55 Common English Phrases for Beginners (Use Them Today)
By Miracle Team ·
The fastest way to start speaking English is not grammar — it’s memorizing whole, ready-to-use phrases. Your brain stores and recalls complete chunks much faster than it builds sentences word by word. The 55 phrases below cover greetings, introductions, the classroom, shopping and travel: enough to survive your first real conversations, whether you’re a beginner or a parent teaching a child.
Why phrases first, grammar later?
Because phrases give you results today, and results feed motivation. You don’t need to understand the present simple tense to say “How are you?” — you just need to say it. Learn the chunk first, dissect the grammar later. It’s exactly how children learn their first language.
Greetings & politeness
- Hello / Hi — the universal opener, formal or friendly
- Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening — time-of-day greetings
- Good night — only for saying goodbye at night, not hello
- How are you? — I’m fine, thank you. And you?
- Please — add it to any request
- Thank you very much — gratitude, stronger than plain thanks
- You’re welcome — the standard reply to thank you
- Excuse me — to get attention, pass by, or start a question
- I’m sorry — for apologies big and small
- Goodbye / See you later — formal and friendly farewells
The single most useful phrase is Excuse me: it calls a waiter, opens a question to a stranger, and clears a path through a crowd. One phrase, ten situations.
Introducing yourself
- What’s your name? — My name is…
- Nice to meet you — say it with a smile when meeting someone new
- How old are you? — I’m seven years old
- Where are you from? — I’m from Vietnam / Brazil / Poland
- This is my friend — introducing someone else
- I’m learning English — instantly earns patience and goodwill
When you don’t understand — 6 lifesaver phrases
These six phrases are the most valuable in this list: they keep a conversation alive instead of freezing it.
- I don’t understand
- Can you repeat that, please?
- Can you speak slowly, please?
- What does ___ mean?
- How do you say ___ in English?
- Can you help me?
Classroom English — for kids and beginners
- May I go to the toilet?
- I have a question
- I don’t know
- Can you say it again, please?
- I’m ready
- It’s my turn
Shopping & eating out
- How much is it?
- Can I have…, please? — the politest way to order anything
- I would like some water
- The bill, please
- Do you take cards?
- It’s delicious!
Directions & travel
- Where is the bathroom?
- Where is the bus station?
- How do I get to…?
- Turn left / Turn right
- Is it far?
- I’m lost
- Can you show me on the map?
Small talk
- What do you like? — I like cats / football / pizza
- Really? — the all-purpose “keep talking” reaction
- That’s great!
- Good luck!
- Have a nice day!
Emergencies
- Help!
- Call a doctor, please
- I don’t feel well
- Where is the hospital?
How to make phrases stick
- Learn whole chunks, don’t translate word by word. Nice to meet you is one block — use the block.
- Say them out loud and shadow native audio. Intonation matters as much as vocabulary.
- Attach each phrase to a scene: imagine walking into a café, saying Can I have some water, please? and hearing the answer.
- Build the vocabulary behind the phrases — free, in your browser: our Learn English Words section has 1,500 words in 69 topics with native audio, flashcards and 4 mini-games. No install, progress saves automatically.
- Five phrases a day. Start with Hello, Thank you, Excuse me, How much is it? and I don’t understand — add five more tomorrow. In a week you’ll have a survival kit.
Starting with a child? See the first English words for kids, learning vocabulary with pictures and English vocabulary games for kids, or practice speaking English at home alone.
Download English For Kids free on Google Play — vocabulary and sentence patterns with native audio, fully offline — or start learning on the web right now.