Shadowing Practice: The British Phrases Textbooks Don’t Teach - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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In British English we don't always say hello, how are you?
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In British English we don't always say hello, how are you?
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You're welcome.
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So in this video we are going to explore British phrases that we actually use every day.
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Hiya, you alright?
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British people say hiya more than hello.
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I say hiya all of the time,
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especially because hello sometimes sounds too formal.
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So I use it especially with my friends like Rafa.
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Rafa is my friend.
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Hiya Rafa.
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Hiya Sam.
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We also say you're right instead of how are you.
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Again this is informal so it's something that you'll say to your friends but also the way we pronounce it is informal.
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So we often drop the r at the beginning
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and then we connect the you and all right together so it becomes you're right.
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Notice that I also don't pronounce the t You alright?
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Rafa, you alright?
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Yeah, I'm alright.
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Are you alright?
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Yeah, I'm alright.
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So if you say I'm alright,
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in British English it's like I'm fine.
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Are you making me a coffee?
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Cheers mate!
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So in British English if you want to say thank you in a casual way you can say cheers.
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And notice that I don't pronounce the R at the end.
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Cheers.
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But if somebody does something really nice for you
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maybe it's better to say thank you because cheers can sound a little bit inconsiderate.
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And then we have mate which is like an informal way of saying friend
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and often we don't pronounce the T so it's mate mate
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and I would like to say a big cheers to my
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mate Rafa for helping us out with this part of the video.
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Cheers mate!
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The next one is no worries.
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So this isn't specific to British English,
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but if somebody thanks you for something casual like making them a cup of coffee,
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instead of saying you're welcome,
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I would say no worries.
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It's because you're welcome sounds too much,
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it sounds too formal sometimes.
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So I prefer to say no worries.
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Hakuna Matata.
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The next one is don't say I want, say I fancy.
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I fancy a sandwich but my fridge is empty.
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So fancy is something British people say all of the time.
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You might have heard a British person ask, fancy a cuppa?
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Which means, do you want a cup of tea?
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So fancy means to want to have something or to want to do something.
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For example, it's sunny outside, I fancy a picnic.
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But right now I fancy a sandwich,
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but my fridge is empty so I need to pop to the shop.
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So this is our next expression.
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To pop somewhere is something really British to say.
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It means to go somewhere quickly,
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to go somewhere for a short time.
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So I popped to the shop to buy some milk.
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I popped to the shop to buy some groceries for my sandwich.
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And we also use pop out a lot.
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Pop out.
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This means to go outside,
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to leave the house for a short time.
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To quickly leave the house.
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So I popped out for some fresh air.
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It also implies that you're going to be back home really soon.
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Bloody hell, I've lost my key.
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Ah, it's in my back pocket.
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So bloody hell is something British people say all of the time when we are frustrated.
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It's a bit rude.
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It's like f***ing hell, but more British.
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Coming up next, I'm not fussed.
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I'm not bothered.
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So if you say, I'm not fussed,
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or I'm not bothered, it means, I don't mind.
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So for example, someone asks you,
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what do you want in your sandwich?
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And you say, I'm not fussed, I'm not bothered.
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Or simply, not fussed not bothered okay and then you end up with a boring cheese sandwich
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bov-ed bothered i can't be bothered bothered is a difficult word to pronounce
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and it's a word that we use all of the time in British English.
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This time, I can't be bothered means I'm too lazy to do something.
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I don't have the energy to do it.
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I can't be bothered.
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I can't be bothered to do anything. Is that the doorbell?
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Just a sec.
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Hang on a sec.
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Just a sec.
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Both of these mean wait a moment.
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Hang on a sec doesn't mean wait one second.
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It means wait a short period of time.
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Hang on a sec.
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This is something I say all of the time.
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It's something British people use all of the time for wait a moment.
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You might also hear British people say I'll be there in
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a jiffy I'll be there in a jiffy this means I'll
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be there in a moment hang on a sec I'll be
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there in a jiffy there's no one there the next British
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expression mind you mind you is a British expression I use a lot in everyday conversation
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and you can use it instead of however.
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For example, Italian grammar is really hard.
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Mind you, I've been studying a lot.
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Or I'm really lazy.
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Mind you, I went for a run yesterday.
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So mind you can be used instead of however and I think it sounds really British as well.
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So try using it next time you have a conversation with someone.
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Is that the door again?
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You're taking the mickey.
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Oh, hi, Mum.
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Yeah, no, I'm just recording a video.
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If you're taking the mickey,
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it means you're making fun of someone.
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So you're taking the mickey.
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You can also say taking the piss or you could say taking the biscuit in British English.
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So taking the mickey, taking the biscuit,
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really British ways of saying you're making fun of me.
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And the next one is on your bike.
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So another expression that will make you sound really British is on your bike and it means go away, get lost.
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You can say it when you're angry or if you're playing with your friends.
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On your bike, leave me alone.
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And the pronunciation is on your,
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not on you, on your,
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on your bike, on your bike mate.
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You can also say jog on,
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jog on, leave me alone,
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on your bike, go away.
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And do you know the British expression fair enough?
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So fair enough is something that British people say all of the time and it means that's okay,
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I understand, fair enough.
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We use it even if we don't agree with someone.
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So for example, you say to me,
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Sam, your video is rubbish.
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It's really bad.
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I can reply with, fair enough.
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That's okay.
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I understand.
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I don't necessarily agree, but we all have an opinion.
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Fair enough.
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By the way, I hope you don't think my video is rubbish.
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Give it a like and we will go to our final destination.
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And we are back where we started.
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To be honest, I'm knackered.
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That's a really British way of saying I'm really tired.
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It's a lot of work making these videos.
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But anyway, I hope you enjoyed the video.
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Give it a like, subscribe to the channel and any support you can give the video.
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That would be absolutely amazing.
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Also, let me know which expression you like the most.
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Let me know in the comments and I'll see you in the next video, guys.
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Bye.
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Context & Background
In the realm of British English, everyday communication often deviates from what you might find in traditional textbooks. The phrases and informal language used by native speakers can appear perplexing to English learners. However, engaging with this authentic style of speaking through various mediums, such as learning English with YouTube, can significantly enhance your understanding and fluency. The speaker in this video introduces listeners to common British phrases that are frequently used in casual conversations, providing a good mix of humor and practical language tips that help learners navigate daily interactions.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Hiya: A less formal greeting that can be used among friends instead of saying 'hello.'
- You're right: A casual way to ask 'how are you?' This phrase often loses the 'r' sound, making it sound more like "you alright?"
- Cheers: Used to say 'thank you' in a friendly manner. Be careful, as it may seem too informal in more serious contexts.
- No worries: A common response to 'thank you,' indicating that the service or help provided was no trouble at all.
- I fancy: Instead of saying 'I want,' using 'fancy' makes your request sound more polite and casual, such as 'I fancy a cuppa.'
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively incorporate these phrases into your vocabulary using shadow speak, here’s a simple guide to practicing:
- Watch the Video: Begin by watching the video to familiarize yourself with the phrases and their usage. Take note of their context.
- Listen Actively: Focus on how the speaker pronounces and connects words. This is crucial for adopting the casual tone of British English.
- Shadow the Phrases: Use a shadowing app to repeat after the speaker. Try to mimic their intonation and rhythm, especially when phrases like "you're right" are spoken quickly.
- Practice with Friends: Engage in conversations where you can use these phrases. This real-life practice is essential for your IELTS speaking practice.
- Self-Review: Record yourself using these phrases and listen back. Compare your pronunciation with that of the speaker to identify areas for improvement.
This method not only helps you grasp informal British phrases but also boosts your overall confidence in speaking English. Through continuous practice, you’ll find that incorporating these expressions into your conversations will become second nature, inviting you to speak more comfortably with native speakers.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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