Which English phrases do you need for online meetings?
Check sound with "Can everyone hear me okay?", name problems such as "You're on mute," announce screen sharing, and leave with a brief polite line.
- Short tech checks come at the start of the video call.
- Breaking up describes choppy sound.
- Share my screen replaces the German Beamer transfer.
B1 · Meetings · 10 minHandle online meetings confidently in English.
Learn phrases for sound, cameras, screen sharing, and everyday video-call problems — free to try with no signup.
- CEFR levelB1 · Intermediate
- TimeAbout 10 minutes
- RoutineCheck — fix — share — leave
- SettingDaily video call
01 / 07
Which English phrases do you need for online meetings?
For online meetings, you need English phrases for three parts of the video-call routine: checking technology, fixing live problems, and handling screen sharing or the close. At the start, ask "Can everyone hear me okay?" or "Can you see my screen?" During the call, name the problem directly: "You're on mute," "You're breaking up a bit," or "I think you've frozen." Before presenting, say "Let me share my screen." When sharing ends, use "I'll stop sharing now." If you need to leave early, give a brief apology and thanks. The routine is simple because every phrase has a visible job. You do not need a long technical explanation. Name the problem or action in one clear sentence so that everyone can respond quickly.
02 / 07
How do you start a video call with a tech check?
Start a video call with one short neutral question about sound or video. "Can everyone hear me okay?" checks whether your voice reaches the whole group. If you are about to show something, ask "Can you see my screen?" These questions come before a longer explanation or presentation. Pause briefly for an answer instead of repeating both questions immediately. In a daily team call, the sound check is often enough. Before a client presentation, you can also check the screen. The phrases are neutral and fit both settings. They belong to a video-call routine, not a telephone call. Telephone greetings and answering a call are taught separately in Answering the Phone. This lesson deals only with technology and the visible shared online session.
03 / 07
Which video call English phrases solve sound problems?
Solve sound problems fastest by naming the audible problem exactly and adding an action when needed. If someone is speaking with the microphone off, say "You're on mute." For an unstable connection, use "Sorry, you're breaking up a bit." This means that the sound is choppy and words are disappearing. For loud background noise, ask politely: "Could you mute your mic, please? There's background noise." The longer request is particularly suitable with clients. Do not confuse the situations: on mute means silenced, while breaking up means poor, broken sound. One short precise phrase helps more than a general "There is a problem." The person affected immediately knows which setting or connection they need to change.
04 / 07
What do you say about frozen video or camera problems?
For a frozen picture, say "I think you've frozen — can you hear me?" The line first describes what you can see and then checks whether the sound still works. The other person can respond appropriately. If the camera is simply off and the situation needs it, ask politely: "Could you turn your camera on?" The sticky example combines this request with screen sharing. A camera does not need to be on for every task; the line is a concrete request for a fitting call situation. Keep video and sound separate in your language. Frozen describes a picture that has stopped, while breaking up describes choppy sound. Naming the exact problem saves the group time and prevents a chain of unclear questions.
05 / 07
How do you announce screen sharing and the close?
Announce screen sharing and the close with short lines so that the group can follow every visible change. Before sharing, say "Let me share my screen." When you finish, use "I'll stop sharing now." If you plan to distribute the recording later, say "I'll send round the recording after the call." When you must leave a familiar team call early, use the informal "Sorry, I've got to drop off — thanks, everyone!" It needs no long explanation. At the normal end, "See you tomorrow at three" can name the next meeting. Each phrase marks one clear change: screen on, screen off, recording later, or a person leaving the call. The online session therefore feels calm and easy to follow.
06 / 07
Which German transfer errors occur in video conferences?
The main German transfer error in video conferences is Beamer for a projector or shared screen. In English, beamer is BMW slang, not the presentation device. Do not say "Can everyone see the beamer?" Say "Can everyone see the projector?" or, more simply in a video call, "Can everyone see my screen?" "The beamer is not working" similarly becomes "The projector isn't working." The second error appears at the close. "We see us tomorrow at three" is a word-for-word translation of German "Wir sehen uns." The natural English closing is "See you tomorrow at three." Check whether you really mean a projector or your shared screen, and use the fixed see you phrase when leaving.
07 / 07
How do you practise Zoom meeting English phrases?
Practise Zoom meeting English phrases as a short routine with visible problems. Begin with "Can everyone hear me okay?" Then place three cards on the table: microphone off, choppy sound, and frozen video. Respond with "You're on mute," "You're breaking up a bit," and "I think you've frozen." Next, announce "Let me share my screen" and "I'll stop sharing now." In the first problem line, pronounce mute as /mjuːt/ with the short /j/ glide. The pronunciation /muːt/ belongs to a different English word. End the practice with a polite leaving phrase. Move to Answering the Phone for telephone calls, and use Taking Part in Meetings for active contributions inside the video call.