Real, everyday American English — Small Talk, Backchannels and Getting Out of a Conversation. You hear 40 phrases Americans actually use, each spoken clearly with a natural-speed repeat, the stressed syllable marked, and a short note on when to use it. Then take the matching quiz on word stress. Phrases in this episode (CAPITALS = the beat): Hey, how's it going? [HAY, HOW-zit GOH-ing?] Good, you? [GOOD, YOO?] How you doing? [HOW yuh DOO-ing?] Not much, you? [NAHT MUCH, YOO?] I don't think we've met. [eye DOHNT THINGK weev MET.] How long have you been here? [HOW LAWNG hav yoo bin HEER?] Long line, huh? [LAWNG LYN, HUH?] Is this the line? [iz this thuh LYN?] Crazy in here today. [KRAY-zee in HEER tuh-DAY.] Hey, neighbor. [HAY, NAY-bur.] How's the new place? [HOWZ thuh NOO PLAYS?] I like what you did with the yard. [eye LYK wut yoo DID with thuh YAHRD.] Let me know if you need anything. [LEH-mee NOH if yoo NEED EH-nee-thing.] Happy Friday! [HA-pee FRY-day!] How was your weekend? [HOW wuz yer WEEK-end?] Busy day? [BIH-zee DAY?] Which one's yours? [WICH wunz YOORZ?] They grow up so fast. [thay GROH UHP soh FAST.] My son's in first grade. [my SUNZ in FURST GRAYD.] See you at pickup. [SEE yoo at PIK-uhp.] Hey, good to see you. [HAY, GUUD tuh SEE yoo.] Can you believe this weather? [kun yoo bih-LEEV this WEH-thur?] Beautiful day, isn't it? [BYOO-dih-ful DAY, IH-zunt it?] It's freezing out there. [its FREE-zing owt THAIR.] Is it still raining? [iz it STIL RAY-ning?] Stay warm. [STAY WORM.] Supposed to snow tonight. [suh-POHZD tuh SNOH tuh-NYT.] Finally warming up. [FY-nuh-lee WOR-ming UHP.] It's so humid. [its soh HYOO-mid.] Drive safe. [DRYV SAYF.] We needed this rain. [wee NEE-did this RAYN.] Hot enough for you? [HAHT ih-NUHF fur yoo?] I'm ready for spring. [eyem REH-dee fur SPRING.] Did you get a lot of snow? [DIH-juh get uh-LAH-duh SNOH?] Feels like fall. [FEELZ lyk FAWL.] Yeah, no, totally. [YAH, NOH, TOH-duh-lee.] …and more in the episode