Key Business English Vocabulary

Here's a list of key business English phrases and terminology, categorized by common business contexts:

General Business

• Key Phrases:

  • "Let's touch base" - To have a brief meeting or conversation
  • "Going forward" - In the future
  • "At the end of the day" - Ultimately
  • "Bottom line" - The most important point
  • "Thinking outside the box" - Creative thinking
  • "To brainstorm" - To generate ideas
  • "To touch base" - To have a brief meeting or conversation

• Terminology:

  • KPI: Key Performance Indicator
  • ROI: Return on Investment
  • SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
  • P&L: Profit and Loss statement
  • CEO: Chief Executive Officer
  • CFO: Chief Financial Officer
  • COO: Chief Operating Officer
  • HR: Human Resources

Meetings and Presentations

• Key Phrases:

  • "Let's kick off" - To start a meeting
  • "To wrap up" - To finish a meeting
  • "To move on" - To proceed to the next topic
  • "To touch base" - To briefly discuss something
  • "To follow up" - To continue a discussion or task later

• Terminology:

  • Agenda: A plan for a meeting
  • Minutes: A written record of a meeting
  • Slide deck: A set of slides used in a presentation

Negotiation and Sales

• Key Phrases:

  • "Let's meet you halfway" - To compromise
  • "The ball is in your court" - It's your turn to make a decision
  • "To close the deal" - To finalize a deal or sale
  • "To win-win situation" - A situation where both parties benefit

• Terminology:

  • Sales pitch: A persuasive speech to sell a product or service
  • Upselling: Persuading a customer to buy a more expensive product or service
  • Cross-selling: Selling additional products or services to an existing customer
  • Cold calling: Calling potential customers without prior contact

Email Communication

• Key Phrases:

  • "I hope this email finds you well" - A common greeting
  • "Please let me know if you have any questions" - A polite closing
  • "I look forward to hearing from you" - A common closing
  • "I'm CC'ing [person's name] on this email" - Informing someone of an email

• Terminology:

  • CC: Carbon copy - Sending a copy of the email to someone
  • BCC: Blind carbon copy - Sending a copy of the email to someone without the other recipients knowing

Remember:

• Context is key: The specific words and phrases you use will depend on the situation.
• Practice regularly: The more you practice, the more confident you'll become.
• Learn from native speakers: Pay attention to how native speakers use language in business settings.
• Use a dictionary and thesaurus: These tools can help you find the right words to express yourself.

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By Jerry Ramonyai

80/20 Rule: Social Growth, Leadership, Management, Self Improvement, Success, Interpersonal Skills,TR6 Communication, Personality, Effectiveness, Intelligence, Mindfulness and Relationships.

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