In 2026, virtual meetings have become a daily routine. Whether you are attending a class, joining a client call, or working remotely, knowing the right English phrases for virtual meetings is essential for clear and professional communication. Platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams are widely used, and understanding proper online meeting etiquette can help you make a strong impression.
However, many learners struggle with what to say during a live call—especially when dealing with technical issues, interruptions, or presentations. Using the right Zoom meeting phrases and following proper Microsoft Teams etiquette can make you sound more confident, polite, and professional.
In this guide, you will learn essential business English phrases for online meetings, including how to start a meeting, handle technical glitches, interrupt politely, share your screen, and close discussions effectively.
1. Starting the Meeting (The Audio/Video Check)
Before you dive into the agenda, you must ensure everyone can see and hear you. Avoid saying “Am I audible?”—which is a common Indianism.
Professional Phrases:
“Hi everyone, can you hear and see me clearly?”
“I’m having a bit of a lag. Is my connection stable on your end?”
“I’ll turn off my video for a moment to save bandwidth.”
2. Dealing with Technical Glitches
Technology isn’t perfect. When things go wrong, stay calm and use these phrases:
If someone is on mute: “Sorry [Name], I think you’re on mute. We can’t hear you.”
If the screen freezes: “You’re breaking up a bit. Could you please repeat that last point?”
If there is background noise: “I’m sorry for the background noise; there is some construction happening nearby.”
3. How to Interrupt Politely
In a physical room, you can use a hand gesture to show you want to speak. In a virtual meeting, you need to use “verbal signals.”
The Soft Entry: “May I jump in here for a second?”
Adding a Point: “I’d like to add something to what [Name] just said.”
Asking for Clarification: “Sorry to interrupt, but could you clarify what you meant by [Point]?”
4. Sharing Your Screen
If you are presenting a report or a website like 99learners.in, use these transitions:
Before Sharing: “I’m going to share my screen now. Please let me know when you can see it.”
During the Presentation: “As you can see on the slide…” or “If you look at the top right corner…”
Ending the Share: “I’ll stop sharing now and hand it back to you.”
5. Wrapping Up & Next Steps
Ending a meeting professionally ensures that the “Action Items” are clear to everyone.
Summarizing: “To wrap up, the main takeaway is [Action Item].”
Assigning Tasks: “I’ll take the lead on the content draft, and [Name] will handle the SEO.”
Closing: “Thanks for your time, everyone. I’ll send the meeting minutes by EOD (End of Day).”
Pro-Tip for Professional Growth
Most virtual meetings are recorded. If you are a student at 99Learners, try recording a “mock meeting” with a friend. Watch the video afterward to see where you hesitated or where your English sounded a bit like a direct translation from Hindi.
Quick Cheat Sheet: Virtual Meeting English Phrases
🔊 Audio/Video Check
- “Can you hear and see me clearly?”
- “Is my connection stable?”
⚙️ Technical Issues
- “Sorry, you’re on mute.”
- “You’re breaking up—could you repeat that?”
- “Apologies for the background noise.”
✋ Interrupting Politely
- “May I jump in for a second?”
- “I’d like to add something here.”
- “Sorry to interrupt, but could you clarify that?”
📺 Screen Sharing
- “I’m sharing my screen now—can you see it?”
- “As you can see on the slide…”
- “I’ll stop sharing now.”
📌 Wrapping Up
- “To wrap up, here are the key points…”
- “I’ll take this forward.”
- “Thanks everyone, I’ll share the updates by EOD.”
Pro Tip: Save this list or practice it before your next meeting to sound more confident and professional.
