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The most common business English vocabulary and conversation samples

Name: Prep Education
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Nowadays, English communication skills for working professionals are increasingly necessary in the workplace. In today's article, PREP will comprehensively compile for you the most common business English vocabulary and some advanced business vocabulary, as well as guide you on how to effectively self-study at home. Let's take a look!

140+ most common business English vocabulary

I. English business words list
II. English business conversation samples
III. English communication resources for working professionals
IV. Guide to self-learning conversational English for working professionals

I. English business words list

First, let's master some of the most common business English vocabulary as well as some business English phrases in the table below!

Business English vocabulary
Vocabulary	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
Job /dʒɒb/	n	the regular work that a person does to earn money	I have a part-time job as a waiter at a local restaurant.
Occupation /ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən/	n	a person’s job	Her occupation is a doctor.
Career /kəˈrɪər/	n	the job or series of jobs that you do during your working life, especially if you continue to get better jobs and earn more money	He has had a successful career in finance for over 20 years.
Workplace /ˈwɜːrkˌpleɪs/	n	a building or room where people perform their jobs, or these places generally	Our company recently moved to a new workplace downtown.
Colleague /ˈkɒliːɡ/	n	one of a group of people who work together	I enjoy working with my colleagues because we make a great team.
Boss /bɒs/	n	the person who is in charge of an organization and who tells others what to do	My boss is very supportive.
Deadline /ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/	n	a time or day by which something must be done	We have to finish this project before the deadline.
Contract /ˈkɒn.trækt/	n	a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself	I need to sign a contract before starting my new job.
Salary /ˈsæləri/	n	a fixed amount of money agreed every year as pay for an employee, usually paid directly into his or her bank account every month	The company offers competitive salaries to attract top talent.
Commission /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/	n	a payment to someone who sells goods that is directly related to the amount sold, or a system that uses such payments	The salesperson earns a commission for each product they sell.
Holiday pay /ˈhɒl.ə.deɪ peɪ/	n	any form of alternative compensation an employer offers employees during holidays	Employees usually receive holiday pay for national holidays.
Maternity leave /məˈtɜː.nə.ti liːv/	n	a period in which a woman is legally allowed to be absent from work in the weeks before and after she gives birth	She is taking maternity leave to spend time with her newborn baby.
Sick leave /sɪk liːv/	n	time away from work because of illness	He took a few days of sick leave due to a bad flu.
Working hours /ˈwɜː.kɪŋ ˈaʊəz/	n	the amount of time someone spends at work during a day	The working hours for this job are from 9am to 6pm.
Health insurance /helθ ɪnˈʃɔː.rəns/	n	an arrangement in which you make regular payments to an insurance company in exchange for that company paying most or all of the costs of your medical care	The company offers health insurance coverage for its employees.
Promotion /prəˈməʊʃən/	n	the act of raising someone to a higher or more important position or rank	After years of hard work, she finally received a promotion to a higher position.
Resign /rɪˈzaɪn/	v	to give up a job or position by telling your employer that you are leaving	She decided to resign from her position due to personal reasons.
Retire /rɪˈtaɪər/	v	to leave your job or stop working because of old age or ill health	He plans to retire next year after working for 40 years.
Pension /ˈpen.ʃən/	n	an amount of money paid regularly by the government or a private company to a person who does not work any more because they are too old or have become ill	After retiring, she will receive a monthly pension from her former company.

II. English business conversation samples

In addition to the common English vocabulary for business, let's refer to the English business conversation samples by topic below!

1. Sample sentences for daily work conversation

English business conversation samples

How do you do?

How is it going? How are you doing?

I don’t usually work overtime.

This has been a hectic week. I have had lots of tasks.

How long does it take you to get to work?

How do you get to work?

How long have you worked here?

It’s been great talking to you, but I’ve got to get back to work.

Here’s my business card.

2. Sample sentences for exchange during a job interview

English business conversation samples

What are your short term goals?

Why should we hire you?

How would you describe your work style?

So why did you decide to apply for this?

I've always wanted to work in the sector.

I graduated from ______.

I have a degree in ______.

I'm a quick learner.

I have strong problem-solving skills.

I'm eager to contribute.

I'm a good communicator.

3. Sample sentences to ask about company information

English business conversation samples

I wonder if you could explain about ______.

Would you mind telling me a little bit more about benefits at this company?

Can you describe my role in more detail?

Who will I be working with in my team?

What are the typical work hours here?

Are there opportunities for advancement within the company?

How long has your company been established?

How many departments do you have?

How many employees do you have?

4. Sample sentences for communication on the first day of work

English business conversation samples

Glad to have you in our team, Mr Martin.

Welcome to your first day in our company.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Do you want me to show you around the place?

Are you new here?

I've just joined as a/an _______.

I'm really looking forward to contributing to the team's success.

Could you show me the _______ Department?

Are there any specific company policies or procedures I should be aware of?

Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm eager to get started.

I appreciate your time and guidance. I'll do my best in this role.

I'm excited to start this new journey and I'm fully committed to giving it my best effort.

5. Sample sentences for communication during the probationary period

English business conversation samples

What kind of thing do I have to do?

How long does it take for my internship?

Do I have to take part in a training course?

Who is my supervisor?

How will you evaluate my performance?

I'm eager to prove myself and contribute to the team's success during my probation period.

I see this as a valuable opportunity to learn and grow in my role.

6. Sample sentences for communication with colleagues

English business conversation samples

Can/ Could you help me take a look at this? I’m having some difficulties with it.

How is the ______ going? Do you need help?

I think we should have some discussion on/ about ______.

Can/ Could you switch shifts with me this Friday/Monday/…?

That’s a good/ creative/ bold idea.

7. Sample sentences for exchange during a meeting

English business conversation samples

What time does the meeting start?

What time does the meeting finish?

As everyone is here, let us begin the meeting.

In today’s meeting, we will focus on/ discuss/ talk about ______.

We would like to hear from Mr/Mrs ______ about ______.

Sorry for interrupting you, but can you give me/us more information on ______?

Any thoughts before we close the meeting?

I think we’ve covered everything. Thanks for your contributions.

I think this matter needs further discussion.

It’s time to divide the tasks. Who would like to be in charge of ______?

Please inform me right when you have completed your task.

8. Sample sentences to express praise for the workplace

English business conversation samples

He deserved credits, certainly.

You did a good job.

You’ve done a great job.

Well done. I’m proud of you.

Awesome, you’re awesome.

Good job on the report! I think the executives will like it.

What a marvelous memory you’ve got!

He is so prospective.

9. Sample sentences for communication with customers

English business conversation samples

I’ll be with you in a moment.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Can I help you?

Do you need any help?

What can I do for you?

10. Sample sentences for communication when working in a team

English business conversation samples

I would like to introduce all of you to the new members of our group.

We are glad you join us.

Can we talk a little bit about the project?

We are going to need all people’s input on that project.

Can you talk about what plans we have for the future?

Keep to the point, please.

That sounds like a fine idea.

11. Sample sentences for communication when making/receiving phone calls

11.1. When receiving a phone call

English business conversation samples

Company PREP, this is ______. How may I help you?

May I have your name please?

May I ask who am I speaking with?

Sure, let me check on that.

Sure, one moment please.

Can I put you on hold for a minute?

Do you mind holding while I check on that.

He’s/she’s not available at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?

Is there anything else I can help you with?… Okay, thanks for calling.

11.2. When making a phone call

English business conversation samples

Good morning/afternoon/evening. This is ______ at/ calling from ______. Could I speak to ______?

Can I leave a message for him/her?

Could you tell him/her that I called, please?

Okay, thanks. I’ll call back later.

I’m sorry, we have a bad connection. Could you speak a little louder, please?

Thank you very much. Have a good day.

12. Sample sentences for communication with customers

English business conversation samples

Can I help you?

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Do you need any help?

What can I do for you?

How may I assist you today?

Thank you for choosing us/ our service!

If you have any questions or problems when using our service/ product, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We sincerely apologize for your unpleasant experience! We will take care of this immediately.

Thank you for your valuable feedback! We will try our best to improve our service.

The information/document/data/… will be sent to you via email as soon as possible/before ____/within ____.

13. Sample sentences to request leave

English business conversation samples

Mr/Mrs. ______, I would like to ask you a favor. May I take this Friday/Monday/… off? I need to ______.

Could I take a day off this/ next week/…, Mr/Mrs. ______? I need to ______.

I’m sorry, I think I may not be able to work tomorrow as I’m not feeling well right now.

Wouldn’t it be possible for me to take this Friday/Monday/… morning off because I have a family matter?

She’s on maternity leave.

He’s off sick today.

She’s on holiday.

I would like to ask permission for a day off from work on ______ because ______

How many weeks of holidays should I get?

Do I get paid for my holidays?

I would like to request some time off next month for ______.

Is it possible to take a few days off for ______?

Would it be possible to adjust my work schedule for a long weekend trip?

14. Sample sentences to resign from a job

English business conversation samples

______ years of working at ______ has given me lots of valuable experience and memories. However, I think it’s time for me to challenge myself in a new work environment.

Here is my letter of resignation. I hope you will consider it.

I’ve been trying, but I don’t think I’m up to this job. Sorry, here is my resignation.

During my last week, I’ll do everything possible to wrap up my duties and train other team members.

Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to aid during the transition.

III. English communication resources for working professionals

Apart from the useful English business conversation samples above, you also need to enhance your knowledge of the following business English resources:

1. Business Goals Professional English

"Business Goals Professional English" is one of the famous business English communication books, aiming to help learners use a foreign language effectively in the business field and exchange ideas at work.

"Business Goals Professional English" focuses on providing real-life communication scenarios, vocabulary, and grammar structures related to work and business. In the book, you will learn how to discuss in meetings, conduct transactions, write correspondence, and negotiate diplomatically in English.

2. Oxford Business English

"Oxford Business English" is a business English communication textbook published by Oxford University Press. Each business English topic is presented specifically and comes with practice exercises to help readers apply the knowledge they have learned into practice.

The book series starts from basic knowledge and skills, then gradually advances to more complex aspects of business communication. Additionally, the book comes with a CD for practicing listening to native-speaker conversations to enhance your listening skills and language reflexes in the daily business environment.

3. Market Leader

"Market Leader" is one of the widely used and popular books for teaching business English, published by Pearson Education. The content of the "Market Leader" curriculum is very diverse, covering various business and management topics such as marketing, advertising, finance, human resource management, and business strategies.

Besides that, the "Market Leader" series provides learners with a wealth of reference materials including reading passages, writings, listening materials, and conversation videos. This helps learners expand their vocabulary and industry knowledge, while also improving their language skills and understanding of the context in the business work environment.

IV. Guide to self-learning conversational English for working professionals

How can working professionals effectively self-learn conversational English? Here are some methods to improve your language skills:

1. Practice listening to conversational English

Make time in your daily schedule to practice listening to conversational English about your work or areas of interest. This will gradually expose you to industry-specific vocabulary and dialogues. If your English level is not strong yet, you can use bilingual subtitles for reference. Consider listening to business-focused podcasts like TED Business, HBR IdeaCast, The EntreLeadership Podcast, and The Indicator from Planet Money.

2. Read English news

In addition to listening practice, combine it with reading English news on economics, finance, education, or general life topics. This will help you build a diverse English vocabulary across different subjects, as well as stay updated on global developments in your field. Some reputable English news sources to access include The Times, and The Economist.

3. Join online English conversation classes

In addition, to practice effective communication, you should also explore and participate in some online English speaking skill-building courses after work hours. You can consider PrepTalk's unique Context-Based Learning method to learn conversational English. Instead of boring lessons, you'll learn through listening to and practicing common phrases and sentence structures in funny sitcom clips. You'll get to imitate the sentences you just watched, repeat incorrect sentences to improve your reflexes and language skills. You'll also be tested on the knowledge you've learned through engaging, fun games. Especially, PrepTalk gives you the opportunity to practice speaking with an AI system that will provide detailed feedback and scoring to help you improve as much as possible.

The article above from PREP has comprehensively covered the most common business English vocabulary and expressions, while also guiding you on effective self-study at home. Let’s save this information for your future reference! Wishing you great success!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.