English small talk phrases: 25 openers that always work
A2–B125 words
Small talk is a fixed set of moves rather than free conversation: an opener, a comment, a question back. Once you own a handful of these phrases, the first two minutes with a stranger stop being the hardest part of speaking English.
Where you will use it: Meeting people, offices, parties and waiting rooms.
Small Talk Phrases — The word list
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| How's it going? | A casual way to ask how someone is.“Hey, how's it going?” |
| What do you do? | Asking about someone's job.“So, what do you do for work?” |
| How was your weekend? | A standard Monday opener.“Morning — how was your weekend?” |
| Long time no see | Said when you meet someone after a while.“Ben! Long time no see.” |
| I've heard a lot about you | A polite thing to say when introduced.“Nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you.” |
| How do you two know each other? | Asking about a shared connection.“So how do you two know each other?” |
| Are you from around here? | Asking where someone lives.“Are you from around here originally?” |
| Same here | Agreeing that you feel the same.““I'm exhausted.” “Same here.”” |
| Fair enough | Accepting what someone said as reasonable.“Fair enough, let's do it your way.” |
| Anyway, I should get going | A polite way to end a chat.“Anyway, I should get going — see you Thursday.” |
| It was nice talking to you | A friendly closing phrase.“It was nice talking to you, take care.” |
| Let's catch up soon | Suggesting to meet again.“Let's catch up soon — coffee next week?” |
| Lovely weather, isn't it? | A friendly comment about pleasant weather.“Lovely weather, isn't it?” |
| Have you been here before? | Asking about someone's familiarity with a place.“Have you been here before or is this your first time?” |
| What brings you here? | Asking why someone is at an event or place.“What brings you to London?” |
| How have you been? | Asking about someone after not seeing them.“Hi Sarah, how have you been?” |
| Busy day? | A short question about someone's day.“You look tired — busy day?” |
| Any plans for the weekend? | A casual question about future activities.“Any plans for the weekend?” |
| That sounds interesting | A phrase showing interest in what was said.“You teach music? That sounds interesting.” |
| How about you? | A way to return the same question.“I work in design. How about you?” |
| I know what you mean | A phrase showing understanding or agreement.“I know what you mean; winter feels endless.” |
| That's a good point | A polite way to recognise someone's idea.“That's a good point — I hadn't considered it.” |
| Really? Tell me more | An invitation for someone to continue.“You lived in Japan? Really? Tell me more.” |
| It looks like rain | A neutral comment about the weather.“It looks like rain this afternoon.” |
| See you around | A casual goodbye suggesting you may meet again.“I'm heading off now — see you around.” |
Useful learning tips
- Learn in small groupsTake five words at a time and review them before adding more.
- Say the examples aloudReading each sentence aloud connects spelling, sound and meaning.
- Write your own sentenceUse each word in a true sentence about your life or work.
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than the whole list at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.
Studying small talk phrases pairs well with our A1–A2 English Vocabulary, Most Common English Words and adjectives to describe personality, or browse all free English word lists.
Related guides
Questions about this list
How can I practise Small Talk Phrases?
Start with five words and say each example aloud. Then recall the word from its meaning and review it over several days.
Where can I use Small Talk Phrases?
Meeting people, offices, parties and waiting rooms.
How many words are in this list?
This list contains 25 English words with definitions and example sentences. It is a starting set, not a complete syllabus.
Turn this list into flashcards
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