English conversation guide - Ghid de conversație englez

English is the most important international language spoken in UK, Canada, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and other countries (English-speaking African countries, for example).

The grammar of the language is relatively simple, and similar to many other Germanic languages, although the pronunciation is more complicated, especially for speakers of Romance languages, so also for Romanian speakers.

Pronunciation guide

English pronunciation is generally difficult for two main reasons:

It tends to be inconsistent - the same letter can have several pronunciations
The English accent is harder to learn (because there is only one: there are American, Australian accents, etc.).

But because the language is still comparatively easier to learn than other languages, and because it is very often spoken as a second language, it is quite easy to learn for tourism.

voice

English vowels are pronounced in different ways, including:

of: like 'they' in 'heavy', like 'she' in 'wants', like 'a' in 'bar'
e: like 'i' in "lily" but longer, like 'e' in "train" but shorter
and: like 'ai' in "dai", like 'i' in "bingo"
a: like 'egg' in 'halo', like 'o' in 'tree'
u: like 'u' in "you" but longer, like 'iu' in "I know" but a little longer
y: (end of word) as 'i' in "lily" but longer

consonant

Usual diphthongs and ligatures

you: like 'them' in 'heavy'
she: like 'i' in "lily" but longer
They: as 'they' in "heavy"; after 'c', as 'i' in "lily" but longer
ie: like 'i' in "lily" but longer
oo: like 'u' in "you" but longer, like 'â' in "Romanian"

List of common phrases

Basic

Hello. Hello.: Hello. (he-LOU)
Hi. (informal): Hi. (let's)
How are you? / How are you?: How are you? (HAU ar IU?)
Fine thanks.: Fine, thanks. (FAIN, tenks)
What's your name?: What's your name? (Do you know NEIM?)
My name is ______ .: My name is ______. (Mai NEIM iz _____.)
Nice to meet you.: Pleased to meet you. (PLIIZD tu miit iu)
Please.: Please. (PLIIZ)
Thank you.: Thanks. (TENKS)
With pleasure.: With pleasure. (Wit PLE-jăr)
Yes.: Yes. (out)
Not.: No. (NEW)
Excuse me / Excuse me. (catching the attention): Excuse me. (Ex-CHIUZ thousands)
Excuse me / Excuse me. (sorry): Sorry. (suns)
Sorry.: I'm sorry. (Aim SORI.)
Goodbye: Good bye. (Gud BAI.)
Bye (informal): Bye. (bathrooms)
I don't speak [good] English.: I don't speak English [well]. (AI dount SPIC English WEL)
Speak Romanian?: Do you speak Romanian? (Du YU spic ru-MEI-ni-an?)
Does anyone here speak Romanian?: Does anyone here speak Romanian? (DAZ eny-uan HIR spic ru-MEI-ni-ăn?)
Do you speak french: Do you speak French? (Du YU spic FRENCH?)
Does anyone here speak French?: Does anyone here speak French? (DAZ eny-uan HIR spic FRENCH?)
Help!: Help! (HELP!)
Good morning.: Good morning. (GUD MOR-ning.)
Good evening.: Good evening. (GUD IV-ning.)
Good night.: Good night. (GUD nait.)
I do not understand.: I don't understand. (AI dount andăr-stend)
Where is the bathroom?: Where is the bathroom? (WER is bat-rum?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: Leave me alone. (liv mi ăLOUN)
Don't touch me / touch me!: Don't touch me! (dont shut up!)
I'll call the police.: I'll call the police. (ail col da pàuLIS)
The police!: Police! (Paul!)
Stay! Thief!: Stop! Thief! (Stop! siif!)
I need help.: I need help. (ai nid help)
It's an emergency.: It's an emergency. (iț ăn iMĂRgeănsi)
I'm lost...: I'm lost ... (aim lost)
I lost my luggage.: I've lost my luggage. (aiv lost mai LAghigi)
I lost my wallet.: I've lost my wallet. (aiv lost mai UAlet)
I'm sick.: I'm ill. (love it)
I'm hurt.: I'm hurt. (aim map)
I need a doctor.: I need a doctor. (ai nid ă DACtăr)
Can I use your phone?: Can I use your phone? (chen ai iuz ior foun?)

numeral

1: one (uan)
2: two (tuu)
3: three (SR L)
4: four (forum)
5: five (FAiv)
6: six (SIcs)
7: seven (SEvăn)
8: eight (eit)
9: nine (NAin)
10: ten (complexion)
11: eleven (iLEVăn)
12: twelve (tuelv)
13: thirteen (sirTIN)
14: fourteen (forTIN)
15: fifteen (fifTIN)
16: sixteen (sicsTIN)
17: seventeen (sevănTIN)
18: eighteen (eiTIN)
19: nineteen (naiTIN)
20: twenty (TUENti)
21: twenty-one
22: twenty-two
23: twenty-three
30: thirty (You jump)
40: forty (FOrti)
50: fifty (FIfti)
60: sixty (SIcsti)
70: seventy (SEvanti)
80: eighty (EIti)
90: ninety (NAINti)
100: a hundred (to HANdrid) or one hundred (uan HANdrid)
200: two hundred
300: three hundred
1000: a thousand (hearing) or one thousand (uan SAUzănd)
2000: two thousand
1.000.000: a million (to MIliăn) or one million (uan MIliăn)
1.000.000.000: a billion (to BIliăn) or one billion (uan BIliăn)
1.000.000.000.000: a trillion (TRIliăn) or one trillion (TRIliăn)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): Number _____ (NAMbăr)
half: half (haf)
halves: half (haf)
less: less (corpse)
more: more (I am dying)

CAREFUL!

In Romanian one billion is 1,000,000,000 and one billion is 1,000,000,000,000 (one thousand billion)!

Time

now: now (NAU)
later: later (LEI-tsar)
before: before, earlier (BI-for, ĂR-liăr)
morning: morning (MO-ning)
morning: in the morning (in gives MO-ning)
tomorrow morning: tomorrow morning (tu-morou MO-ning)
afternoon: afternoon (afta-NUN)
afternoon: in the afternoon (in di aftă-NUN)
in the evening: eveningivning)
in the evening: in the evening (in di ivning)
night: night (nait)
the night: at night (and is born)

The clock

one o'clock: one o'clock (uan ă-cloc) or one A.M. (uan EI.EM.)
two o'clock: two o'clock (you cloc) or two A.M. (tu EI.EM.)
Lunch: twelve o'clock (tuelv ă-cloc) or noon (nuun)
thirteen o'clock: one o'clock (uan ă-cloc) or one P.M. (uan PI.EM.)
fourteen o'clock: two o'clock (you cloc) or two P.M. (tu PI.EM.)
midnight: twelve o'clock (tuelv ă-cloc) or midnight (from the NAIT)

term

_____ minute (s): _____ minute (s) (_____ mine (mine))
_____ hour (s): _____ hour (s) (______ auăr (s))
_____ day (s): _____ day (s) (______ dei (z))
_____ week (s): _____ week (s) (_____ wiik (s))
_____ month (s): _____ month (s) (______ mant (mantle))
_____ years): _____ year (s) (yir (s))

days

today: today (tu-DEI)
yesterday: yesterday (yes-tar-DEI)
other day: the day before yesterday (gives dei bi-FOR yes-tar-DEI)
tomorrow: tomorrow (tu-MOR-ou)
the day after tomorrow: the day after tomorrow (give some afte you-MOR-egg)
this week: this week (DIS wiik)
last week: last week (LAST wiik)
next week: next week (NEXT wiik)

Months: Monday (MAN-dei)
Tuesday: Tuesday (TIUZ-dei)
Wednesday: Wednesday (UENS-dei)
Thursday: Thursday (TARS-dei)
Friday: Friday (FRAI-dei)
Saturday: Saturday (SATAR-gods)
Sunday: Sunday (SAN-dei)

Months

January: January (GIA-no-countries)
February: February (FEB-ru-countries)
March: March (MARCH)
April: April (EI-pril)
May: May (MY)
June: June (JUN)
July: July (JĂLAI)
August: August (A goose)
September: September (sep-TEM-ba)
October: October (oc-TOBĂ)
November: November (no-VEMBĂ)
December: December (of SEED)

Writing the clock and date

Into the UK, the date and time are written in exactly the same form as in Romanian, which happens in many other European countries. For example, the date and time are written:

14 Jul 2004, 06:30
24 Aug 2004, 15:30

In the US, the date and time in a different style:

July 14, 2004, 6:30 am
Aug 24, 2004, 3:30 p.m.

colors

black: black (Blečić)
white: white (uait)
Gray: (In the UK) gray (heavy), (In the USA) gray (heavy)
Red: red (red)
blue: blue (blue)
yellow: yellow (ielou)
green: green (grin)
orange: Orange (Oring)
pink: pink (pinc)
brown: brown (braun)

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Transport

Sentences below this line are translated into English but have no pronunciation
Phrases translated, but a native English speaker should do the pronunciations.

Bus and train

How much is the ticket to _____? (bus, train): How much is a ticket to _____? (Hau maci is ă tătat tu)
A ticket to _______, please.: A ticket to ______, please. (Tick you, ____, plot )
Where does this train / bus go?: Where does this train / bus go? (wer dăz sis TREN / BĂS gou)
Where is the train / bus to _____?: Where is the train / bus to ______? (wer is give train / bass you)
Stop this train / bus in _____?: Does this train / bus stop in _____? (dăz sis train / bass stap in _____)
When does this train / bus leave at _____?: When does this train / bus depart to _____? (wen dăz sis tren / băs depat tu _____)
What time is this train / bus in _____?: When does this train / bus arrive in _____? (wen dăz sis tren / băs araiv in _____)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: How do I get to _____? (this has ai get you _____)
... train station?: (in the UK)... the railway station? (in the USA) ... the train station? () or ... the railroad station? ()
...bus station?: ... the bus station? ()
...airport?: ... the airport? ()
...center?: (In the UK) ... the city center? () in the USA downtown? ()
... the youth home?: ... a youth hostel ()
...the hotel _____ ?: ... the _____ Hotel? ()
... the Romanian / Moldovan consulate?: ... the Romanian / Moldovan consulate? ()
... Romanian / Moldovan embassy?: ... the Romanian / Moldovan embassy? ()
Where there are many ...: Where would I find a lot of ... ()
...hotels?: ... hotels? ()
... restaurant?: ... restaurants? ()
...night clubs?: ... nightclubs / bars / dance clubs? ()
... clubs?: ... bars? ()
... tourist attractions?: ... tourist attractions? (attractive tourist)
You can show me on the map: Can you show me on the map? (can I and my year of map)
the street: street (strit)
To the left.: On the left. (an de left)
Right.: On the right. (year of rait)
To the left.: Turn left. () or Go left. () or Take a left. ()
Right.: Turn right. () or Go right. () or Take a right. ()
Left: left (left)
right: right (rait)
before: straight ahead (stret ahed)
to _____: towards (the) _____ (tuăds (yes))
after _____: past (the) _____ (past)
before _____: before (the) _____ (bifor (yes))
Be careful at _____.: Look out for (the) _____ (luk aut for) or Watch out for _____ (oaci aut for)
intersection: crossing () or intersection () or crossroads ()
north: north ()
south: south ()
east: east ()
west: west ()
up: downhill ()
down: uphill ()

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (Texi!)
Take me to _____, please.: Please take me to _____. (Pliz teic mi tu)
How much does it cost to _____?: How much does it cost to get to _____? ( Hau maci daz it cost tu ghet tu)
Take me there, please.: Please take me there. (Pliz teic me deer)

Host

Hosta

Money

Money (hands)

Food

A meal for one person / two people, please.: Table for two, please (X)
Can I see the menu, please?: Could I please see the menu? (X)
Do you have a house specialty?: Do you have a special house? (X)
Is there a local specialty?: Is there a local specialty? (X)
I'm a vegetarian.: I'm a vegetarian (X)
I don't eat pork.: I don't eat pork. (X)
I only eat kosher.: I only eat kosher. (X)
Can you make him / her less fat?: Could you please make it with less fat (less greasy)? (X)
menu of the day: Today's menu (X)
a la carte: a la carte (X)
Breakfast: breakfast (X)
batch: pack (X)
coffee: coffee (X)
lunch: lunch (X)
I want _____.: I'd like _____ (X)
I want food with ____: I want a dish with (X)
chicken: chicken (Boy)
beef: beef (biif)
over: fish (X)
pig: pork (pig)
veal: veal (viil)
livid: venison (VEnisăn)
ham: ham (X)
Frankfurters: sausage (X)
cheese: cheese (X)
eggs: eggs (X)
salad: salad (X)
fresh vegetables): fresh vegetables (X)
fresh fruits): fresh fruits (X)
bread: bread (X)
toast: toast (X)
dumplings: X (X)
rice: rice (X)
beans: beans (X)
Can you bring me a glass of _____, please?: Could you please bring me a glass of (X)
Can you bring me a cup of _____, please?: Could you please bring me a cup of (X)
Can you bring me a bottle of _____, please?: Could you please bring me a bottle of (X)
coffee: coffee (X)
what do you have: tea (X)
juice: juice (X)
mineral water: mineral water (X)
plain water): water (X)
beer: beer (X)
red / white wine: red wine / white (X)
Can you give me a little _____?: X (X)
salt: salt (X)
pepper: pepper (X)
butter: X (X)
Excuse me, waiter! (capturing the attention of the waiters): X (X)
I finished.: I'm full. (X)
It was delicious.: That was delicious. (X)
Please take the plates.: X (X)
The bill please.: The check, please. (X)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Do you serve alcohol? (X)
Is it table service?: Is there table service? (X)
One beer / two beers, please.: One / two beer (s), please (X)
A glass of red / white wine, please.: A glass of red / white wine (X)
A quarter / an eighth of red wine, please.: X (X)
A small / large beer, please: A large / small beer, please. (X)
Halfway through, please. (a pint of beer): X (X)
A bottle, please.: A bottle please. (X)
A cola with rum, please.: A rum and coke, please. (X)
whiskey: whiskey (X)
vodka: vodka (X)
rum: rum (X)
the water: water (X)
club juice: club soda (X)
tonic water: tonic water (X)
Orange juice: orange juice (X)
Cola (juice): coke (X)
Do you have any snacks?: X (X)
One more (m) / one (f), please.: One more, please. (X)
One more line, please.: Another round please (X)
When does it close?: When do you close? (X)

Shopping

Do you have something like that, my size?: Do you have something like this size? (X)
How much does it cost?: How much? (X)
It's too expensive.: It is too expensive. (X)
Do you accept _____?: Do you accept ______? (X)
expensive: expensive (expensive)
cheap: cheap (cheep)
I can not afford.: I can't afford it (X)
I don't want him.: I don't want it. (X)
I know this is not the normal price.: I know that is not the normal price. (X)
You're cheating on me.: X (X)
I do not care.: I am not interested. (X)
OK, I'll take it.: Ok, I'll take it. (X)
Can you give me a bag?: X (X)
Do you ship (abroad)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (X)
I need ...: I need ... (X)
...toothpaste.: toothpaste X (X)
... a toothbrush.: a toothbrush X (X)
... tampons.: tampons (X)
...soap.: soap (X)
...shampoo.: shampoo (X)
... something for pain. (ex. aspirin or nurofen): something for pain (X)
... something for the cold.: something for a cold (X)
... stomach tablets.: stomach medicine (X)
... a razor.: X (X)
... a blade. (funny): X (X)
...an umbrella.: an umbrella (X)
...Sunscreen.: sunblock (X)
...a view.: sunglasses (X)
... stamp.: stamp (s) (stemps)
...battery.: batteries (X)
... writing paper.: writing paper (X)
...a pen.: a pencil (X)
... books in Romanian.: books in Romanian (X)
... magazines in Romanian.: magazines in Romanian (X)

... a newspaper in Romanian.: a newspaper in Romanian (X)
... a Romanian-English dictionary.: a Romanian-English dictionary (X)

machinery

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car. (X)
Do I get insurance?: Do you provide insurance? (X)
stop (road sign): Stop. (X)
One Way: One way. (X)
to give priority: Yield. X)
No Parking: X (X)
speed limit: speed limit (X)
gas station: gas station (X)
benzine: gasoline (X)
diesel fuel: X (X)

Authority

I did not do anything.: I haven't done anything. (ai ha)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (X)
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me? (X)
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (X)
I am a Romanian / Moldovan citizen.: I am a Romanian / Moldovan citizen. (X)
I want to talk to the Romanian / Moldovan embassy / consulate.: I want to talk to the Romanian / Moldovan embassy / consulate. (X)
I want to see a lawyer.: I want to talk to a lawyer. (X)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Can I just pay a fine now? (X)

Learning more

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This is a complete article, as the community imagines it. But there is always something to improve and update. If you have information on this topic, be brave and edit it.