Arriving and Greeting the Host
You've just arrived at the birthday party. Your goal is to greet the birthday person (the host/hostess) and offer your congratulations and a brief compliment.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
inviting
The act of asking someone to come to an event, like a party. Use it to show appreciation, e.g., 'Thanks for inviting me.'
radiant
Bright and glowing with happiness or health. It's a nice compliment for someone's appearance at a party, like 'You look radiant!'
overwhelmed
Feeling very busy or emotional because of too much happening. In positive contexts, like parties, it means excited but busy, e.g., 'I'm overwhelmed with joy.'
turnout
The number of people who attend an event. Use it to comment on a party, e.g., 'Great turnout!' meaning many people came.
wiser
More knowledgeable or smart from experience. Often used humorously for birthdays, like 'Another year wiser' to mean getting older but smarter.
celebrate
To enjoy and honor a special occasion, like a birthday. Common in social settings, e.g., 'Let's celebrate together!'
grab
To quickly take something, like food or drink. Casual way to suggest at parties, e.g., 'Grab a drink' means go get one now.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Happy birthday, Emily! Thanks so much for inviting me. The place looks great!
This is a standard greeting for arriving at a birthday party. It combines congratulations, thanks, and a compliment. Use it to start positively; 'so much' adds emphasis for politeness.
John, you made it! So glad you could come.
A warm response to a guest arriving. 'You made it' means you successfully came despite possible difficulties. Useful for hosts to show happiness; 'so glad' expresses strong positive feeling.
You look absolutely radiant tonight.
A compliment on appearance. 'Absolutely' intensifies it for sincerity. Great for small talk at parties to make someone feel good; practice using compliments like this in social situations.
I'm doing really well, a bit overwhelmed with everything, but in a good way.
Answering 'How are you?' with details. It shows balance: positive overall but honest about busyness. 'A bit' softens the negative; useful for natural responses in conversations.
It looks like a fantastic turnout.
Commenting on attendance at an event. 'Looks like' expresses observation; 'fantastic' means excellent. Use this to engage in party talk and show interest in the event.
How does it feel to be another year wiser?
A fun question about turning older on a birthday. 'Another year wiser' is a playful idiom for aging. Ask this to keep conversation light and birthday-focused.
Grab a drink and make yourself comfortable.
Inviting someone to relax at a party. 'Grab a drink' is casual for getting a beverage; 'make yourself comfortable' means relax. Hosts use this to welcome guests warmly.