[0:00]This might be the most important video you watch all week. That's right. In today's video, we're going to talk about some things you should never say in English.
[0:11]And I'm not talking about vocabulary, I'm not talking about grammar, I'm talking about sentences and questions that are considered rude or offensive to native English speakers.
[0:24]Because, yes, there are different cultural differences around the world. In some countries, it's okay to ask certain questions. In other countries, it's not.
[0:34]So if you're speaking English with somebody from the US, the UK, Canada or Australia, you need to be careful not to inadvertently offend somebody.
[0:44]The topics that we're going to discuss in today's video are considered taboo. When something is taboo, it's something we don't talk about.
[0:55]It's not considered socially acceptable to talk about it. So make sure you watch until the end of today's video because this is an important one.
[1:04]First of all, when you're in a conversation with a stranger, you should avoid rap, religion, age, and politics.
[1:13]Especially with people you've just met. Trust me, it's better to avoid these topics because they can be super high risk.
[1:21]You should also never ask this question, how much money do you make? This is very taboo in English-speaking cultures.
[1:28]We don't ask people how much money they make or how much money they earn. Instead, it's much better to ask somebody, what do you do for work? Or what line of work are you in?
[1:40]That being said, there are times when you might not even want to ask this question. For example, maybe somebody recently lost their job.
[1:49]Maybe somebody is retired. Maybe somebody is a stay-at-home parent, or maybe that person dislikes being defined by their job.
[1:59]However, if you're at a networking event or a party when meeting new people, this is totally acceptable, and it's even expected that you'll ask people what they do for a living.
[2:10]Just avoid asking anything about money or salary. On a similar note, you should avoid asking how much things cost.
[2:18]For example, if somebody's wearing a nice watch, don't ask them the price of their watch, of their suit, of their bag or of anything they own.
[2:29]Asking a stranger how much something costs is considered invasive and rude. Instead, you can say, I love that. Where's it from?
[2:39]You're complimenting them and you're asking them where they got it from. You're not asking them how much it cost, you're asking them where they purchased it.
[2:50]There is a difference between those two questions. Additionally, you should avoid asking people about their relationship status or their personal lives.
[2:58]For example, don't ask, are you married? Or are you single? Are you pregnant? Are you divorced? It's better to avoid questions like this.
[3:07]If you're meeting somebody new, you could ask them, do you have family in town? Do you have family in town?
[3:15]You're still touching on the topic, but the question is a lot more indirect and less invasive. Similarly, you should never ask somebody, how old are you?
[3:26]The exception to this is obviously if you're in a more informal or casual environment, but if you're at a networking event or in a more formal situation, don't ask people their age.
[3:38]And traditionally, it's considered especially rude to ask a woman her age. But I would extend this to men as well.
[3:47]It's better to avoid asking anybody how old they are because no matter how you ask it, it can be interpreted the wrong way.
[3:54]Now, let's say somebody asks you a question that you don't want to answer, but you don't want to be rude and offend them and make them feel bad about asking that question.
[4:06]But at the same time, you don't want to answer it. What can you say? Of course, you can say, I don't want to talk about that.
[4:12]But that sounds a bit blunt and a bit direct. You might laugh the question off, or you might say something like, oh, that's a tough one, and change the topic.
[4:22]And lastly, there's one thing I never want you to say, not because it's rude or grammatically incorrect, but because it makes you look less confident.
[4:33]You should never apologize for your English. Never say things like, I'm sorry for my English, or my English is bad.
[4:41]First of all, it makes you look less confident, and secondly, it might make the other person a bit uncomfortable.
[4:49]Instead, there's no need to apologize, but you might want to say something like, I'm still learning English, so bear with me for a moment.
[4:58]All right, we've come to the end of today's video. This was a short but important lesson because when you're in an English-speaking country, when you're meeting new people,
[5:06]we often have to engage in small talk, which is surface level casual conversation between strangers, but it's very important you avoid certain topics and you avoid asking certain questions.
[5:22]That way you won't come across as rude, offensive or invasive, and you'll be able to make a good impression on anybody. Let me know in the comments, are things different in your culture?
[5:33]Are there any questions that for an English speaker might be rude, but for somebody from your country might be totally normal to ask?
[5:41]Make sure to leave a like and subscribe to English at the ready here on YouTube. If you want to study with me and my team of English teachers from the UK and the US, you can click the link in the description below to submit an application.
[5:55]I hope you found this video useful, and I'll see you in the next one.
