A1 Survival phrases and words in English
The absolute minimum English you need to not get stuck — order a coffee, ask the price, escape a sales pitch, recover from a panic moment. Two dozen phrases that turn lost-tourist English into someone who can survive a day anywhere from Heathrow to LAX.
24 phrases · meanings & example sentences
“Say that again, slower”
The single most powerful phrase for a beginner — polite, universal, instantly turns a panic moment into a learning one. Used today anywhere a price, a gate number, an address or a punchline came through too fast to catch.
- Cashier mumbled the price through a mask and the queue piled up behind. Say that again, slower
- First call with the new Berlin team and three of them spoke over each other. Say that again, slower
- Taxi driver gave the address in one breathless sentence and the GPS pinged the wrong street. Say that again, slower
“How do you say ___ in English”
The meta-phrase that builds your vocabulary in real time — point at the thing, ask the question, get the answer. Used today by every learner who'd rather sound curious than pretend they know the word.
- Held up the umbrella in the queue at customs. How do you say this in English
- Wine list in front of him and three grape names he'd never seen. How do you say this in English
- Kid pointed at the lizard on the wall and asked the obvious question. How do you say this in English
“I don't speak much English yet”
The magic word is 'yet' — signals you're learning, not just confused, and most natives instantly slow down. Used today as the opening disclaimer that buys patience anywhere in the English-speaking world.
- Border officer fired three rapid questions about the trip. I don't speak much English yet
- Coffee shop queue, complicated order ahead of her, her turn next. I don't speak much English yet
- First Slack call with the London office and the accents were thicker than expected. I don't speak much English yet
“How much is it”
Four words that unlock every market, taxi, café and souvenir shop in the English-speaking world. Used today by anyone who needs the price before they commit — from haggling in Marrakech to checking the meter in New York.
- Pointed at the leather bag in the souk window. How much is it
- Cab pulled up to the airport curb and the meter wasn't running. How much is it
- Café terrace abroad and no prices on the menu. How much is it
“I'd like a ___, please”
The polite, native-sounding way to order anything — warmer than 'I want', faster than a full sentence. Used today in every café, hotel and pharmacy where you swap in the noun and let the manners do the work.
- First morning in London, third in the queue at the café. I'd like a flat white, please
- Hotel reception, late check-in, drained from the flight. I'd like a quiet room, please
- Pharmacy counter with a thumping headache. I'd like some paracetamol, please
“Didn't catch that”
The native way to say 'I didn't understand' — softer and friendlier than the literal translation. Used today on phone calls, in noisy bars and on Zoom every time the signal dipped for half a second.
- Train tannoy mumbled the platform change. Didn't catch that
- Three people answered at once on the conference call. Didn't catch that
- Friend whispered the punchline as the song kicked in. Didn't catch that
“Could I have the bill”
UK and US restaurants never bring the bill until you ask — you can sit there for an hour wondering why no one comes. Used today as the polite cue that the meal is over and you'd like to leave without flagging the whole room.
- Plates cleared an hour ago, espresso long finished. Could I have the bill
- Last train at eleven and the waiter was deep in conversation at the bar. Could I have the bill
- Group dinner winding down, half the table already in their coats. Could I have the bill
“Where can I find ___”
Better than 'where is' — works for everything: a product, a place, a person. Used today in shops, train stations, museums and anywhere a directory would be quicker than wandering for ten minutes.
- Supermarket aisle two and the milk wasn't where it usually is. Where can I find the milk
- Conference venue with four wings and no signage. Where can I find room 3B
- Bookshop, gift in mind, half an hour to closing. Where can I find the cookbooks
“Just looking, thanks”
The polite brush-off for the shop assistant who asks 'can I help you?' — you don't want help, you want to browse in peace. Used today in every clothes shop, electronics store and bookshop where eye contact triggers a sales pitch.
- Walked in to kill twenty minutes before the train. Just looking, thanks
- Sales assistant a step behind her since the second she entered. Just looking, thanks
- Showroom in Mayfair, prices on request. Just looking, thanks
“Do you speak English”
Slightly ironic when you're already speaking English, but the universal opener for asking strangers for help in airports, stations and small towns. Used today as the polite gate-check before the real question arrives.
- Wrong terminal, twenty minutes to boarding, no idea where the shuttle stops. Excuse me, do you speak English
- Lost in a small Bavarian town with a flat phone battery. Do you speak English
- Tried the local language for three sentences before giving up at the post office counter. Do you speak English
“I'm allergic to ___”
Could literally save your life — memorise this one before 'hello'. Used today by anyone who needs to flag nuts, gluten, shellfish or dairy in a kitchen that doesn't have time to read a list.
- Wedding buffet halfway through the speeches. Just to check, I'm allergic to peanuts
- Tasting menu at a friend's parents' for the first time. I'm allergic to shellfish
- Street food stall in Bangkok and a sauce of unknown provenance. I'm allergic to nuts
“What does ___ mean”
Sister phrase to 'how do you say' — when you hear a word you don't know, repeat it back inside this phrase. Used today by every learner who'd rather ask once than nod blankly through a conversation.
- Bartender called everyone 'love' all night. What does 'love' mean here
- Manager dropped 'EOD' three times in the standup. What does EOD mean
- Friend texted 'I'm gutted'. What does 'gutted' mean
“I'll have what they're having”
The lazy-genius move when you can't read the menu — point at someone else's plate, say this, and instantly look like you know what you're doing. Used today as the universal escape hatch from a wine list, a tasting menu or a foreign script.
- Couple at the next table got a steaming bowl of something incredible. I'll have what they're having
- Whisky list four pages long and the man at the bar looked happy. I'll have what they're having
- Japanese izakaya, no English menu, every plate that passed looked perfect. I'll have what they're having
“Could you write it down”
When directions, addresses or numbers come too fast to remember — hand over your phone or a napkin. Used today by anyone who'd rather see the spelling than mishear the same word a third time.
- Cab driver gave the address with a heavy accent and a fast mouth. Could you write it down
- Restaurant recommendation buried in someone's three-syllable name. Could you write it down
- WiFi password rattled off as the receptionist took the next guest. Could you write it down
“Is this seat taken”
The polite way to claim an empty chair on a train, in a café or at a busy bar. Used today as the soft opener for a quick sit-down — or, on the right day, a conversation with the person across the table.
- Last carriage on the 7:42 to Manchester, one window seat left. Is this seat taken
- Crowded café with a stranger's coat draped over the chair next to them. Is this seat taken
- Saturday night at the bar, one stool free between two strangers. Is this seat taken
“It's on me”
Means 'I'm paying for this' — short, generous, instantly likable. Used today for coffees, drinks, dinners and small celebrations where you want the gesture to feel light, not heavy.
- Friend reached for her wallet at the end of brunch. Put it away, it's on me
- Promotion announcement at the team Friday. First round's on me
- Dad arrived in town for the weekend. Tonight's on me
“Can you recommend something”
Restaurants, bars, neighbourhoods — locals love being asked. Used today as the single best way to skip the bad tourist options and unlock the place the menu doesn't advertise.
- First time at the wine bar and the list was forty deep. Can you recommend something
- Asked the concierge for dinner in walking distance. Can you recommend something
- Friend's dad knew every bookshop in the city. Can you recommend something
“I'll think about it”
The diplomatic way to say 'no' without saying no. Used today for pushy salespeople, eager waiters and anyone trying to close — the polite escape route that keeps the door open without committing.
- Salesman walked her through every option for forty minutes. I'll think about it
- Friend pitched the holiday share-house with a spreadsheet. I'll think about it
- Recruiter on his third follow-up email this month. I'll think about it
“Just a second”
Buys you time — when someone asks a question and your brain freezes searching for the word, say this, take a breath, then answer calmly. Used today as the universal pause button in every exchange where the clock started ticking.
- Cashier asked if she wanted the receipt and her brain rebooted. Just a second
- Phone call from the bank, security questions in rapid fire. Just a second
- Friend's mum asked how the new job was going in flawless quick English. Just a second
“Where's the bathroom”
The first phrase any traveller actually needs — direct enough to work even when nothing else does. Used today in restaurants, museums, airports and friends' houses everywhere, with no shame attached.
- Three espressos into the morning meeting. Where's the bathroom
- Museum lobby, kid pulling at her sleeve. Where's the bathroom
- Dinner party at a friend-of-a-friend's flat. Where's the bathroom
“Excuse me”
The universal English opener for getting past, getting noticed, or getting answered — softer than 'sorry', sharper than 'hello'. Used today on crowded trains, in shops, and any time you need a stranger's attention for half a second.
- Tube doors about to close and a wall of suits between her and the exit. Excuse me
- Café terrace and the waiter just blew past with two trays. Excuse me
- Asked the man at the next table where the printed menu went. Excuse me
“Can I pay by card”
The essential check at small cafés, taxis and market stalls where cash might still be king. Used today by travellers, expats and anyone who forgot to hit the ATM before the queue formed.
- Cab pulled up to the kerb and only twenty in cash in her wallet. Can I pay by card
- Bakery counter, queue building, no ATM in sight. Can I pay by card
- Tiny family restaurant in the old town, no signs at the till. Can I pay by card
“Help, please”
The single most direct phrase in English — drop the rest, say these two words, and every native around understands. Used today in any moment that turns from inconvenience to emergency in seconds.
- Stranger collapsed on the platform as the train pulled in. Help, please
- Suitcase wheel snapped halfway up the hostel stairs. Help, please
- Locked out of the Airbnb with the key still inside. Help, please
“Can I have some water”
The first request anyone learns past 'hello' — works on planes, in restaurants and at the gym. Used today as the universally safe ask when you need something fast, with zero risk of misunderstanding.
- Heatwave in Madrid, three blocks from the next shop. Can I have some water
- Long-haul flight, mouth like sandpaper, attendant in the aisle. Can I have some water
- Restaurant table and the waiter hadn't returned in twenty minutes. Can I have some water
