Let's start with the words you'll use most often. Greetings are the key to starting any conversation. You probably know "hello" and "goodbye," but there are many ways to say the same thing. The one you choose often depends on the time of day or how well you know the person.

After the greeting, you'll often make small talk. This is light, friendly conversation. You can ask about someone's day or how they are feeling.

• "How are you?"
• "How has your day been?"
• "What have you been up to?"

When you introduce yourself, you can say, "Hi, I'm [Your Name]." When you want to ask for someone else's name, you can say, "What's your name?" It's simple, but it's the foundation of every new connection.

Now let's talk about you. Describing your daily routine is a great way to practice. Most of us do similar things every day, so this vocabulary is very useful. Think about what you do from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep.

Here are some key verbs for daily activities:

• Morning: wake up, get up, take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth
• Afternoon: eat lunch, work, study, take a break, exercise
• Evening: cook dinner, eat dinner, relax, watch TV, read, go to bed

Life happens outside your home, too. You need words for shopping, eating at restaurants, and getting around town. Let's look at some common situations.

When you're shopping, you might need to ask for the price or size of something.

• "How much does this cost?"
• "Do you have this in a different size?"
• "I'd like to buy this, please."

At a restaurant, you'll need to order your food and pay the bill.

• "Could I see the menu, please?"
• "I'll have the chicken sandwich."
• "Can I get the check, please?"

Getting from one place to another involves transportation. You might take a bus, train, taxi, or subway. You could ask:

• "Where is the nearest bus stop?"
• "A ticket to the city center, please."
• "Does this train go to the airport?"

Talking about what you love to do is a great way to connect with people. What do you do for fun? Your hobbies and interests are a big part of who you are.

To talk about your hobbies, you can say:

• "In my free time, I like to..."
• "I enjoy playing soccer."
• "I'm interested in photography."

Asking about someone else's interests is easy, too. Just ask, "What do you like to do for fun?" or "Do you have any hobbies?"

Ready to review?

Now let's see what you've learned.

Building your vocabulary takes time and practice. Try to use a few new words each day. Soon, they will become a natural part of your conversations.