How to be a great guest in English

Travelling abroad this summer or perhaps you have been invited to an English speaker’s home? Knowing the appropriate responses and a few key phrases will ensure a much smoother visit and will greatly boost your chances of receiving a second invitation.

Do Say

“Thank you for inviting me” 

“How nice to meet you” (if you are meeting other family members for the first time) 

“You have a lovely home” 

“You have a charming family” 

“Could you pass me the salt/other please?” (When sitting at the table and in need of something which is out of reach) 

“Thank you, that was delicious” 

“It was delicious but I really couldn’t eat any more” (When declining the offer of more food)

“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble” 

“Thanks for your hospitality/ a delicious lunch/ a lovely evening” 

“You’ve been a wonderful host/hostess” 

“I hope we meet again soon”

”You must come over to our place sometime” 

What Not To Say

Watch out for our second article on ´How to be a great guest in English` in which we will cover some common mistakes that Swedish guests often make, both from a language perspective and also in terms of cultural differences. 

We hope you find these phrases helpful and hope you have a lovely summer

The London School of English offers high quality English language training for motivated adults from all professional backgrounds. We give you the tools and skills you need to communicate successfully in your field of expertise and to expand your business and career opportunities. Call us on +46 8 5999 4000 or email us at [email protected] for more information about our tailored tuition or simply take our online test to check your English level