My frequent English phrase list

Hello, it's anaii. How have you been? 
I'm exploring Europe right now, and I've just crossed the sea from Copenhagen to Sweden by train!

I once posted this kind of content two years ago which was my first stay in Wales. Now, I'll write about English phrases I often heard during my second stay in Wales AGAIN! There will probably be some differences between first and second stay, e.g., English skills, friends, and academic life environment. HOW EXCITING!

It'd be better for you to know with who I spent time and talked during my study. Most of my friends are international students, like flatmates, classmates, and friends I got to know randomly. They are Indian, Chinese, and Malaysian, Czech, Vietnamese, etc. British people I usually talked with are two of my classmates, some of the lecturers, academic staff at university, and people in a church. Therefore, it may not be "British English phrases", but hope you like it!

On conversation

Hiya, See ya

My Czech friend always said to me, "Hiya!" and " See ya!" with her smile. Especially between friends, these phrases are used as frequently as Hi, and it sounds more casual. Personally, it's easier to say Hiya than Hi because Hi is too short to speak out.

Hiya, how have you been?

That's the point.

This phrase often showed up during chat (or spilling the tea) with my flatmates. It's quite useful for me to exaggerate my argument.

A: She cooks instant noodles with a rice cooker. 
B: That's the point. She always overcooks noodles, and it's definitely too soft and not tasty. Then she finally throws them away every time.

Fair enough.

I still fully don't get when to use it, so it's my friends' phrase rather than my phrase. However, maybe it closely means "not bad". 

A: How much does this Shin ramen cost?
B: £1.20.
A: Fair enough.

Bro

I've never used it, but some of my friends like young guys or non-very-girlish girls repeatedly say it. For example, when you are playing a board game together in a team, and one of your teammate almost messed up the game. Then you might make fun of your teammate by saying,

Bro! What are you doing?

Or, you simply say, " Hey, what's up, bro!"

However, this phrase would be appropriate to some people, but not to others. It would be awkward if I used this phrase. 

Lovely!

It may be the most frequent words on conversation. It's going to be alternatives of nice or cool, indicating a positive reaction. It frequently appears on text messages as well. And a typical British phrase you 100% hear when you visit the UK is "Have a lovely day!"

A: I went on a trip with my family on holiday.
B: That's lovely! Did you like the place?

Also, staff at restaurants or coffee shops tend to say "Lovely" when they take an order like sure or absolutely.

A: Can I have an oat latte, please?
B: Lovely.

Innit?

This is quite famous as a British phrase, an abbreviation of "Isn't it?" It may be a little biased, but older British ladies daily use this phrase, I guess.

It's a terrible weather today, innit?

That's true.

When you agree with what your friend said, you can say this phrase. It may sound better if you say it with great sympathies. My Malaysian flatmate often agreed to me by saying it while we were talking about cultural differences (I really liked this kind of conversation!). I feel like it's close to "I know right."

A: The bus fare was increased again, and they don't offer it at a student price any more.
B: That's true! £6 for adults is crazily expensive. 

You sure?

I have a polite impression to someone who asks me like that. It sounds like they kindly double check if the situation is really okay with you. The original phrase is "Are you sure?" 

Can I use this room? You sure? 

Give someone a lift

Lift is a bit tricky word. In the UK, lift is alternatively used as an elevator. However, in this sentence, it can be said, "give someone a ride" in American English. People may ask you if you want them to take you somewhere by car. 

Do you want me to give you a lift?

You know what, 

It's a convenient phrase when you start (or perhaps change) a conversation. Don't be afraid to say it out, casually start with You know what. You friend surely listen to your topic. 

You know what, I got a free donut when I answered a survey on campus. 

Whatever

In my opinion, you should try not to use it because it brings about vagueness on conversation. However, in my sense, my friends use it when they're lazy of mentioning the rest of the sentence, or telling too many options to say everything.

You can put anything in curry, potatoes, carrots, peas, whatever.

On text

Hey

My friends often texted me,

Hey, do you wanna join a beach walk at 4ish?

We also use Hi instead, but Hey sounds more informal as well as Hiya and See ya. In my viewpoint as Japanese, Hey sounds like a bit impolite, but it doesn't seem like that in English.

xx

It's a common text among females. I thought only young women used it, but actually any females even including in their 40s, 50s, 60s… use it on text. Generally, women type x, xx or xxx at the end of a sentence. Some people also type Xx. I hesitated to use it as I was afraid to use it wrongly. However, I finally do so these days.

Hey, do you fancy a homemade cake? xx

That'll be all I'd like to tell you. Oh, and can you imagine what the photo of the top on this page, a heart in the sky, shows? It's Air Show's! 

If you're into note I wrote two years ago, I'd be happy with you checking it! Diolch:)