💼 Business Phrases

⏱ 16 min read

Knowing a few English business phrases can make professional communication much easier. These expressions will help you introduce yourself, communicate with colleagues, participate in meetings, schedule appointments, discuss business matters, and handle everyday workplace situations. Each English phrase includes translations in several languages.

🤝 Professional Greetings

🌅 Good morning.
a polite greeting before noon
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Buenos días.
🇫🇷 French: Bonjour.
🇩🇪 German: Guten Morgen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Buongiorno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bom dia.
🤝 Nice to meet you.
say this when you meet someone for the first time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mucho gusto.
🇫🇷 French: Enchanté(e).
🇩🇪 German: Freut mich.
🇮🇹 Italian: Piacere.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Prazer.
😊 How are you?
a polite check-in at the start of a conversation
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cómo está?
🇫🇷 French: Comment allez-vous ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie geht es Ihnen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come sta?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como está?
🙌 It is a pleasure to meet you.
a more formal version of “nice to meet you”
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Es un placer conocerlo / conocerla.
🇫🇷 French: C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer.
🇩🇪 German: Es ist mir ein Vergnügen, Sie kennenzulernen.
🇮🇹 Italian: È un piacere conoscerla.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: É um prazer conhecê-lo / conhecê-la.
🙏 Thank you for meeting with me.
thank someone for giving you their time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Gracias por reunirse conmigo.
🇫🇷 French: Merci de m'avoir rencontré(e).
🇩🇪 German: Danke, dass Sie sich mit mir getroffen haben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Grazie per essersi incontrato / incontrata con me.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Obrigado por se reunir comigo.

🏢 Talking About Work

🏢 I work in...
name your field or department
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Trabajo en...
🇫🇷 French: Je travaille dans...
🇩🇪 German: Ich arbeite in...
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavoro in...
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trabalho em...
👔 I work for...
name your company or employer
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Trabajo para...
🇫🇷 French: Je travaille pour...
🇩🇪 German: Ich arbeite für...
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavoro per...
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trabalho para...
📋 I am a manager.
state your job title
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Soy gerente.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis manager.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin Manager.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono un manager.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sou gerente.
👥 I work with this team.
say who you collaborate with
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Trabajo con este equipo.
🇫🇷 French: Je travaille avec cette équipe.
🇩🇪 German: Ich arbeite mit diesem Team.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavoro con questo team.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trabalho com esta equipe.
⏳ I am busy at the moment.
politely say you cannot talk right now
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy ocupado / ocupada en este momento.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis occupé(e) en ce moment.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin gerade beschäftigt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono occupato / occupata in questo momento.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estou ocupado / ocupada no momento.

💼 Meetings

🕒 What time is the meeting?
ask when a meeting starts
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora es la reunión?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure est la réunion ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann ist das Meeting?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora è la riunione?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas é a reunião?
▶️ Can we start?
ask if it is time to begin
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Podemos empezar?
🇫🇷 French: Pouvons-nous commencer ?
🇩🇪 German: Können wir beginnen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Possiamo iniziare?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Podemos começar?
💬 I would like to talk about...
introduce the topic you want to discuss
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Me gustaría hablar sobre...
🇫🇷 French: J'aimerais parler de...
🇩🇪 German: Ich würde gerne über... sprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Vorrei parlare di...
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gostaria de falar sobre...
❓ What do you think?
ask for another person's opinion
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué opina?
🇫🇷 French: Qu'en pensez-vous ?
🇩🇪 German: Was denken Sie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa ne pensa?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você acha?
👍 I agree.
say you share the same opinion
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy de acuerdo.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis d'accord.
🇩🇪 German: Ich stimme zu.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono d'accordo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Concordo.
👎 I disagree.
say you have a different opinion
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: No estoy de acuerdo.
🇫🇷 French: Je ne suis pas d'accord.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin nicht einverstanden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non sono d'accordo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não concordo.

📅 Scheduling & Appointments

📆 Can we talk tomorrow?
suggest speaking the next day
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Podemos hablar mañana?
🇫🇷 French: Pouvons-nous parler demain ?
🇩🇪 German: Können wir morgen sprechen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Possiamo parlare domani?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Podemos falar amanhã?
✅ I need to confirm the appointment.
say you must check that the meeting is still on
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito confirmar la cita.
🇫🇷 French: Je dois confirmer le rendez-vous.
🇩🇪 German: Ich muss den Termin bestätigen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Devo confermare l'appuntamento.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso confirmar o compromisso.
🌅 I am available in the morning.
say when you are free to meet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy disponible por la mañana.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis disponible le matin.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin morgens verfügbar.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono disponibile al mattino.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estou disponível de manhã.
🗓️ What day works for you?
let the other person choose a day
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué día le conviene?
🇫🇷 French: Quel jour vous convient ?
🇩🇪 German: Welcher Tag passt Ihnen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quale giorno le conviene?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual dia é melhor para você?
🔄 Can we reschedule the meeting?
ask to change the date or time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Podemos cambiar la reunión?
🇫🇷 French: Pouvons-nous reporter la réunion ?
🇩🇪 German: Können wir das Meeting verschieben?
🇮🇹 Italian: Possiamo riprogrammare la riunione?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Podemos remarcar a reunião?
🕙 See you at ten.
confirm the agreed meeting time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Nos vemos a las diez.
🇫🇷 French: On se voit à dix heures.
🇩🇪 German: Wir sehen uns um zehn.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ci vediamo alle dieci.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nos vemos às dez.

📧 Professional Communication

📧 I will send you an email.
promise to write after the conversation
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Le enviaré un correo electrónico.
🇫🇷 French: Je vous enverrai un e-mail.
🇩🇪 German: Ich schicke Ihnen eine E-Mail.
🇮🇹 Italian: Le invierò un'e-mail.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vou lhe enviar um e-mail.
✔️ Please confirm the meeting.
ask someone to say yes to the planned time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Por favor, confirme la reunión.
🇫🇷 French: Veuillez confirmer la réunion.
🇩🇪 German: Bitte bestätigen Sie das Meeting.
🇮🇹 Italian: Per favore, confermi la riunione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por favor, confirme a reunião.
📩 Did you receive my email?
check whether a message arrived
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Recibió mi correo electrónico?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous reçu mon e-mail ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie meine E-Mail erhalten?
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha ricevuto la mia e-mail?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você recebeu o meu e-mail?
📄 I will send you the information.
promise to share details later
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Le enviaré la información.
🇫🇷 French: Je vous enverrai les informations.
🇩🇪 German: Ich sende Ihnen die Informationen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Le invierò le informazioni.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vou lhe enviar as informações.
⏳ Thank you for your time.
a polite close after a meeting or call
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Gracias por su tiempo.
🇫🇷 French: Merci pour votre temps.
🇩🇪 German: Danke für Ihre Zeit.
🇮🇹 Italian: Grazie per il suo tempo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Obrigado pelo seu tempo.
📬 I look forward to your response.
a formal way to end an email
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quedo a la espera de su respuesta.
🇫🇷 French: Dans l'attente de votre réponse.
🇩🇪 German: Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort.
🇮🇹 Italian: Attendo la sua risposta.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aguardo a sua resposta.

💳 Business Transactions

💰 What is the price?
ask how much something costs
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuál es el precio?
🇫🇷 French: Quel est le prix ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist der Preis?
🇮🇹 Italian: Qual è il prezzo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual é o preço?
📜 We need a contract.
say a written agreement is required
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesitamos un contrato.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons besoin d'un contrat.
🇩🇪 German: Wir brauchen einen Vertrag.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo bisogno di un contratto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Precisamos de um contrato.
👀 I need to review the contract.
say you must read the agreement first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito revisar el contrato.
🇫🇷 French: Je dois examiner le contrat.
🇩🇪 German: Ich muss den Vertrag prüfen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Devo rivedere il contratto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso revisar o contrato.
🧾 The invoice, please.
ask for the official bill
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La factura, por favor.
🇫🇷 French: La facture, s'il vous plaît.
🇩🇪 German: Die Rechnung, bitte.
🇮🇹 Italian: La fattura, per favore.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A fatura, por favor.
🏦 Do you accept bank transfers?
ask if money can be sent through a bank
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Aceptan transferencias bancarias?
🇫🇷 French: Acceptez-vous les virements bancaires ?
🇩🇪 German: Akzeptieren Sie Banküberweisungen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Accettate bonifici bancari?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aceitam transferências bancárias?
📅 When is the payment due?
ask the last date money must be paid
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuándo vence el pago?
🇫🇷 French: Quand le paiement est-il dû ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann ist die Zahlung fällig?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando scade il pagamento?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando vence o pagamento?

⭐ Useful Professional Expressions

✨ Perfect.
show that a plan or answer works well
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Perfecto.
🇫🇷 French: Parfait.
🇩🇪 German: Perfekt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Perfetto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Perfeito.
🧠 I understand.
show that the message is clear
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Entiendo.
🇫🇷 French: Je comprends.
🇩🇪 German: Ich verstehe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Capisco.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Entendo.
👍 Of course.
a polite yes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Claro.
🇫🇷 French: Bien sûr.
🇩🇪 German: Natürlich.
🇮🇹 Italian: Certo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Claro.
✅ Agreed / Okay.
accept a plan or decision
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: De acuerdo.
🇫🇷 French: D'accord.
🇩🇪 German: Einverstanden.
🇮🇹 Italian: D'accordo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: De acordo.
🙏 Thank you very much.
a strong professional thank-you
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Muchas gracias.
🇫🇷 French: Merci beaucoup.
🇩🇪 German: Vielen Dank.
🇮🇹 Italian: Grazie mille.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Muito obrigado.

👔 Formal vs Informal Business English

Formal
use this tone with clients, managers, and new contacts
In professional settings, English speakers often sound more formal by using polite words and a respectful tone.

How are you?
I will send you an email.
Thank you for your time.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Cómo está? / Le enviaré un correo electrónico. / Gracias por su tiempo.
🇫🇷 Comment allez-vous ? / Je vous enverrai un e-mail. / Merci pour votre temps.
🇩🇪 Wie geht es Ihnen? / Ich schicke Ihnen eine E-Mail. / Danke für Ihre Zeit.
🇮🇹 Come sta? / Le invierò un'e-mail. / Grazie per il suo tempo.
🇵🇹 Como está? / Vou lhe enviar um e-mail. / Obrigado pelo seu tempo.
Informal / Casual
use this tone with coworkers you already know well
With colleagues you know well, language can be more relaxed.

How are you?
I'll email you.
Thanks for your help.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Cómo estás? / Te enviaré un correo electrónico. / Gracias por tu ayuda.
🇫🇷 Comment ça va ? / Je t'enverrai un e-mail. / Merci pour ton aide.
🇩🇪 Wie geht's? / Ich schicke dir eine E-Mail. / Danke für deine Hilfe.
🇮🇹 Come stai? / Ti mando un'e-mail. / Grazie per il tuo aiuto.
🇵🇹 Como vai? / Vou te enviar um e-mail. / Obrigado pela sua ajuda.

Beginner Tip: English does not have separate formal and informal pronouns like Spanish tú and usted. Instead, formality comes from word choice (please, could, would), tone, and context.

💬 Sample Business Conversations

Starting a meeting
greeting someone and opening the topic
A: Good morning. Nice to meet you. How are you?
B: Very well, thank you. Shall we begin?
A: Yes. I would like to talk about the project.
B: Perfect. What would you like to discuss first?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Buenos días. Mucho gusto. ¿Cómo está?
🇪🇸 B: Muy bien, gracias. ¿Empezamos?
🇪🇸 A: Sí. Me gustaría hablar sobre el proyecto.
🇪🇸 B: Perfecto. ¿Qué le gustaría discutir primero?

🇫🇷 A: Bonjour. Enchanté. Comment allez-vous ?
🇫🇷 B: Très bien, merci. On commence ?
🇫🇷 A: Oui. J'aimerais parler du projet.
🇫🇷 B: Parfait. Que souhaitez-vous discuter en premier ?

🇩🇪 A: Guten Morgen. Freut mich. Wie geht es Ihnen?
🇩🇪 B: Sehr gut, danke. Sollen wir anfangen?
🇩🇪 A: Ja. Ich würde gerne über das Projekt sprechen.
🇩🇪 B: Perfekt. Was möchten Sie zuerst besprechen?

🇮🇹 A: Buongiorno. Piacere. Come sta?
🇮🇹 B: Molto bene, grazie. Iniziamo?
🇮🇹 A: Sì. Vorrei parlare del progetto.
🇮🇹 B: Perfetto. Cosa vorrebbe discutere per primo?

🇵🇹 A: Bom dia. Prazer. Como está?
🇵🇹 B: Muito bem, obrigado. Vamos começar?
🇵🇹 A: Sim. Gostaria de falar sobre o projeto.
🇵🇹 B: Perfeito. O que você gostaria de discutir primeiro?
Scheduling a meeting
finding a time that works
A: Can we talk tomorrow?
B: Of course. I am available in the morning.
A: Does ten o'clock work for you?
B: Yes, see you at ten.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Podemos hablar mañana?
🇪🇸 B: Claro. Estoy disponible por la mañana.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Le conviene a las diez?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, nos vemos a las diez.

🇫🇷 A: Pouvons-nous parler demain ?
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Je suis disponible le matin.
🇫🇷 A: Est-ce que dix heures vous conviennent ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, on se voit à dix heures.

🇩🇪 A: Können wir morgen sprechen?
🇩🇪 B: Natürlich. Ich bin morgens verfügbar.
🇩🇪 A: Passt zehn Uhr Ihnen?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, wir sehen uns um zehn.

🇮🇹 A: Possiamo parlare domani?
🇮🇹 B: Certo. Sono disponibile al mattino.
🇮🇹 A: Le va bene alle dieci?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, ci vediamo alle dieci.

🇵🇹 A: Podemos falar amanhã?
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Estou disponível de manhã.
🇵🇹 A: As dez horas está bom para você?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, nos vemos às dez.
Following up
promising an email and closing politely
A: I will send you the information by email.
B: Perfect. Thank you very much.
A: Please confirm when you receive the email.
B: Of course. Thank you for your time.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Le enviaré la información por correo electrónico.
🇪🇸 B: Perfecto. Muchas gracias.
🇪🇸 A: Por favor, confirme cuando reciba el correo.
🇪🇸 B: Claro. Gracias por su tiempo.

🇫🇷 A: Je vous enverrai les informations par e-mail.
🇫🇷 B: Parfait. Merci beaucoup.
🇫🇷 A: Veuillez confirmer lorsque vous recevrez l'e-mail.
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Merci pour votre temps.

🇩🇪 A: Ich sende Ihnen die Informationen per E-Mail.
🇩🇪 B: Perfekt. Vielen Dank.
🇩🇪 A: Bitte bestätigen Sie, wenn Sie die E-Mail erhalten.
🇩🇪 B: Natürlich. Danke für Ihre Zeit.

🇮🇹 A: Le invierò le informazioni via e-mail.
🇮🇹 B: Perfetto. Grazie mille.
🇮🇹 A: Per favore, confermi quando riceve l'e-mail.
🇮🇹 B: Certo. Grazie per il suo tempo.

🇵🇹 A: Vou lhe enviar as informações por e-mail.
🇵🇹 B: Perfeito. Muito obrigado.
🇵🇹 A: Por favor, confirme quando receber o e-mail.
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Obrigado pelo seu tempo.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the phrase that fits. Do not pick a stronger or more formal line if a simpler professional one is better.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%