. These abbreviations are best saved for conversations with friends, family and people you already know well.
| Abbreviation | Phrase | Use | Example |
| LOL | Laugh Out Loud | Used when something is funny or ironic. | “I just saw my old teacher and he was wearing a dinosaur costume on the bus”“LOL that’s such a funny image” |
| JK | Just Kidding | Used after making a joke to show that you do not mean what you just said. | “Can you grab me some milk from the shop?”“No sorry… JK, yes of course” |
| WFH | Work From Home | Used to say that you are working from home. | “Are you in the office today?”“No, I’m WFH” |
| LMK/ LYK | Let Me Know / Let You Know | Used to ask someone to keep you updated or to say that you will update them. | “Just LMK what time you finish and I’ll head over”“Yes, I’ll LYK” |
| WUUT | What are you up to | Used to ask someone what they’re doing. | “Hey, how are you? WUUT at the moment? |
| ATM | At The Moment | Used to talk about what is happening currently. | “Are you in France ATM?” |
| XXX | Kisses | A way to sign off a message to friends or family, usually to show affection. | “It was so nice speaking to you! Take care XXX” |
Fun Fact: signing off messages with “x” or “xxx” is particularly common in British texting culture. The number of kisses can also vary depending on the person.
Conclusion:
Learning to speak natural English is about much more than memorising vocabulary from a textbook. That kind of learning can only get you so far.
The small phrases, idioms, jokes and expressions that people use in everyday conversations can make a huge difference to how comfortable and confident you feel when speaking.
Trust us, this confidence will not be missed by native speakers, and neither will your brilliant incorporation of “it’s not always black and white”!
You do not need to start using all of these phrases at once. Pick a few that you think you would naturally use and try them out in your next conversation. The more you hear and use them, the easier they will become.
Whether you are practising with British friends, watching your favourite TV show, trying spoken English practice online platforms, or taking group English classes online, listening to how native speakers actually communicate is one of the best ways to develop your skillset.
And if you want some more support, spoken English practice online can give you the opportunity to practice these phrases in conversation whilst getting feedback from a tutor. We also recommend BBC Learning English as a great free resource for improving your spoken English.
So, let’s give these phrases a go, and see if you can sound a little more British in your next conversation!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are some common British English phrases?
Ans: Some common British English phrases include “Alright?”, “How’s it going?”, “Fair enough,” “Catch you later,” and “Taking the mickey.”
Q. How can I sound more like a British English speaker?
Ans: Practising common British phrases, idioms, casual expressions, and everyday conversations can help you sound more natural. Regular spoken English practice online can also improve your confidence. Pasted text
Q. What is the difference between British English and American English phrases?
Ans: British English has many expressions and slang terms that may not be commonly understood by American English speakers. Some phrases may overlap, but their usage can differ. Pasted text
Q. What does “Alright?” mean in British English?
Ans: “Alright?” is a casual British greeting. It is generally used to say hello rather than to ask whether someone is actually alright. Pasted text
Q. Why are British idioms difficult to understand?
Ans: British idioms can be confusing because their literal meaning is often different from what they actually mean. Understanding the context in which native speakers use them makes them easier to learn.
Writer: Lisa
Designer: Amelia
