Word of the Day

rapport /ræˈpɔːr/ Vietnamese: sự gắn kết / hòa hợp

A close and harmonious relationship in which people understand each other and communicate well.

🔗 Cambridge Dictionary — rapport

Example sentences:

  1. She quickly built a strong rapport with her clients, making them feel heard and valued.
  2. Good managers develop rapport with their team by listening actively and showing genuine interest.
  3. The interviewer and candidate had such great rapport that the conversation felt completely natural.

Vocabulary Table

PhraseVietnameseExample
break the icephá vỡ sự ngại ngùngHe told a funny story to break the ice at the beginning of the meeting.
chit-chatnói chuyện xã giaoWe had some chit-chat about the weather before getting down to business.
make small talktán gẫuKnowing how to make small talk is essential at networking events.
find common groundtìm điểm chungDespite their differences, they managed to find common ground on the project goals.
warm up to someonetrở nên thân thiệnIt took a few meetings, but I finally started to warm up to my new colleague.

Pronunciation Guide

rapport — key points:

  • The final T is silent: say /ræˈpɔːr/, NOT /ræˈpɔːrt/
  • Stress falls on the 2nd syllable: /ræˈPÔR/
  • Compare: re·PORT — same stress pattern

Practice sentence:

“I quickly built rapport with my new teammates at the conference.”

Say it aloud 3 times, emphasizing the second syllable and dropping the final T.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blank

Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: (break the ice / chit-chat / find common ground / rapport / warm up to)

  1. It took me a while to __________ my new manager, but now we get along really well.
  2. Before the presentation started, we had some __________ about the weekend.
  3. The team leader told a joke to __________ at the start of the all-hands meeting.
  4. Good salespeople know how to build __________ with customers quickly.
  5. The two departments finally agreed after they managed to __________ on priorities.

Answers:

  1. warm up to
  2. chit-chat
  3. break the ice
  4. rapport
  5. find common ground
Exercise 2: Translate to English

Translate these sentences into natural English:

  1. Anh ấy kể một câu chuyện hài hước để phá vỡ sự ngại ngùng trong buổi họp đầu tiên.
  2. Tôi mất vài tuần mới trở nên thân thiện với đồng nghiệp mới của mình.
  3. Việc tán gẫu về thể thao giúp chúng tôi tìm được điểm chung trước khi bắt đầu thương lượng.
  4. Cô ấy đã xây dựng được sự gắn kết tốt với khách hàng nhờ vào việc lắng nghe chân thành.

Suggested answers:

  1. He told a funny story to break the ice at the first meeting.
  2. It took me a few weeks to warm up to my new colleague.
  3. Chit-chatting about sports helped us find common ground before starting the negotiation.
  4. She built great rapport with her clients through genuine listening.

Idiom of the Day

”Break the ice”

Meaning: To do or say something to relieve tension or shyness in a new or awkward social situation.

Examples:

  1. “The facilitator asked everyone to share one fun fact about themselves to break the ice at the workshop.”
  2. “Bringing coffee for the whole team on his first day was a great way to break the ice.”

Origin: This idiom originally referred to icebreaker ships that would clear paths through frozen waterways — just as you “clear a path” for conversation in social situations.

Improve your social English and natural conversation skills with these YouTube channels:

  • EnglishAddict with Mr Steve — Natural British English, idioms, and everyday conversation in an engaging, relaxed style.
  • JForrest English — Practical lessons focused on real-world speaking, confidence, and fluency for adult learners.

Suggested search: “small talk phrases English” or “how to network in English”

Saturday Challenge

It’s the weekend — perfect for real-world practice!

Your challenge today: Start at least one conversation using either “rapport” or “break the ice”.

Ideas:

  • At a café, use small talk to build rapport with someone new
  • In a group chat or meeting, be the one to break the ice
  • Tell a friend: “I’m trying to build rapport with more people — want to practice with me?”

Bonus: Notice when others break the ice around you and observe what techniques they use.

Happy Saturday! Social English improves fastest through real practice — get out there and connect.

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