Business English Vocabulary for Professionals | Key Terms & Phrases

Business English vocabulary that professionals should know – Key terms and phrases

Want to improve your business English vocabulary? As a professional learning to use English in a business setting, commanding respect in the workplace can be a challenge, especially when you have to communicate with colleagues in English. However, a good level of English is essential for effective and clear communication at work. In this blog, we’ll review some key terms and phrases that will help you sound more natural when using English in different professional contexts.

Business English vocabulary for professional meetings and discussions

Agenda: In a professional setting, the word “agenda” (“agenda”) is used when referring to what needs to be done. When used in the context of your daily schedule, you could think of it as a corporate to-do list. Whatever you need to accomplish in a day is your daily agenda.

In the context of a business meeting, the agenda is the specific purpose for bringing together key people in the workplace. It’s what you want to accomplish during the duration of your discussion.

Meeting Minutes: Meeting minutes are not the time elapsed until the meeting ends. So, if someone emails you asking for the meeting minutes, don’t reply with “45 minutes”!

In the business world, meeting minutes are the written record of a meeting. This record includes who attended the meeting, what topics were discussed, what decisions were made, what tasks were assigned to different people, and the deadlines.

Follow-up: The term follow-up means taking additional steps to ensure something gets done. For example, if a customer tells you they will contact you with a response during the day and haven’t sent anything by evening, you can follow up with them the next day.

Business English vocabulary for negotiations

Terms and Conditions: When conducting business negotiations, it is always crucial to closely examine the terms and conditions of any formal agreement. Terms and conditions are the legally binding terms of a contract.

They may include rules, requirements, obligations, and specific points of a contract.

Closing the deal: Closing the deal means making a successful and official agreement with the other party. In the business world, simply saying or hearing something doesn’t make it official. After all, without a signed contract, either party can easily back out. However, once the parties have signed a legal document, the deal is considered closed.

Make a counteroffer: Working in sales means dealing with offers. However, good businesspeople know how to negotiate to get the most out of a deal. By making a counteroffer, you gently reject an initial offer, allowing both parties to make some changes and propose new ideas.

In the business world, people can accept an offer, reject it, or make counteroffers. Of course, depending on the type of agreement being made, a counteroffer can be met with another counteroffer, until both parties agree on something that works for both of them.

Business English vocabulary for work calls and scheduling

Make an appointment: When you want to schedule a meeting or visit, you arrange it with the other party in advance so you can both mark it on your calendars. Whether it’s a business meeting, a doctor’s appointment, or a nail salon session, you would use the phrase “make an appointment” (“make an appointment”) if you want to schedule it ahead of time.

Taking a message/leaving a message: The corporate world can be busy, so not everyone is available when someone calls. This is where you could take a message for them, which means noting the caller’s name, writing your message for the person they’re looking for, and passing it on to your colleague once they’re available.

If you are the caller and the person you want to talk to is not available at this time, you can leave a message.

Learn more business English vocabulary with EBC Languages

Learning to navigate the professional world in English can be challenging, but it will undoubtedly propel your career forward. If you want to advance in your work and start commanding respect when you speak English, enrolling in a business English class at EBC Idiomas is a guaranteed way to do so.

Classes can be individual or in groups. You’ll have access to an experienced, fully qualified, and Trinity College-certified teacher. Each session will be tailored to your learning style and goals. If you want to focus on a specific area of ​​business English, that’s no problem.

EBC Idiomas also offers various course packages that operate on a voucher system, ranging from 10 to 50 sessions. If you want to boost your confidence in your business English skills and advance your career, choose a package today and let’s work together!

Choose the EBC course that best meets your requirements