Happy English Podcast

I guess so. I guess not. I guess you're right. Let me guess. Guess what?You probably learned that the verb guess means to answer a question when you don't know the answer. And that's true. But in everyday American English, guess has several other meanings. In fact, when native speakers say, "I guess," they're usually not making a guess at all. They're softening an opinion, showing they're not completely certain, or saying something in a more relaxed way. So today, we're going to look at how Americans really use guess.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I'm good. We're good. You're good. It's all good. You probably learned that good is the opposite of bad. So you might think, "I'm good" is simply a conversational reply to "How are you. And it is. But in everyday American English, I'm good has several different meanings. We use I'm good to politely refuse something, to say we don't need help, to tell someone everything is okay, and even to end a conversation. It's probably one of the most common expressions you'll hear in the United States. So today, we're going to look at how you can really use I'm good.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I'm kind of tired. That's kind of expensive. It was kind of weird. I kind of forgot.If you've ever listened to English speakers, you've probably heard the phrase kind of over and over again. But here's the interesting thing. Most of the time, when we say "kind of" we're not talking about a type of something. We're using kind of to make what we're saying softer, less direct, or less certain. It's one of those little expressions that can make your English sound much more natural. So today, let's look at how you can really use kind of.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

That works. Works for me. Does that work? That doesn’t work for my schedule.Did you notice, these expressions all use the verb work, but they’re not about having a job. In everyday American  English, we often use work to talk about whether a time, a plan, an idea, or a solution is acceptable, convenient, or possible. So if someone says, “Friday works for me,” they don’t mean Friday has a job. They mean Friday is good for their schedule. And that’s what we’re going to look at today.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Man! It’s hot as hell. It’s like an oven out there. I’m melting. Crank up the A/C. Time to beat the heat.Hot weather. Everybody talks about it, right? But in English, especially in American English, we don’t only say, “It’s hot.” We have lots of natural expressions for hot days, humid days, uncomfortable days, and those summer days when you walk outside and immediately think, “Nope. I’m going back inside.” So today, we’re going to look at how Americans really talk about hot weather in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I'm all set. You're all set. Are we all set? We're all set.Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm all set," and wondered what they meant? You won't find this expression in many English textbooks, but if you spend any time in the United States, you'll hear it everywhere. At restaurants, coffee shops, doctor's offices, airports, hotels - just about anywhere. So what does "all set" actually mean? Well, it depends on the situation. Sometimes it means, "I don't need anything else." Sometimes it means, "Everything is ready." And sometimes it's just a polite way to end a conversation. So today, we're going to look at how native speakers really use "all set."The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

How much did it cost? How much did you spend? Did you pay cash? What did you buy?Cost, spend, pay, and buy. These are four very common English words that are related to using money. and English learners often mix them up because they're all connected to money. But here's the thing. They don't focus on the same part of the situation. Sometimes we're talking about the thing we got. Sometimes we're talking about the money we used. Sometimes we're talking about the price. And sometimes we're talking about the person using the money. So today, we're going to look at how people really use cost, spend, pay, and buy in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I noticed a strange noise. I realized I forgot my keys. She noticed he was quiet. She realized he was upset.Notice and realize are two similar words in English, so they're are easy to mix up. And honestly, it's easy to understand why. Both words talk about becoming aware of something. But there's an important difference between them. When you notice something, you use your senses. When you realize something, you use your mind. Once you understand that difference, these two words become much easier to use naturally. And that is what we're going to look at today!The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Sure. Sure thing. Are you sure? I’m sure. Sure enough. Sure is one of those words that seems really simple, right? You probably learned that sure means certain. And that's true. But in everyday English, we use sure in a lot of different ways.  Sometimes it means certain. Sometimes sure means yes. Sometimes it means of course. And sometimes it's just a friendly way to agree with someone. So what's really going on with sure? That's what we're going to look at today.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I’m fine. That’s fine. Fine with me. Fine.  Fine seems like such a simple word, right? You probably learned it very early in English class. “How are you?” “I’m fine, thank you. And you? I'm fine thank you.” Easy. But here’s the thing: Outside the classroom, in real English, fine can mean a lot of different things depending on the situation - and your tone of voice. Sometimes fine means okay. Sometimes it means acceptable. Sometimes it means, “I guess that’s okay.” And sometimes… when someone says, “Fine,” it definitely does not sound fine. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use fine in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

You look tired. That sounds fun. He seems upset. Dinner looks amazing. Your voice sounds different.Seem, look, and sound. These words seem simple, right? But English learners often mix them up. Can you say, “You seem tired,” and, “You look tired”? What’s the difference? Why do we say, “That sounds fun,” when we can’t actually hear fun? And when should you use seem instead? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use seem, look, and sound in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I’m waiting for the bus. I’m expecting a package tomorrow. We’re expecting guests this weekend. My teacher expects me to do my homework.Wait and expect. These seem like simple words, right? But they can be easy to mix them up. Like, what’s the difference between, “I’m waiting for you,” and, “I’m expecting you”? Why can we say, “I’m expecting a package,” but not, “I’m waiting a package”? And what does it mean when someone says, “We’re expecting  guests”? Or even, “She’s expecting”? Yeah… there’s actually a lot going on here with these two words. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use wait and expect in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Jack visited his parents last weekend. We went to Milan for vacation. I need to go to the doctor. I visited my friend in Brooklyn.Visit and go to. Both words are used to talk about movement, but they are easy to mix up. Can you say, “I visited to New York”? Why do we say, “go to the doctor,” but, “visit the doctor”? And what’s the difference between, “I visited my friend,” and, “I went to my friend’s house”? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use visit and go to in everyday EnglishThe Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

1062 - No Big Deal / No Biggie - English Tips in a Minute | Happy EnglishHey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. Today, let’s look at two really common conversational responses - “no big deal” and “no biggie.”We use no big deal or no biggie to mean “it’s not a problem” or “don’t worry about it.” They’re casual, friendly ways to respond when someone apologizes or thanks you.For example, imagine your friend says: “Sorry I’m a little late.”  You could reply: “No big deal.”Or maybe a coworker says:  “Thanks for helping me with that report.”  You can say: “No biggie!”We also use these phrases when something small goes wrong: “Oops, I spilled a little coffee.”  “Oh, no big deal.”No biggie sounds a little more casual and playful, while no big deal is a bit more common for everyday situations.Lemme know in the comments which one you’d use, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minut

Check out my new Live Course: Speak Naturally In American English: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/speak-naturally-in-american-englishThanks. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. You’re the best. I owe you one.Saying thank you in English seems easy, right? Just say, “Thank you.” But honestly, in everyday conversation, we don’t always use the same expression. If someone holds the door open for you, “I sincerely appreciate your kindness” sounds way too formal. And if your friend helps you move all day, just saying, “Thanks,” might not feel like enough. That’s because how we thank someone depends on the situation and how much we want to show appreciation. And that’s what we’re going to dive into today.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Oops, sorry about that. My bad. I’m really sorry. I apologize for the confusion. No worries. Don’t worry about it.Apologizing in English seems simple, right? You just say, “I’m sorry.” But actually, there are lots of different ways to apologize depending on the situation. If you bump into someone at the supermarket, you probably won’t say, “I sincerely apologize.” And if you accidentally send the wrong file to your boss, maybe “Oops, my bad” is not the best choice either. So today, we’re going to look at how people really apologize in English - naturally.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I’m waiting for the bus. We waited to eat dinner. I’m waiting for my friend to call me back. Wait. Seems like a simple word, right? But even simple works can cause confusion. Can you say, “I’m waiting you”? Why do we say, “wait for the bus,” but “wait to leave”? And what’s the difference between, “I’m waiting at the station” and “I’m waiting for the train”?Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use wait and wait for in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Hi! Nice to meet you. It's nice to see you!Meet and see. These seem like simple words, right? They both relate to spending time with another person, but sometimes meet and see can be confusing. Can you say, “Nice to see you” the first time you meet someone? Or, “I’m meeting my friend for dinner” even though you already know them? And what’s the difference between, “I met Jack yesterday” and “I saw Jack yesterday”? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think.So today, we’re going to look at how people really use meet and see in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Can you check the schedule? I just want to confirm our reservation. Make sure you bring your passport.Check, confirm, and make sure. These words seem pretty similar, right? They all involve checking information somehow. But sometimes it's easy to mix them up. Can you say, “Please confirm the weather?” Or, “I checked that my friend came to the party”? Or maybe, “Make sure the reservation”? Hmm… something sounds a little strange there. So today, we’re going to look at how you can actually use check, confirm, and make sure in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.Today, let’s talk about another very common sound change in American English: We generally pronounce  would you as wouldja.That’s because when the D sound and the Y sound come together, they blend into a J sound: wouldjaWe often use wouldja for making offers or invitations.Wouldja like some tea?Wouldja like to come with us?We also use wouldja for polite requests.Wouldja mind helping me?Wouldja happen to know where the station is?And we use wouldja for hypothetical questions too.What wouldja do?Where wouldja go?Let's practice. Repeat after me. (I'll say blue. You say green)Wouldja like some tea?Wouldja mind helping me?What wouldja do?Nice and smooth — wouldja.Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Speak Naturally