Small talk in English at work: 15 phrases that keep a conversation going
Small talk is the part of English many confident speakers still dread: no topic, no script, and silence after two lines. The trick is not more vocabulary – it's a simple shape you can repeat.
The shape of small talk
Almost every good small-talk exchange has three moves: answer + a little extra + a question back. “How was your weekend?” – “Good, thanks. We finally tried that new Thai place. How about you?” The extra detail gives the other person something to react to; the question hands the conversation back. Without those two, it ends after one line.
15 phrases for small talk
| Phrase | What it does |
|---|---|
| “How's your week going?” | An easy opener |
| “Did you do anything nice at the weekend?” | A Monday opener |
| “Any plans for the weekend?” | A Friday opener |
| “How's the project going?” | A work opener |
| “Busy day?” | A short opener in the kitchen or lift |
| “Oh really? How was it?” | Showing interest |
| “That sounds great / stressful.” | Reacting |
| “I know what you mean.” | Agreeing |
| “How about you?” | Handing the conversation back |
| “Have you been working here long?” | With a new colleague |
| “Where are you based?” | On a call with remote colleagues |
| “Have you seen the new coffee machine?” | Talking about the shared space |
| “Anyway, I'd better get back to work.” | Ending politely |
| “It was nice chatting with you.” | Ending politely |
| “Catch you later.” | An informal goodbye |
A sample dialogue by the coffee machine
Colleague: Morning! How was your weekend?
You: Good, thanks. I went cycling by the sea – the weather was perfect. How about yours?
Colleague: Quiet. My kids had a football tournament, so I spent Saturday on the side of a pitch.
You: Oh, nice. Did they win?
Colleague: They came second, so everyone was happy.
You: Second is great. How old are they?
Colleague: Nine and eleven. Anyway, are you ready for the client call today?
You: Almost. I'm finishing the slides now, actually – I'd better get back to them.
Colleague: Good luck. See you at two.
You: See you.
Safe and risky topics
Safe almost everywhere: the weekend, travel, food, sport, weather, films and series, the city you live in, general work news. Usually best avoided with people you don't know well: salary, politics, religion, someone's age, weight or relationship status.
Common mistakes
- One-word answers. “Fine.” “Good.” They're correct, but they close the door. Add one detail and one question.
- Answering “How are you?” honestly and at length. In English it's a greeting. “Good, thanks, you?” is the normal answer, even on a bad day.
- Asking a list of questions. Question after question feels like an interview. React to the answer first – “Oh, nice” – then ask the next one.
How to practise
- Prepare a two-sentence answer to “How was your weekend?” and “What do you do?” – with one detail each.
- Practise the three-move shape out loud: answer, detail, question back.
- Have a few short conversations with a partner who changes the topic – that's what real small talk does.
Related: English job interview practice and phone calls in English.
Practising it with Ling
Ling AI is an iPhone and iPad app for spoken English. Lessons are live 3–4 minute voice scenes with Sophia, an AI speaking partner – chatting with a colleague is one of the typical ones. Sophia remembers what you talked about, so the next conversation can continue it. Tap Hint when you don't know what to say, and finish with your one main mistake to fix.
About 5 minutes of voice every day are free. iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later; no Android version yet.