Walking into an English-speaking workplace can feel overwhelming. You know your job, you're good at what you do, but sometimes the words just don't come out right. Maybe you freeze during meetings, or you read emails with expressions you've never seen before.

Here's the thing: you don't need fancy vocabulary to sound professional. Native speakers use the same core words repeatedly at work. Once you learn these 35 essential terms, you'll understand office conversations better and express yourself more clearly. Think of this as your professional English survival kit.

Core Action Words for Daily Tasks

1. Handle

What it means: To deal with or manage something, especially a task or problem.

How to use it:

  • "Can you handle the client meeting tomorrow?"
  • "I'll handle the paperwork for this project."
  • "She handles customer complaints very well."

Tip: When someone asks if you can "handle" something, they're asking if you can manage it on your own. It shows trust in your abilities.

2. Follow up

What it means: To check on something again or continue communication about a topic.

How to use it:

  • "I'll follow up with you next week about the proposal."
  • "Did anyone follow up with the supplier?"
  • "Please follow up on that email I sent yesterday."

Tip: This is huge in professional English. Following up shows you're organized and responsible. Use it when you need to check progress or remind someone.

3. Coordinate

What it means: To organize different people or activities so they work together smoothly.

How to use it:

  • "We need to coordinate our schedules for the meeting."
  • "Sarah coordinates all the marketing events."
  • "Let's coordinate with the IT department before making changes."

Tip: Pronounce it "co-OR-din-ate" (four syllables). It's different from "subordinate."

4. Clarify

What it means: To make something clearer or easier to understand.

How to use it:

  • "Could you clarify what you meant by that?"
  • "Let me clarify the deadline—it's Friday at 5 PM."
  • "I'm calling to clarify a few points from your email."

Tip: Use this instead of saying "I don't understand." It sounds more professional and shows you want to get things right.

5. Implement

What it means: To put a plan or decision into action.

How to use it:

  • "We'll implement the new system next month."
  • "How do you plan to implement these changes?"
  • "The team successfully implemented the strategy."

Tip: This word makes you sound more professional than just saying "do" or "start." It's commonly used in business plans and project discussions.

Communication Essentials

6. Update

What it means: To give someone the latest information or make something more current.

How to use it:

  • "Can you give me an update on the project?"
  • "I'll update the report with the new numbers."
  • "Let's have a quick update meeting this afternoon."

Tip: As a noun (an update) or verb (to update), this word appears constantly in workplace emails and conversations.

7. Brief

What it means: To give someone essential information quickly, or a short summary.

How to use it:

  • "I need to brief you on the client's requirements."
  • "Here's a brief overview of what happened."
  • "The manager will brief the team tomorrow morning."

Tip: "Brief" can be an adjective (short), noun (a summary), or verb (to inform). Context tells you which one.

8. Outline

What it means: To describe the main points or plan without too much detail.

How to use it:

  • "Let me outline the steps we need to take."
  • "She outlined her concerns in the meeting."
  • "Could you outline your proposal in an email?"

Tip: Think of it like drawing the outer edge of something—you're showing the shape without filling in every detail.

9. Address

What it means: To deal with or speak about an issue or problem.

How to use it:

  • "We need to address this problem immediately."
  • "The CEO will address the employees tomorrow."
  • "How should we address the budget concerns?"

Tip: This doesn't mean a street address here. In professional contexts, it usually means tackling an issue directly.

10. Confirm

What it means: To make sure something is correct or agreed upon.

How to use it:

  • "Please confirm you received my email."
  • "I'm calling to confirm our appointment."
  • "Can you confirm the meeting time?"

Tip: Always confirm important details at work—dates, times, prices, decisions. It prevents misunderstandings.

Meeting & Collaboration Words

11. Discuss

What it means: To talk about something with others, usually to reach a decision.

How to use it:

  • "Let's discuss this during the meeting."
  • "We discussed several options yesterday."
  • "I'd like to discuss your performance review."

Tip: More formal than "talk about." Perfect for professional settings.

12. Agenda

What it means: A list of topics to discuss in a meeting.

How to use it:

  • "What's on the agenda for today's meeting?"
  • "Please add this item to the agenda."
  • "I'll send you the agenda before the meeting."

Tip: Pronounce it "uh-JEN-duh." If you want to sound organized, mention the agenda before meetings start.

13. Delegate

What it means: To give tasks or responsibilities to other people.

How to use it:

  • "I need to delegate some of my work this week."
  • "She delegated the research task to her assistant."
  • "Good managers know how to delegate effectively."

Tip: This shows leadership skills. It doesn't mean you're lazy—it means you're managing resources wisely.

14. Collaborate

What it means: To work together with others on a project.

How to use it:

  • "We're collaborating with the design team."
  • "This project requires us to collaborate closely."
  • "I enjoy collaborating with different departments."

Tip: "Collaborate" sounds more professional than "work together" and emphasizes teamwork.

15. Contribute

What it means: To give something (ideas, work, money) as part of a group effort.

How to use it:

  • "Everyone should contribute ideas in brainstorming sessions."
  • "He contributed significantly to the project's success."
  • "What can I contribute to help the team?"

Tip: Shows you're a team player. Managers love hearing this word.

Problem-Solving Vocabulary

16. Resolve

What it means: To find a solution to a problem or conflict.

How to use it:

  • "We need to resolve this issue before Friday."
  • "The IT department resolved the technical problem."
  • "How can we resolve this disagreement?"

Tip: Stronger and more professional than "fix" or "solve." Use it for serious issues.

17. Assess

What it means: To evaluate or judge the quality, importance, or value of something.

How to use it:

  • "Let's assess the situation before making a decision."
  • "I need time to assess all the options."
  • "The team will assess the project's progress next week."

Tip: Think of it as taking a careful look at something to understand it better.

18. Adjust

What it means: To change something slightly to improve it or make it fit.

How to use it:

  • "We may need to adjust our strategy."
  • "Can you adjust the budget to include this expense?"
  • "I'll adjust my schedule to attend the meeting."

Tip: Use this when changes are small or flexible. It sounds less dramatic than "change completely."

19. Escalate

What it means: To increase in intensity or bring a problem to higher management.

How to use it:

  • "If the client is unhappy, escalate the issue to your manager."
  • "The situation has escalated quickly."
  • "We may need to escalate this to the senior team."

Tip: Common in customer service and IT. It means the problem is too big for you to handle alone.

20. Troubleshoot

What it means: To identify and solve problems, especially with technical issues.

How to use it:

  • "I'm troubleshooting the printer issue right now."
  • "Can you help me troubleshoot this software problem?"
  • "Troubleshooting takes time, so please be patient."

Tip: One word, not two. Mainly used for technical or operational problems.

Planning & Organization Terms

21. Deadline

What it means: The final date or time by which something must be completed.

How to use it:

  • "What's the deadline for this report?"
  • "We're working hard to meet the deadline."
  • "Can we extend the deadline by two days?"

Tip: Deadlines are serious in professional environments. Always ask about them if unclear.

22. Priority

What it means: Something that is more important than other things and should be done first.

How to use it:

  • "This project is our top priority right now."
  • "What are your priorities for this week?"
  • "We need to prioritize urgent tasks."

Tip: Plural is "priorities." Knowing how to prioritize shows strong work skills.

23. Schedule

What it means: A plan of when things will happen, or to arrange for something to happen at a specific time.

How to use it:

  • "What's your schedule like tomorrow?"
  • "Let's schedule a meeting for next Tuesday."
  • "The project is ahead of schedule."

Tip: Can be both noun and verb. Americans say "SKED-ule," British say "SHED-ule."

24. Allocate

What it means: To distribute resources (time, money, people) for a specific purpose.

How to use it:

  • "How much budget should we allocate for marketing?"
  • "I'll allocate two hours for this task."
  • "Resources have been allocated to different departments."

Tip: More formal than "give" or "assign." Shows you're thinking strategically about resources.

25. Monitor

What it means: To watch, check, or keep track of something over time.

How to use it:

  • "Please monitor the project's progress closely."
  • "I'm monitoring the situation carefully."
  • "We need to monitor our expenses this quarter."

Tip: Implies ongoing observation, not just a one-time check.

Professional Relationship Words

26. Colleague

What it means: A person you work with, especially in a professional setting.

How to use it:

  • "My colleagues are very supportive."
  • "I'd like to introduce you to my colleague, James."
  • "She's a colleague from the finance department."

Tip: More professional than "coworker." Pronounce it "COLL-eeg."

27. Supervisor

What it means: A person who oversees and directs workers or a project.

How to use it:

  • "I need to check with my supervisor first."
  • "Who's the supervisor of this department?"
  • "My supervisor gave me good feedback today."

Tip: Similar to "manager" or "boss," but emphasizes the oversight aspect of their role.

28. Stakeholder

What it means: Anyone who has an interest in or is affected by a project or business.

How to use it:

  • "We need to update all stakeholders on the project status."
  • "Key stakeholders will attend the presentation."
  • "Consider how this decision affects our stakeholders."

Tip: Includes clients, investors, employees, and anyone else involved. Common in business meetings.

29. Feedback

What it means: Information or opinions about how well someone did something, used to help them improve.

How to use it:

  • "Can I get your feedback on this report?"
  • "The manager gave me positive feedback."
  • "We welcome feedback from all team members."

Tip: Always one word in English. Giving and receiving feedback professionally is a valuable skill.

30. Delegate (noun form)

What it means: A person sent to represent others at a meeting or conference.

How to use it:

  • "She's attending the conference as our company delegate."
  • "Delegates from five countries will participate."
  • "I was chosen as a delegate for the annual meeting."

Tip: Same spelling as the verb, but different meaning. Context tells you which one.

Workplace Achievement Words

31. Accomplish

What it means: To successfully complete or achieve something.

How to use it:

  • "We accomplished all our goals this quarter."
  • "What did you accomplish today?"
  • "It's important to celebrate what we accomplish."

Tip: More impressive than "finish" or "complete." Use it in performance reviews or when discussing achievements.

32. Achieve

What it means: To reach a goal through effort or skill.

How to use it:

  • "We achieved excellent results this year."
  • "What do you hope to achieve in this role?"
  • "The team achieved their sales targets."

Tip: Similar to "accomplish," but slightly more about reaching specific goals or standards.

33. Improve

What it means: To make something better or to become better.

How to use it:

  • "How can we improve our customer service?"
  • "Sales have improved significantly."
  • "I'm always looking for ways to improve my skills."

Tip: Shows growth mindset. Employers appreciate people who want to improve constantly.

34. Efficient

What it means: Working well without wasting time or resources.

How to use it:

  • "This is a more efficient way to organize files."
  • "We need to find more efficient processes."
  • "She's very efficient at managing her time."

Tip: Noun form is "efficiency." Being efficient is highly valued in professional settings.

35. Professional

What it means: Relating to work or showing the skill, behavior, and attitude expected in a workplace.

How to use it:

  • "Please keep all communications professional."
  • "He always maintains a professional attitude."
  • "That was very professional of you."

Tip: The ultimate workplace compliment. It means you know how to behave appropriately in business settings.

Practice Section

Now it's your turn! Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the list above:

  1. "Can you ___ what you meant by that comment?" (make clearer)
  2. "I'll ___ with the client next week about their decision." (check again)
  3. "This task is our top ___ right now." (most important thing)
  4. "We need to ___ this problem before it gets worse." (find a solution)
  5. "Please ___ that you'll attend the meeting tomorrow." (verify)

Answers: 1. clarify, 2. follow up, 3. priority, 4. resolve, 5. confirm

Your Turn to Speak Up

You've just learned 35 words that native English speakers use every single day at work. The difference between knowing these words and actually using them? Practice.

Start small. Pick three words from this list and try to use them this week—in an email, during a meeting, or even in a message to your colleague. You don't need to use all 35 at once. Build your confidence one word at a time.

Remember, sounding professional isn't about using complicated vocabulary. It's about using the right words at the right time. These 35 words will help you understand workplace conversations better, write clearer emails, and speak up with confidence during meetings.

The workplace is where you spend most of your day. You deserve to feel comfortable expressing yourself there. These words are your tools—now go use them.