Are You Forgetting English Words When Speaking? Try These Tips!

A common question that I get from

English learners quite a bit is,

what do I do when I forget a word

during an English conversation?

So in this English lesson, I'm

going to give you, five

strategies, five tips, things you

can do when you forget a word

during an English conversation.

And this isn't one of the five,

but I would say this.

Don't panic.

You can plan for this situation

and you can handle it

very, very graciously.

So in this English lesson, I'll

teach you five little strategies,

things that you can do when you

forget an English word when you're

having an English conversation.

Strategy number one, if you

can't think of a specific word,

just become more general.

What I mean is this.

If you can't think of the word dog,

use the word pet.

So you're talking in general

about animals that people

keep, like cats or dogs.

If you can't think of the word

car or van, use the word vehicle,

a, general term to talk about

the things we drive to go places.

So you might say, I took my pet

to the vet the other day, or

you might say, I took my vehicle

to the garage the other day.

This would not sound

abnormal in English.

So strategy number one,

just speak in more general terms.

Instead of saying cat, say pet.

Instead of saying car, say vehicle.

Strategy number two,

use actions to replace the word

that you can't remember.

Let's say I can't remember

the word for mustache.

I could just say, I'm just

trying to grow a little

bit here, you know?

So I didn't say the word mustache,

but I indicated the area

and I used the verb to grow.

And I think the person will know

that I'm talking about mustache.

I could say, the other day

I just went for a little.

And I could do this.

And I think you know

that I mean haircut.

So if I can't remember the word for

haircut, I can use some actions to

replace the word in the sentence

or in the conversation.

So strategy number

two, use actions.

Oh, I did just there, didn't I?

Number two, use actions if

you can, instead of the word

that you can't remember.

Strategy number three, compare

and contrast the word you don't

know to words you do know.

And it'll be like a little game

because you're trying to get

the other person to say the word.

So let's say you can't

remember the word for van.

You could say, the other day

I was driving my, it's not

a car, it's bigger than a car.

But it's not a truck, and you can

put a lot of passengers in it.

And then the other person

might say, oh, your van.

You would say, yes, my van.

Let's say you can't

remember the word for cow.

You could say, oh, the other

day I went to a farm

and I saw, an animal.

It's bigger than a goat.

But it's not a horse.

You don't ride it.

It's like, about the same

size as a horse.

And the other person

might say, oh, a cow.

And you would say, yes, I went

to a farm and I saw a cow.

So this actually can

be a great strategy.

When you're having a conversation.

The person is probably quite eager

to help you think of the word

that you have forgotten.

So compare, say what it's

like, and contrast,

say what it's not like.

And hopefully the person

you're talking to will tell

you what word it is.

The fourth thing you

can do is just ask.

If you're having an English

conversation and you can't

remember a word, you can

just ask the person you're talking

to what the word is.

Let's say you were saying,

I was running late the other day

because I couldn't find my.

What do you call the thing

you use to cut your nails?

Or what's the word for the thing

you use to cut your nails?

And I just think the other

person will say nail clippers.

And it will just be a, completely

normal part of the conversation.

They won't think badly of you

because you forgot the word,

because they're interested

in the story that you are telling.

So the fourth thing

you can do, just ask.

You can say things like,

what do you call the thing?

Or what, what's the word

for the thing?

And then describe what

you use the word for.

And notice while I was doing that,

I was also showing the action.

I think that helps

in the flow of the conversation.

So, number four, just ask.

Strategy number five, change the topic.

If you're having an English

conversation and the person

starts talking about a science

fiction movie that they just

saw and you don't know a lot

of English vocabulary, to use

in that conversation, change

the topic.

Talk about a movie that you saw.

Maybe you like romantic movies, and

maybe you know a lot of vocabulary

about love and dating and that

kind of thing, change the topic,

start talking about the movie you

like, and use the words that you

do know.

I know in that way you're avoiding

part of the conversation, but I

still think it's a great strategy.

But make sure you also do this

when you go home that night.

Do some research and learn some

vocabulary so if you're in

that type of conversation again,

you are able to talk

about it in a meaningful way.

Well, hey, thank you so much

for watching this English

lesson about five strategies,

five tips that you can use if

you're having an English

conversation and you suddenly

forget a word.

I hope they are helpful and I

hope they help you in your

next English conversation.

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Have a great week.

I'll see you next week

with another English lesson.

Bye.