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Welcome and Initial Greetings

Friends arrive one by one at the gathering location, exchanging greetings, hugs, and initial pleasantries as they settle in.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Host Friend (Female)
Sarah! You made it! Come on in, it's great to see you!
2
Arriving Friend 1 (Female)
Hey Mike! Thanks for having me. Wow, your place looks amazing!
3
Host Friend (Female)
Thanks! Just trying to make it cozy. Let me take your coat. Drinks are in the kitchen, help yourself.
4
Arriving Friend 1 (Female)
Perfect, thanks! Is Liam here yet? I told him I'd meet him here.
5
Host Friend (Female)
Not yet, but he should be just around the corner. He texted a few minutes ago. Oh, here's David!
6
Arriving Friend 2 (Male)
Hey everyone! Sorry I'm a bit late, traffic was a nightmare.
7
Host Friend (Female)
No worries at all, David, glad you made it! Come on in. You know Sarah, right?
8
Arriving Friend 2 (Male)
Of course! Hey Sarah, it's been a while! How have you been?
9
Arriving Friend 1 (Female)
David! Great to see you! I'm good, just getting settled in. You?
10
Arriving Friend 2 (Male)
Can't complain! Just got here myself. Mike, where do you want me to put this bottle of wine?

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

made it

This means you successfully arrived at a place or event, often used when someone shows up after some effort. It's casual and friendly for greetings.

cozy

Describes a place that is comfortable and warm, like a welcoming home. Use it to compliment someone's home or space during social visits.

help yourself

An invitation to take something without asking, like food or drinks. It's polite and common at parties to make guests feel at ease.

just around the corner

Means something is very close and will happen soon, like someone arriving shortly. It's idiomatic for expressing nearness in time or place.

nightmare

Here, it means a very bad or frustrating experience, like heavy traffic. Use it informally to complain lightly about difficulties.

no worries

A casual way to say 'don't worry' or 'it's okay,' often in response to an apology. It's reassuring and common in friendly conversations.

glad

Means happy or pleased about something. Use it to express positive feelings, like being happy to see someone at a gathering.

it's been a while

Means a long time has passed since last seeing someone. It's a friendly way to acknowledge time apart when reuniting.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

You made it! Come on in, it's great to see you!

This is a warm welcome for someone arriving. 'Made it' shows relief they arrived, 'come on in' invites them inside casually, and 'it's great to see you' expresses happiness. Use at parties to greet friends enthusiastically.

Thanks for having me.

A polite thank you to the host for inviting you. It's a common expression of gratitude when arriving at someone's home. Use it right after entering to show appreciation.

Let me take your coat. Drinks are in the kitchen, help yourself.

This offers help and directions politely. 'Let me take' is an offer of assistance, and 'help yourself' encourages self-service. Useful for hosts to make guests comfortable; note the imperative form for suggestions.

Not yet, but he should be just around the corner.

Responds to a question about someone's arrival, meaning soon. 'Just around the corner' is an idiom for imminent. Use in conversations to update on expected arrivals without exact times.

Sorry I'm a bit late, traffic was a nightmare.

An apology for being late with a reason. 'A bit late' softens the lateness, 'nightmare' exaggerates the problem lightly. Common in social settings; use to explain delays casually.

No worries at all, glad you made it!

Dismisses an apology reassuringly. 'No worries at all' means it's completely fine, 'glad you made it' shows pleasure. Use to respond to lateness or issues in friendly chats; simple present tense for general feelings.

Hey Sarah, it's been a while! How have you been?

A reunion greeting. 'It's been a while' notes time passed, followed by a question about well-being. Use when seeing someone after a long time; present perfect for past to now connection.

Can't complain! Just got here myself.

A positive response to 'How have you been?' meaning things are good. 'Can't complain' is idiomatic for no problems, 'just got here myself' shares similarity. Use for light, upbeat replies in groups.