· 6 min read
English Phrases for Beginners: 39 to Learn
By Language Lab editorial team
39 English phrases for beginners from the British Council's A1 speaking lessons: meeting people, saying where you're from, checking understanding and more.
A beginner in English needs a small set of phrases that work in real situations, not a long word list. The 39 phrases below come from the British Council's free A1 speaking lessons, where A1 is the elementary level. They cover five situations: meeting new people, saying where you are from, checking that you have understood, making suggestions and talking about other people. Start with Nice to meet you, Where are you from? and Could you say that again, please? Say each phrase aloud, because the British Council's own method is to listen and then repeat. The Council of Europe describes an A1 speaker as someone who can introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about personal details, when the other person talks slowly and clearly.
Meeting new people
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Hi, I'm Yuna. | Introduce yourself |
| You must be Vanya. | Check who someone is |
| Nice to meet you. | Greet someone for the first time |
| You too. | Answer Nice to meet you |
| This is Vanya. | Introduce another person |
| So how was your journey? | Start a friendly conversation with a visitor |
| It's great to be here! | Say you are happy to arrive |
| Welcome to the team! | Welcome a new colleague |
Change the names to your own. Hi, I'm and This is are the two patterns to remember: the first introduces you, the second introduces someone else.
Saying where you are from
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Where are you from? | Ask about someone's home |
| I'm from Istanbul. | Say your home city or country |
| I was born in London. | Say where you were born |
| I live in Glasgow now. | Say where you live today |
| What's it like? | Ask for a description |
| It sounds like a nice place to live. | Respond politely |
| What about you? | Return the question |
| I love Istanbul. | Say you like a place |
Checking that you understand
These are among the most useful phrases a beginner can learn, because they keep a conversation going when you are lost.
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| I'm sorry? | Ask someone to repeat, briefly |
| I can't hear you very well. | Explain the problem |
| Could you say that again, please? | Ask someone to repeat |
| I don't understand. | Say you did not follow |
| Can you repeat that more slowly, please? | Ask for slower speech |
| Do you mean the hammer? | Check a word, naming the thing you think is meant |
| Is this it? | Check by showing something |
| Yes, that's right! | Confirm |
Making suggestions
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Let's focus. | Suggest doing something together |
| How about starting with social media? | Suggest an activity |
| Why don't you ask Vanya? | Suggest something to another person |
| Shall we present it at the meeting? | Offer a plan and ask for agreement |
| We'll need some extra help. | Point out what is needed |
| Yeah, sure. | Agree |
| Agreed. Good idea. | Agree and praise the idea |
| OK, no problem. | Accept a suggestion |
| Good plan. | Approve |
Four patterns do the work here: Let's, How about, Why don't you and Shall we. Learn one example of each and change the ending.
Talking about other people
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Do you work with the digital team? | Ask about someone's work |
| Do you know Anya Patel? | Ask if someone knows a person |
| Yes, I do. | Give a short yes |
| She's lovely, isn't she? | Give an opinion and invite agreement |
| She's very good at her job. | Praise someone's work |
| She's an excellent businessperson. | Describe someone |
How to learn them
- Listen first. Each British Council lesson has a video in which the phrases are used in a short scene.
- Repeat aloud. The presenter says each phrase and asks you to repeat it.
- Change one word. Put your own name, city or colleague into the phrase.
- Test yourself. Cover the English column and say the phrase from the description.
- Come back after a day, a week and a month.
Each lesson also has a preparation task, three tasks to check understanding and practise the language, and a worksheet to download. Language Lab's English course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, so you can use these phrases in conversation and hear the reply.
Frequently asked
What English phrases should a beginner learn first?
Phrases for meeting people and for checking understanding: Nice to meet you, Where are you from?, I don't understand and Could you say that again, please?
How do I introduce myself in English?
Say Hi, I'm and your name, then Nice to meet you. To say where you come from, use I'm from and your city or country.
What can I say when I don't understand?
I don't understand, Could you say that again, please? or Can you repeat that more slowly, please?
What is A1 English?
The first level of the European framework. An A1 speaker can use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details.
How do I make a suggestion in English?
Use Let's, How about, Why don't you or Shall we, as in Let's focus or Shall we present it at the meeting?
Where do these phrases come from?
From the transcripts of the British Council's free A1 speaking lessons on its LearnEnglish website.
Sources: British Council, LearnEnglish, Speaking: A1 speaking: Meeting new people, Talking about where you're from, Checking understanding, Making suggestions and Talking about other people (video series What to Say!); Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Global scale. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: King's College and the Backs, Cambridge, Christopher Hilton / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
