Learn POLITE expressions in English – Don't be RUDE!

TRANSCRIPT

Firstly, these soft expressions are also called euphemisms. You don't need to know this word. If you want to look up more expressions, type: "euphemisms" into your search box on the internet, and you'll see many more.

I'm just going to give you a few to give you an example of what a euphemism is. And when you watch Hollywood movies or TV shows, if you hear these expressions, now hopefully, you will understand what they mean.

So we're going to start with: "passed away" which is very common. I think many of you probably know this expression. Or: "did not make it". So if you go to the hospital, your friend was in a car accident, and you bring him to the hospital or the ambulance brings him to the hospital, and he's in there for a while, and then you see the doctor. And you go to the doctor: "How's my friend?" And the doctor says: "Oh, I'm sorry. He didn't make it." What does that mean? Or: "I'm sorry. He passed away." What does that mean? It means he died. Now, why people don't like to say the word "died", well, it's a very heavy word. Death, people don't like to talk about death, so they find other ways to say the same thing. Okay?

Now, all of these are not bad things, but you know, we just want to soften the language. We want to be a bit more polite sometimes. If you want, if you're in the washroom and you want... Sorry, if you're in the restaurant and you want the washroom, but you don't want to say the word "washroom" or you don't want to say the word "toilet", you say... If you're a boy, you say, or a man, you say: "Where's the little boys' room?" If you're a woman: "Where's the ladies' room?" Now, we understand all this to be toilet. But people think "toilet" is a dirty word. They don't like to say the word "toilet", so they say: "Little boys' room", or: "Ladies' room". Okay?

Now, sometimes you'll see people in a wheelchair. Maybe they had an accident, maybe they were born this way, but they can't walk. They're in a wheelchair. Or you see people who have a... Who were born with a disease, and they're not, you know, they're not fully functional like everyone else. We used to say: "handicapped". But people find this word to be a little bit offensive, and so it's not politically correct; it's not a nice thing to say. So now, we say: "They are mentally challenged." Or: "They are physically challenged." It used to be: "handicapped" or: "disabled". But people don't want to say "disabled" because they think or they know that these people are very able, they can do many things; they're just limited. Okay? They are challenged by their condition. So they are mentally challenged or they are physically challenged is a more polite way to say it.

Okay, so now, we're going to look at the next expressions. If you want to talk about a man or a woman, and the not polite way to talk about them is to say: "He or she is fat", big. So, people don't like the word "fat". So, for a more polite way or a softer way to say "fat" for a woman is: "She is full-figured." Full-figured means she's complete. She's full in all the places, and that's what we say. A man, we're a little bit less nice to men. A man has "let himself go". Means he stopped taking care of himself, and became fat. Okay? Again, not a nice word, but not necessarily a very nice expression either, but it's softer. It's not as direct, but everybody understands what this means.

[airtonmoreira]

Hi! I'm from Brazil and i had a english course done recently. I keep studying here with the engvid videos. I love all the teachers. Thank you for teaching us more and more ways to speak like a native speaker.

[tahanithespirit]

I admire you, Adam, and the way you teach .. You're incredibly great. Your lessons are always useful. I hope you can make lessons on adverbs collocations ..
Highly regards

[alfonsomoser]

Hi Adam I lived for over 5 years in USA and I have to recognise you are one of the best English teachers I am met in my life! I adore your lessons! Hang in there! A giant hug from Trentino. Alfonso

[claudiaadelahidalgoruiz]

I really enjoyed this one... And he is so cute!

[josianemubyeyi]

thank you for your teachings nothing we can give you to make you happy but thank you

[hasnainalisangha]

Kind sir Adam,
you're really a great man.words are helpless in your compliment. you deliver a lecture in a very comprehensive way.May you live long.

[faridoonzareen]

Adam you are the best teacher I have never seen...
Thank you for your help.

[legaleagle]

Just a word of caution about "bun in the oven" and knocked up." BOTH are considered slang expressions in English, and should therefore be avoided in polite, formal, and most standard conversations. The reason that "pregnant" itself is avoided is partly that it is seen as too direct; Americans in particular have a problem with words that even hint at sex or other bodily functions -- believe me, it's a cultural thing -- and they therefore try to avoid them whenever possible. So the better choice is to say that someone is "expecting, " unless the person who is expecting indicates by her own usage that she prefers "pregnant."

Also, the reason that "used" fell out of favor (especially with regard to cars) is that it carries a negative meaning of "there's something wrong with it, which is why the previous owner got (or wants to get) rid of it." So you'll often hear "previously owned" (or, more commonly, "pre-owned") instead of "used."

[lynnnguyen]

You're an amazing teacher.These...lesson are so helpful for me.Thanks you so very much, Adam🙂.

[marijune]

I'm a glad to watch your tutorials . they make me understand all in seconds...tks Adam

[caiocutrim]

Thank you Adam, you have the best job of education I ever see on YouTube! Please keep going new videos up!

[mirnam.]

Your class give me a lot of peace, just seeing you and hearing the way you speak and how you explain every subject, you are incredible 🤭
Thank you

[aries]

He is really a good teacher. I enjoy his lesson all the time.

[phyothiha]

You are an incredibly amazing teacher, Adam 😀🙏🙏🙏

[shayanahmadi]

Thanks, "polite expressions" are really necessary !

[wonderfulhungwe]

I am looking for a person like you; you are excellent, keep it up.

[ladislausilva]

Thanks Adam, always  bringing good things.

[abdulwaheedpigham]

you are the best teacher, thank you very much Adam....Greetings from Afghanistan

[mikleditka]

Thank you Adam. As always it's a pleasure to listen you.

[carlosrubemmacedo]

Thanks a lot for your explanations. Very useful. You a very good teacher. Thanks again.