Mastering the art of politely ending conversations in English is crucial for effective communication and leaving a positive impression, especially in professional and social settings. This involves using specific phrases and following a structured approach rather than abruptly ending interactions.
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Hello everyone. Welcome back to Speak
English Daily. [music] I'm Emma.
Let me tell you about something that
happened to my student Tom. Tom is from
Brazil. He's been learning English for 2
years. Last month, he went to a
networking event in New York.
He met a nice businessman. They talked
for 20 minutes. The conversation was great.
great.
But then Tom wanted to leave and talk to
other people. He didn't know how to end
the conversation politely, so he just
said, "Okay, bye." and walked away. The
businessman looked shocked and confused.
Later, Tom's American friend told him.
"Tom, that was really rude. You can't
just say bye and leave like that." Tom
felt terrible.
He asked me, "Emma, what should I have
said?" Here's the truth. Ending a
conversation in English is an art. You
can't just stop talking and walk away.
That's rude in English-speaking cultures.
cultures.
You need to give signals.
You need to use the right phrases.
You need to make the other person feel
good about ending the conversation.
Let me show you what happens when you
end conversations badly.
Someone just says bye and walks away.
People think you're rude or angry.
Someone says, "I'm bored. I'm leaving."
This is incredibly offensive.
Someone just stops responding and looks
at their phone. This makes people feel
ignored. Someone says, "I have to go
five times but keeps talking." This is
confusing and awkward.
The problem is not your English level.
The problem is you don't know the
cultural rules. In many cultures, you
can just say goodbye and leave. But in
English, especially American and
Canadian English, there's a whole
process. You give hints. You use
transition phrases, you end positively.
And if you don't know how to do this,
people will remember you as rude. Even
if you're actually a very nice person,
this affects you at networking events,
job interviews, business meetings,
parties, casual conversations, phone
calls, everywhere you speak English.
Today I'm teaching you 40 phrases to end
conversation smoothly and politely.
Different phrases for different
situations. Formal conversations, casual
conversations, phone calls when you're
busy, when you want to be nice. This is
real English culture that textbooks
don't teach you. Are you ready to master
this essential skill? Let's begin.
[music]
category one giving signals you want to
end the conversation. [music]
Well, I don't want to take up too much
of your time.
Well, I don't want to take up too much
of your time.
Well, I don't want to take up too much
of your time.
I know you're busy, so I'll let you go.
I know you're busy, so I'll let you go.
I know you're busy, so I'll let you go.
I should probably let you get back to
I should probably let you get back to
your work.
I should probably let you get back to
I don't want to keep you.
I don't want to keep you.
I don't want to keep you.
Anyway, I should get going.
Anyway, I should get going.
Anyway, I should get going.
Well, I should probably head out.
Well, I should probably head out.
Well, I should probably head out. Perfect.
Perfect.
These are your transition phrases. They
signal that the conversation is ending.
Notice we're being polite. We're saying
we need to go, not that they're boring.
We're respecting their time. I don't
want to keep you is very polite and
common anyway is a natural transition
word. Native speakers use this all the time.
time.
Category two, when you actually have
I have a meeting in 10 minutes, so I
need to go.
I have a meeting in 10 minutes, so I
need to go.
I have a meeting in 10 minutes, so I
need to go.
I have to pick up my kids from school.
I have to pick up my kids from school.
I need to catch my train.
I need to catch my train.
I have an appointment I need to get to.
I have an appointment I need to get to.
I'm meeting someone at 300 p.m. So, I
should go.
I'm meeting someone at 300 p.m. So, I
should go.
I'm meeting someone at 300 p.m. So, I
should go.
I have to finish a project before 5:00 p.m.
I have to finish a project before 5:00 p.m.
p.m.
I have to finish a project before 5:00 p.m.
p.m.
Excellent. These phrases give a specific
reason for leaving. This makes people
feel better. They understand you're not
leaving because they're boring. You're
leaving because you have real responsibilities.
responsibilities.
Replace the examples with your real reasons.
reasons.
Category three, expressing you enjoyed
It [music] was great talking to you.
It was great talking to you.
It was great talking to you.
I really enjoyed our conversation.
This was really nice. Thank you for your time.
time.
This was really nice. Thank you for your time.
time.
This was really nice. Thank you for your time.
time.
I'm so glad we got a chance to chat.
I'm so glad we got a chance to chat.
I'm so glad we got a chance to chat.
It's been wonderful talking with you.
It's been wonderful talking with you.
Thanks for sharing that with me.
Thanks for sharing that with me.
Great. These phrases make the other
person feel good. You're showing
appreciation for their time. This is
very important in English culture. Even
if the conversation was just okay, say
something positive. It was great talking
to you works for any conversation. Use
these phrases before you say goodbye.
Category four, suggesting future contact.
contact. [music]
Let's keep in touch.
Let's keep in touch.
We should do this again sometime.
Can I get your email address?
Can I get your email address?
Let me give you my business card.
Feel free to reach out anytime. Feel
Feel
I'll send you that information we talked about.
I'll send you that information we talked about.
I'll send you that information we talked about.
about.
Let's connect on LinkedIn.
Wonderful. These phrases show you want
to stay connected, but only use these if
connected, but only use these if you
you mean it. Don't say, "Let's keep in
touch." If you never want to talk to
them again, that's dishonest. But if you
genuinely enjoy talking to them, these
phrases are perfect. Let's connect on
LinkedIn is very common in professional
situations. situations.
situations. These phrases show you want to stay
Category five, ending phone calls professionally.
professionally. [music]
Thanks for calling. Have a great day.
Thanks for calling. Have a great day.
Thanks for calling. Have a great day.
I'll let you go now. Talk to you soon.
I'll let you go now. Talk to you soon.
I'll let you go now. Talk to you soon.
I appreciate you taking the time to call.
call.
I appreciate you taking the time to call.
I appreciate you taking the time to call.
Thanks for the update. I'll talk to you later.
later.
Thanks for the update. I'll talk to you later.
later.
Thanks for the update. I'll talk to you later.
later.
It was good hearing from you.
It was good hearing from you.
Take care. Bye.
Take care. Bye.
Take care. Bye. Perfect.
Perfect.
Phone calls need special ending phrases.
Notice we often say, "I'll let you go."
This is very polite. It suggests they
are busy, not that you want to escape.
Thanks for calling shows appreciation.
Take care is warm and friendly. Always
end phone calls with something positive.
Category six, when you're in a hurry but
still polite. [music]
I'm so sorry, but I really need to run.
I'm so sorry, but I really need to run.
I'm so sorry, but I really need to run.
I hate to cut this short, but I have to go.
go.
I hate to cut this short, but I have to go.
go.
I hate to cut this short, but I have to go.
go.
I'm running late for something, so I
need to leave.
I'm running late for something, so I
need to leave.
I'm running late for something, so I
need to leave.
I wish I could stay longer, but I really
have to go.
I wish I could stay longer, but I really
have to go.
I wish I could stay longer, but I really
have to go.
Good. Use these when you're genuinely in
a hurry. I need to run is a casual way
to say you must leave quickly. Cut this
short means end the conversation sooner
than expected. Notice we apologize. I'm
sorry. I hate to to stay polite. Then we
give a reason. This combination keeps
you polite even when rushing.
Category seven, ending casual conversations
conversations
with friends. [music]
All right, I'll see you later.
All right, I'll see you later.
All right, I'll see you later.
Okay, I got to go. Catch you later.
Okay, I got to go. Catch you later.
Okay, I got to go. Catch you later.
I'll text you.
I'll text you.
Talk to you soon.
Excellent. These are more casual and
relaxed. Use them with friends,
classmates, or people you know well. Got
to go is informal for I've got to go.
Catch you later is very casual and friendly.
friendly.
See you around means you'll probably see
them again soon. Don't use these in
Excellent work. Now you have all 40
phrases. Here's the secret formula for
ending any conversation.
Step one, give a signal. Phrases 1 to six.
six.
Step two, give a reason if needed.
Phrases 7 to 12.
Step three, express appreciation.
Phrases 13 to 18.
Step four, suggest future contact if
appropriate, phrases 19 to 25.
Step five, say goodbye warmly.
You don't need to use all of these steps
every time, but following this flow
makes conversations end smoothly. Now,
let me show you how this works in real life.
life.
You'll see Sarah and James use these
exact phrases in different situations.
Pay attention to the order they use the
phrases. That's the key to sounding
natural. Let's watch.
Dialogue one, networking event conversation.
Meet Sarah. [music]
She's 29 years old. She's from South
Korea. She works in marketing in San
Francisco. She attends networking events
every month. She used to feel trapped in
long conversations,
but now she knows how to exit
gracefully. Let's watch her at a
business networking event.
So Sarah, what kind of marketing do you
focus on?
>> I specialize in digital marketing,
especially social media campaigns.
How about you? What do you do?
>> I'm in software sales. We actually work
with a lot of marketing teams. You know,
it's interesting because
>> they talk for 10 minutes.
That's a great point about customer
engagement. Well, I don't want to take
up too much of your time. I know there
are a lot of people here you probably
want to meet.
>> Oh, no problem. This has been a great conversation.
conversation.
I really enjoyed our conversation, too.
You had some excellent insights about
the sales process. Let me give you my
business card. Let's connect on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn.
>> That would be great. Here's my card as well.
well.
>> Perfect. I'll send you a connection
request tomorrow. I should probably head
out soon. I have an early meeting
tomorrow morning. But it was great
talking to you, James.
>> Likewise. Thanks for the great conversation.
conversation.
>> Thank you for your time. Have a great evening.
evening.
>> You too. Take care.
>> Take care. Bye.
Perfect. Did you notice what Sarah did?
She started with a transition signal. I
don't want to take up too much of your
time. She expressed appreciation. I
really enjoyed our conversation. She
suggested future contact. Let's connect
on LinkedIn. She gave a reason for
leaving. I have an early meeting tomorrow.
tomorrow.
She ended positively. Have a great
evening. She didn't just say bye and
walk away. She created a smooth exit.
James felt good about the conversation
ending. This is professional and polite.
Now let's see a different situation.
Dialogue two, customer support phone call.
call. [music]
[music]
Meet James. He's 32 years old. He's from
Mexico. He works in customer support in
Toronto. He makes phone calls all day.
He needs to end calls politely but
efficiently. Let's listen to how he does it.
it.
>> So, Mrs. Johnson, I've updated your
account and the issue should be resolved now.
now.
>> Oh, wonderful. Thank you so much. You
know, I was so worried because this has
been going on for 3 days.
>> I completely understand. I'm so glad we
could fix it for you today.
>> Yes. And my daughter was telling me that
she had a similar problem last year and
it took them two weeks, too.
I'm sorry to hear she had that
experience. Mrs. Johnson, I don't want
to keep you. Is there anything else I
can help you with today before we finish?
finish?
>> Oh, no. I think that's everything.
You've been so helpful.
>> I'm so glad I could help. I appreciate
you taking the time to call us today. If
you have any other questions, feel free
to reach out anytime.
Thank you, James. You've been wonderful.
>> Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. Thanks for
calling Tech Care support. Have a great day.
day.
>> You, too. Goodbye.
>> Excellent. Did you notice what James
did? He gently interrupted when Mrs.
Johnson kept talking. I don't want to
keep you. He asked if there was anything
else. This is the perfect way to end a
support call. He showed appreciation. I
appreciate you taking the time to call us.
us.
He offered future help. Feel free to
reach out anytime. He ended warmly. Have
a great day. James was polite but
efficient. He didn't let the call go on
forever, but he made Mrs. Johnson feel
valued. This is how professionals end
phone calls.
Excellent work. You've seen these
phrases in action. You watched Sarah at
the networking event. You listened to
James on the phone call. Now you
understand. It's not just what you say,
but how and when you say it. Let me
summarize the essential points you need
to remember.
Number one, never just say bye and leave.
leave.
Always give signals first.
Use transition phrases like, "Well, I
should get going." Number two, always
show appreciation.
Say, "It was great talking to you," or
"Thank you for your time." Make the
other person feel good.
Number three, give a reason if possible.
I have a meeting or I need to catch my
train. This makes your exit understandable.
understandable.
Number four, match your phrases to the situation.
situation.
Formal phrases for work, casual phrases
for friends know the difference.
Number five, follow the formula. Signal,
reason, appreciation, future contact, if
appropriate, goodbye. This creates
smooth, natural exits.
Number six, practice the timing. Don't
wait too long to start ending the
conversation. When you feel it's time,
begin the exit process.
Now you have everything you need to end
any conversation smoothly and politely.
You have 40 phrases. You have the
formula. You've seen real examples. The
only thing left is practice. So here's
what I want you to do. Practice these
phrases this week. Notice how native
speakers end conversations.
Listen for the patterns. Write in the
comments which situation is hardest for
you. Ending conversations at work, with
strangers, or on the phone. If this
helped you, hit that like button and subscribe.
subscribe.
Remember, ending conversations politely
is a skill. It takes practice, but once
you master it, you'll feel confident in
any situation. You won't feel trapped.
You won't feel rude. You'll exit
smoothly and leave people with a good impression.
impression.
I'm Emma from Speak English Daily. You
can communicate naturally and
confidently in English. Keep practicing,
keep speaking, keep growing. Thank you
for learning with me today. Now go
practice ending your next conversation smoothly.
smoothly.
Take care everyone. Bye. >> [music]
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