🇺🇸 English · C1
Conversation & Small Talk in English · C1
60 English words and phrases for conversation & small talk, at C1 level. Each entry shows the word, how to read it, what it means, and a full example sentence with translation.
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articulatearticulate
She's remarkably articulate for her age.
She's remarkably articulate for her age.
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rapportrapport
Good interviewers build rapport quickly.
Good interviewers build rapport quickly.
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anecdoteanecdote
He shared a funny anecdote from his trip.
He shared a funny anecdote from his trip.
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eloquenteloquent
The speech was brief but eloquent.
The speech was brief but eloquent.
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banterbanter
The hosts kept up a witty banter.
The hosts kept up a witty banter.
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bluntblunt
His blunt comments sometimes hurt people.
His blunt comments sometimes hurt people.
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candidcandid
He was candid about his mistakes.
He was candid about his mistakes.
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nuancenuance
Every language has its own nuances.
Every language has its own nuances.
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witwit
Her wit made everyone laugh.
Her wit made everyone laugh.
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loquaciousloquacious
He's loquacious enough to talk for hours.
He's loquacious enough to talk for hours.
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terseterse
Her reply was terse and cold.
Her reply was terse and cold.
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glibglib
His glib excuse fooled no one.
His glib excuse fooled no one.
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tactlesstactless
That was a tactless thing to say.
That was a tactless thing to say.
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condescendingcondescending
He spoke to me in a condescending tone.
He spoke to me in a condescending tone.
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patronizingpatronizing
Don't be so patronizing, I understand fine.
Don't be so patronizing, I understand fine.
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self-deprecatingself-deprecating
She made a self-deprecating joke about her cooking.
She made a self-deprecating joke about her cooking.
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deadpandeadpan
He delivered the joke in a deadpan voice.
He delivered the joke in a deadpan voice.
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quipquip
She made a witty quip about the weather.
She made a witty quip about the weather.
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retortretort
His sharp retort silenced the room.
His sharp retort silenced the room.
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insinuateinsinuate
Are you insinuating that I lied?
Are you insinuating that I lied?
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alludeallude
She alluded to a problem without naming it.
She alluded to a problem without naming it.
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monotonemonotone
He read the announcement in a monotone.
He read the announcement in a monotone.
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captivatecaptivate
Her stories always captivate the audience.
Her stories always captivate the audience.
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aloofaloof
He seemed aloof at the party.
He seemed aloof at the party.
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gregariousgregarious
She's gregarious and makes friends easily.
She's gregarious and makes friends easily.
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affableaffable
The new manager is affable and easy to talk to.
The new manager is affable and easy to talk to.
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paraphraseparaphrase
Let me paraphrase what you just said.
Let me paraphrase what you just said.
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snidesnide
He made a snide remark about her outfit.
He made a snide remark about her outfit.
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scathingscathing
The critic gave a scathing review.
The critic gave a scathing review.
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backhanded complimentbackhanded compliment
"Nice for your age" is a classic backhanded compliment.
"Nice for your age" is a classic backhanded compliment.
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Let's pick up where we left off.Let's pick up where we left off.
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Reading between the lines, he wasn't happy.Reading between the lines, he wasn't happy.
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It was a pleasure talking with you.It was a pleasure talking with you.
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He always plays devil's advocate in discussions.He always plays devil's advocate in discussions.
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We don't see eye to eye on everything, but we respect each other.We don't see eye to eye on everything, but we respect each other.
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He has a way with words.He has a way with words.
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Silence speaks volumes sometimes.Silence speaks volumes sometimes.
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She's the most loquacious person I know.She's the most loquacious person I know.
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Keep your answer terse and to the point.Keep your answer terse and to the point.
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Her glib response felt insincere.Her glib response felt insincere.
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He can be tactless without realizing it.He can be tactless without realizing it.
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Stop being condescending, we're equals here.Stop being condescending, we're equals here.
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His patronizing tone really annoyed me.His patronizing tone really annoyed me.
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He's always self-deprecating about his mistakes.He's always self-deprecating about his mistakes.
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Her deadpan expression made the joke funnier.Her deadpan expression made the joke funnier.
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Every meeting, he has some clever quip ready.Every meeting, he has some clever quip ready.
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She fired back with a quick retort.She fired back with a quick retort.
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The article insinuated some wrongdoing.The article insinuated some wrongdoing.
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He kept alluding to some big news.He kept alluding to some big news.
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His monotone lectures put us all to sleep.His monotone lectures put us all to sleep.
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The film captivated me from the first scene.The film captivated me from the first scene.
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She can come across as aloof, but she's shy.She can come across as aloof, but she's shy.
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Their gregarious host greeted every guest by name.Their gregarious host greeted every guest by name.
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He's affable, but firm when it matters.He's affable, but firm when it matters.
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In other words, to paraphrase, he quit.In other words, to paraphrase, he quit.
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His snide tone made her uncomfortable.His snide tone made her uncomfortable.
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His scathing email upset the whole team.His scathing email upset the whole team.
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Her praise felt more like a backhanded compliment.Her praise felt more like a backhanded compliment.
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Talk is cheap; show me what you can do.Talk is cheap; show me what you can do.
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He knows how to read the room.He knows how to read the room.
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