English at work
English phrases for meetings: how to speak up, interrupt politely and disagree
The short answer
To speak English confidently in a business meeting, you don’t need more vocabulary: you need a few ready phrases for each job, such as joining in, interrupting politely, disagreeing and asking someone to repeat. Pick two or three from this page, say them out loud before your next meeting, and use them as the first words of your turn.
By the Chappie team · Updated
The phrases to keep ready
Almost everything you say in a meeting does one of a small number of jobs. If the first few words for each job are ready, the rest of the sentence usually follows. Here is one go-to phrase for each.
| When you want to… | Say this |
|---|---|
| When you want to…Join the conversation | Say this“Can I add something here?” |
| When you want to…Interrupt politely | Say this“Sorry to jump in, but…” |
| When you want to…Agree | Say this“Good point. And I’d add…” |
| When you want to…Disagree politely | Say this“I see it a little differently.” |
| When you want to…Ask someone to repeat | Say this“Sorry, could you say the last part again?” |
| When you want to…Check you understood | Say this“Just to check: you mean…?” |
| When you want to…Give an update | Say this“Quick update from my side.” |
| When you want to…Explain a delay | Say this“I need to flag a delay on…” |
| When you want to…Agree next steps | Say this“So, to confirm next steps…” |
| When you want to…Fix an online problem | Say this“I think you’re on mute.” |
Below, each job has more options. You don’t need all of them. Pick the ones that sound like you.
How do I speak up in a meeting when I’m nervous?
Start small. The hardest part is the first sentence, so use a short phrase that opens the door, then make one point. One clear sentence counts as speaking up.
“Can I add something here?”
The simplest way in. Wait for a small pause, then say it.
“I’d like to build on what Nimal said.”
Joining from someone else’s point is easier than starting from zero.
“One quick thought on this.”
Tells people you will be brief, so they are happy to let you in.
“I have a question about the budget.”
A question is the easiest way to speak up, and it still gets your voice into the room.
If your mind goes blank halfway, that’s normal. Say “Let me put that another way” and start again. For why the words disappear and how to stop it, see what to do when the meeting switches to English and you freeze.
Interrupting politely
In a fast meeting, waiting for a perfect silence can mean you never speak. A short, friendly interruption is normal in English meetings.
“Sorry to jump in, but…”
The most common polite interruption. Keep what follows short.
“Sorry, could I just come in here?”
A little more formal. Good with senior people or clients.
“Just a quick point before we move on.”
When the topic is about to change and you haven’t spoken yet.
“Sorry, can I just finish this point?”
When someone interrupts you. Calm, polite and completely acceptable.
“Sorry, we both started. You go ahead.”
When two people speak at once. Let them go, then come back in.
Agreeing and disagreeing politely
Agreeing
“That makes sense to me.”
A clear, friendly agreement.
“Good point. And I’d add…”
Agree, then contribute. An easy way to get more speaking time.
“I agree with most of that, but…”
Partial agreement. A gentle bridge into a different view.
Disagreeing
In English meetings, disagreement usually sounds softer than it feels. Aim it at the idea, give a reason, and leave the person out of it.
“I see it a little differently.”
Polite and clear. Follow it with your reason.
“I understand the idea, but I’m worried about the cost.”
Shows you listened before you disagreed.
“Could we look at another option?”
You’re suggesting rather than rejecting. Works well with senior people.
“Have we thought about what happens if the supplier is late?”
A question that raises a problem without saying anyone is wrong.
Asking someone to repeat or clarify
Everyone asks for repeats in meetings, including the people who sound most fluent. Guessing wrong is what looks bad.
“Sorry, could you say the last part again?”
Asks only for the part you missed, so it sounds natural.
“Sorry, you cut out for a second. Could you repeat that?”
On a call, when the audio broke up.
“Just to check I’ve understood: you need the report by Thursday?”
Repeat the key detail back. It confirms, and it buys you time.
“When you say “soon”, do you mean this week?”
For vague words like soon, shortly or end of the month.
“Could you slow down a little? I want to get this right.”
Fine to ask, especially with a fast speaker or an unfamiliar accent.
Giving an update or explaining a delay
Updates are the moment people rehearse least and worry about most. Use the same shape every time.
- 1
Done
“Yesterday I finished the customer list for the Kandy branch.”
- 2
Next
“Today I’m working on the price comparison.”
- 3
Blocked
“I’m waiting for the sales figures from Shanika. Once I have them, I can finish by Wednesday.”
Explaining a delay
“I need to flag a delay on the report.”
Say it early and plainly. Bad news said early sounds professional.
“It’s taking longer than expected because the data came in late.”
One reason is enough. You don’t need to defend yourself.
“The new date is Thursday.”
Always give a new date. It is the sentence people remember.
“To keep things moving, I’ll send the first half today.”
Offer something now, so the delay feels managed.
Practise it
Rehearse your stand-up update or explaining a delay out loud with Chappie, the English speaking app, and get feedback on each sentence before the real meeting.
Ending the meeting and agreeing next steps
“So, to summarise…”
Signals the end, and gives you a natural reason to speak.
“Just to confirm next steps: I’ll send the draft by Friday, and Ruwan will check the budget.”
Who does what, by when. People are always glad someone said it.
“Shall we set a time to follow up?”
When nothing has been decided yet.
“Thanks, everyone. That was helpful.”
A simple, warm close.
How do I speak confidently in virtual meetings?
Online meetings add their own small problems: mute buttons, frozen video, two people talking at once. They happen in every call, so having the phrase ready takes a lot of pressure off.
“I think you’re on mute.”
Friendly and normal. Everyone has been on mute.
“Sorry, I was on mute.”
Say it once and carry on.
“You’re breaking up a little. Could you say that again?”
When the audio is choppy.
“Can everyone see my screen?”
Before you start presenting.
“My connection is bad. I’ll drop off and rejoin.”
Better than struggling through a broken call.
Unmute a second before you speak, use headphones for clearer sound and less echo, and when a date or a number matters, say it and then type it in the chat as well.
Speaking up with senior people in Sri Lankan offices
In many Sri Lankan workplaces, respect for seniority shapes how meetings run. People often wait to be asked, and it can feel uncomfortable to question a manager in front of others. That politeness is a strength. You can keep it and still be heard, with phrases that are respectful and clear at the same time.
“If I may, I’d like to add one point.”
Respectful and formal. Works well with a senior manager or a client.
“Sir, could I share a small concern about the timeline?”
“Sir” or “madam” is normal in many offices here. Calling it a small concern makes it easy to hear.
“I can see why we’re doing it this way. One risk I see is the cost.”
Acknowledge first, then raise the risk.
With overseas colleagues, follow their lead on names: if a client signs emails with their first name, using it is expected, and nobody will think you rude. And if you can’t say it in the room, a short message afterwards still counts. Next time, try it in the room.
Some phrases are normal in Sri Lankan offices but can confuse colleagues from other countries. You don’t need to change how you speak with your own team. In international meetings, these versions avoid confusion.
How can I improve my English speaking in the office?
- 1
Pick three phrases for this week
Choose three from this page that you would really use, and keep them in your phone notes.
- 2
Say them out loud before each meeting
Two minutes on the way there, out loud.
- 3
Use one in every meeting
“Can I add something here?” counts. The second time is always easier than the first.
- 4
Rehearse the hard moments in private
Note the sentence you wished you had said, and practise it tomorrow. See how to practise speaking English alone.
If explanations in your own language help, see spoken English for Sinhala speakers or spoken English through Tamil.
Practise it
Chappie has the daily stand-up, presenting to your manager and explaining a delay as ready scenarios. Say your update, hear what to tighten, say it again, with the notes in Sinhala, Tamil or Hindi if you like.
Questions people ask
How can I speak English fluently in meetings?
Fluency in meetings comes from having the first few words ready. More vocabulary on its own doesn’t do it. Learn a few phrases for joining in, disagreeing and giving updates, say them out loud beforehand, and use at least one every time.
Is it rude to interrupt in an English meeting?
Not if it is short and polite. “Sorry to jump in, but…” followed by one clear point is a normal part of English meetings.
How do I politely disagree with my manager in English?
Acknowledge their point, give your concern with a reason, and suggest an option: “I can see why we’re doing it this way. One risk I see is the timeline. Could we look at another option?”
What should I say when I don’t understand someone in a meeting?
“Sorry, could you say the last part again?” or “Just to check I’ve understood: you mean…?” Asking is normal, and much better than guessing.
What do you say when someone is on mute in a video call?
“I think you’re on mute”, said in a friendly way. If it happens to you, say “Sorry, I was on mute” and carry on.