50 Useful English Phrases for Meetings at Work (2026)
Whether you work at a factory in Binh Duong or an international office in Ho Chi Minh City, meetings in English are part of the job. Many professionals understand what’s being said but struggle to jump in, or avoid disagreeing because they worry about sounding rude. Here are 50 English phrases for meetings, grouped by situation, with notes on when to use each one.
Tip: don’t try to learn all 50 at once. Pick 5–10 phrases you’ll use this week, write them down and take them into your next meeting.
1. Opening the meeting (1–5)
| Good morning, everyone. Shall we get started? | A friendly, standard opening. |
| Thank you all for coming today. | Polite and professional. |
| Let’s wait a couple more minutes for everyone to join. | When people are running late. |
| Before we begin, let me introduce our new colleague, Linh. | Introducing someone new. |
| I’ve asked Minh to take notes today. | Assigning a note-taker. |
2. Purpose and agenda (6–9)
| The purpose of today’s meeting is to review our sales results. | States why you’re meeting. |
| There are three items on the agenda. | Gives an overview. |
| Let’s move on to the next item. | Keeps the meeting moving. |
| We have about 30 minutes, so let’s keep to time. | Manages time politely. |
3. Giving updates (10–14)
| I’d like to give you a quick update on the project. | Starts your update. |
| We’re on track to finish by the end of the month. | Good news on timing. |
| We’re a little behind schedule because of a supplier delay. | Explains a delay honestly. |
| As you can see on this slide, production increased by 10%. | Refers to a visual. |
| The main challenge right now is staffing. | Highlights a problem. |
4. Giving opinions (15–19)
| In my opinion, we should focus on quality first. | A clear, neutral opinion. |
| From my point of view, the plan is realistic. | Slightly more formal. |
| I strongly believe this will save us time. | Shows strong conviction. |
| What do you think, Mr. Chen? | Invites a specific person. |
| I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts on this. | Opens the discussion. |
5. Agreeing (20–23)
| I completely agree with you. | Full agreement. |
| That’s a good point. | Acknowledges a good idea. |
| I think we’re all on the same page. | Confirms shared understanding. |
| That makes sense to me. | Calm, natural agreement. |
6. Disagreeing politely (24–29)
| I see your point, but I have a different view. | Respectful disagreement. |
| I’m not sure that’s the best option. | A soft way to disagree. |
| I’m afraid I don’t quite agree. | Polite and clear. |
| Have we considered the cost? | Raises a concern as a question. |
| That’s true, but we should also think about the risks. | Agrees partly, then adds a point. |
| Could we look at this from another angle? | Suggests a new perspective. |
7. Asking for clarification (30–34)
| Sorry, could you repeat that, please? | Completely normal to ask. |
| Could you explain what you mean by “lead time”? | Asks about a specific term. |
| Just to clarify, are we talking about the new product? | Checks the topic. |
| So what you’re saying is we need more staff? | Confirms your understanding. |
| Could you give us an example? | Makes ideas concrete. |
8. Interrupting politely (35–37)
| Sorry to interrupt, but may I add something? | The safest way to interrupt. |
| Could I just say something here? | Short and polite. |
| Please, go ahead. | Lets someone else speak. |
9. Making suggestions (38–41)
| Why don’t we set up a trial first? | A friendly suggestion. |
| I suggest we discuss this with the client. | More formal. |
| How about moving the deadline to Friday? | Casual and constructive. |
| It might be a good idea to hire a temporary worker. | A gentle, tentative suggestion. |
10. Online meetings (42–46)
| Can everyone hear me clearly? | Checks your audio. |
| I think you’re on mute. | Very common in online calls. |
| Can you see my screen? | Before presenting. |
| Sorry, you’re breaking up a little. | For a poor connection. |
| I’ll share the link in the chat. | Sharing a document or link. |
11. Closing and action items (47–50)
| Let’s summarise what we’ve agreed. | Wraps up the discussion. |
| So the next steps are… | Moves to actions. |
| Linh will send the report by Thursday. | Assigns a clear task and deadline. |
| Thanks, everyone. That’s all for today. | Closes the meeting. |
Sample meeting dialogue
See how the phrases work together in a short meeting:
| Manager: Good morning, everyone. Shall we get started? The purpose of today’s meeting is to review the new packaging design. | Opens and states the purpose. |
| Linh: I’d like to give you a quick update. The samples arrived yesterday, and we’re on track to launch next month. | Gives a clear update. |
| Mr. Chen: That’s good news. But have we considered the cost of the new material? | Raises a concern politely. |
| Linh: That’s a good point. The cost is about 5% higher, but customers prefer the new design. | Acknowledges, then answers. |
| Manager: I suggest we discuss the price with the supplier. Minh, could you arrange a call? | Suggests a next step. |
| Minh: Sure. I’ll send everyone the details by Thursday. | Confirms an action with a deadline. |
5 tips for feeling confident in English meetings
- Prepare 2–3 key points and the phrases you plan to use.
- Speak early: saying something in the first 10 minutes reduces nerves.
- Asking someone to repeat is normal: native speakers do it all the time in meetings.
- Disagree softly: use phrases like “I see your point, but…” rather than a flat “No.” In international meetings, silence can be taken as agreement.
- Follow up by email so everyone is clear on the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
How can I remember all 50 phrases?
Pick 5–10 that fit your job, practise them aloud every day and use them in your next meeting. Role-playing with a teacher makes them stick far better than reading alone.
My English isn’t fluent yet. Should I still speak up?
Yes. One short, clear sentence is worth much more than silence. You don’t need to speak for long, just make your point.
Can I practise with my company’s real meetings?
Yes. In a 1-on-1 lesson you can bring a real agenda (with confidential details removed) and rehearse with your teacher beforehand.
How much does the Business English course cost?
Fees depend on your goals and level. Each course is 20 one-to-one lessons of 50 minutes. ICS English also offers corporate training. Message us on WhatsApp for details.
| Practise meeting English 1-on-1 with ICS English • 50-minute demo lesson: role-play a real meeting and get instant feedback. • 20-lesson courses, 2–4 lessons a week, any time from 8:00 to 23:00, to fit around shift work. • Study online or at our Thu Dau Mot and Thao Dien branches. • WhatsApp: +84 988 991 423 | Business English: icsengvn.com/product/tieng-anh-doanh-nghiep-online-1-kem-1/ |
Related articles
- How to Write Professional Emails in English [insert Topic 7 link]
- Corporate English Training in Binh Duong: A Guide for HR Managers [insert link when published]
- What Can You Achieve in a 20-Lesson 1-on-1 English Course? [insert Topic 2 link]
