Learn business English vocabulary related to specific areas such as finance, marketing, legal, project management, IT and technology, human resources (HR), and international trade.
We now have over 150 audio and video English lessons covering key aspects of business English vocabulary. Vocabulary is presented in context using realistic conversations and visuals and each lesson has a downloadable PDF transcript and online quizzes for extra practice. In addition to our vocabulary lessons, we have a great selection of lessons on business English idioms and collocations.
Use these links to jump to business vocabulary for specific areas such as finance, marketing and legal:
In this Business English News lesson on quantum computing, we look at business English vocabulary related to technology.
Quantum computing is emerging as a promising technology alongside AI. Unlike traditional computers, quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once. This allows them to solve certain complex problems much faster.
The technology is still developing, but investment is growing. The global quantum computing market is expected to increase from $700 million in 2026 to $1.7 billion by 2033. Several quantum computing companies have also entered, or are preparing to enter, public markets.
A major challenge has been errors that can destroy fragile quantum states. Recent progress in quantum error correction has helped researchers reduce these errors and move closer to reliable, large-scale quantum computers. This could make applications such as advanced materials and drug research more practical.
However, businesses should be careful about the hype. Quantum computing is unlikely to replace traditional computers or AI. Instead, experts expect hybrid systems that combine quantum computers with classical computing and AI. Potential applications include drug discovery, financial optimization, supply-chain planning, and energy-grid modeling.
Although progress is encouraging, commercial success is not guaranteed. The technology remains at an early stage, and companies themselves acknowledge that large-scale commercial use may still be many years away.
Game on! See if you can make it into the finals with our game on English idioms related to football.
With so many similarities between sports and business, it’s no surprise that football idioms have become part of everyday workplace communication. Can you spot when someone is offside, moves the goalposts, or kicks it into touch? Try our Football Idioms Shootout game and see if your business English skills are ready for the premier league.
People have been competing in and watching some form of sports for thousands of years. Sports enduring popularity has helped it grow into a $2.3 trillion a year industry. And it’s expected to just keep on growing.
Among all sports, there’s one that is far and away the most popular, and that’s football, or soccer. Almost half the global population counts themselves as fans of the sport. So it’s no wonder that something this popular has impacted the English language.
Listen to any conversation in a sales meeting, around the water cooler, in the boardroom, or over drinks between colleagues and you’re guaranteed to hear idioms related to football. These idioms are so common that most people don’t think for a second about where they came from. They’re just a natural part of everyday language.
In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin Marilyn and Karl, two colleagues at a publishing firm. They are talking about Karl’s interest in a job at the company’s Sydney branch. Karl is hoping Marilyn can help him decide whether to apply for the job.
Listening Questions
1. How does Karl’s wife feel about moving to Sydney?
2. Why does Karl feel like he’s cheating on his own company?
3. What advice does Marilyn give at the end of the conversation?
Welcome back to Business English Pod. With the World Cup about to kick off, we’re taking a fresh look at one of our lessons on business English idioms related to football.
What do you call an activity where groups of people compete strategically against each other as they strive to be the winner? I mean an activity with a clear goal where success requires strong teamwork and a commitment to excellent performance? Some of you might be thinking about sports. Some of you might be thinking about business. Well, you’re both right.
There are so many obvious similarities between sports and business, it’s no wonder that we see the language of sport come into play in the corporate world. And there’s a particular type of language that we’re going to focus on in this lesson, called idioms. Just like the expression “come into play,” which means to be involved or to be a factor in something.
Now when I say “football,” I’m referring to the game with the round ball that players kick into a net past a goalkeeper. It’s what North Americans tend to call “soccer,” to differentiate it from their own game of football, which is a whole different ball game altogether! Internationally, football – or soccer – is the most popular sport in the world. So it’s no wonder it has inspired so many idioms commonly used in business.
In the dialog, we’ll hear Karl and Marilyn, two friends who work at a publishing company. Karl is thinking about applying for a job at the company’s Sydney office. He has some doubts though, so he asks Marilyn what she thinks.
Listening Questions
1. How does Karl describe his approach to his career?
2. Why is Karl worried about the other candidates for the job he’s interested in?
3. What does Marilyn say happens at the Sidney office?
Welcome back to Business English Pod for the third lesson in our series on English for logistics. In this lesson, we’ll focus on duties, tariffs, and other cost factors.
There was a time when logistics was a lot simpler than it is today, when economies were not nearly so interconnected. But in the second half of the 20th century, governments took down barriers to international trade. Soon companies were relying on complex supply chains stretching around the world, as they outsourced production and sold their goods abroad.
With so many moving parts to these modern supply chains, it can be challenging to control costs. You’re likely paying several different companies involved in moving and storing goods across oceans and continents and through the air. Each of those companies is trying to make a buck. And in many cases, you’re also moving things across borders, which means you need to consider duties and tariffs – the taxes governments charge on imported goods.
Talking about costs involves specific terminology used in logistics. But you’ll need to know about more than just tariffs, duties, and other taxes. You’ll also have to speak about regulations and compliance. And any conversation about costs will likely involve the vocabulary of risk, as you try to minimize the chances of something going wrong.
In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin a conversation between Cam and Anna. Cam is a production manager with a clothing company, while Anna works for a logistics firm. Cam is getting Anna’s support with moving their clothing lines from manufacturers in Eastern Europe to markets in the United States.
Listening Questions
1. What does Anna say are the biggest factors in discussing customs?
2. What point does Cam try to clarify by asking a more specific question?
3. What might be included in “landed costs” when discussing logistics?
