English Synonyms Ep.1 | Speak English with Podcast

English Synonyms Made Easy (Level B1) — Big or Large? Hear or Listen? Stop Mixing Up Everyday Words! Have you ever ordered a "big coffee" and heard the barista say, "Oh, a large?" In this episode of Speak English with Podcast, John tells Rose about one very rainy Tuesday: a broken umbrella, a missed bus, and a chicken ringtone in a quiet café. Along the way, you'll learn 8 groups of everyday English synonyms, the small mistakes learners often make, and exactly which word to pick in real life. 🎯 Level: Elementary (CEFR B1) ⏱️ Word Count: Exactly 2,860 spoken words (~24 minutes) 🎧 Perfect for: Daily English listening practice, commuting, shadowing, and building natural conversational fluency. 📖 Key Vocabulary in This Episode: 1. Fast [/fæst/] (adjective/adverb) - About speed: how fast something or someone moves. Example: "A fast car, a fast train, a fast runner." 2. Quick [/kwɪk/] (adjective) - About time: it doesn't take long. Say "a quick shower," not "a fast shower." Example: "You take a quick shower before work." 3. Get [/ɡet/] (verb) - The everyday word for buying food, drinks, and small things, especially at a café or store. Example: "In real life, most people say: I'll get a coffee." 4. Buy [/baɪ/] (verb) - To pay money for something; common when money, shopping, or bigger things are the main idea. Example: "I want to buy a new phone. We bought a car." 5. Large [/lɑːrdʒ/] (adjective) - The size word on menus and clothing labels (small, medium, large). Example: "A large coffee, a large pizza, or large fries." 6. Big [/bɪɡ/] (adjective) - The word we use when we just talk, also for things you can't touch. "My big brother" = my older brother. Example: "A big day, a big dream, a big mistake." 7. Happy [/ˈhæpi/] (adjective) - A good feeling that can last a long time. Say "a happy person," and "Happy birthday!" Example: "A happy child, a happy family, a happy life." 8. Glad [/ɡlæd/] (adjective) - How you feel about one good thing that just happened. Use it after "I'm / you're / she's," never "a glad person." Example: "Your friend calls after a long trip. I'm glad you're home!" 9. Hear [/hɪr/] (verb) - Sound comes to your ears without trying. You don't plan it. Example: "You hear a car horn outside. You didn't plan it." 10. Listen [/ˈlɪsən/] (verb) - You choose to pay attention to a sound or a person. Example: "You listen to music. You listen to a friend." 11. Quiet [/ˈkwaɪət/] (adjective) - With only a little soft, calm sound. "Please be quiet" is the everyday phrase. Example: "A quiet library. Someone turns a page. Someone coughs." 12. Silent [/ˈsaɪlənt/] (adjective) - With no sound at all. Zero. Example: "Like my phone on silent. No ring, nothing." 13. Start [/stɑːrt/] (verb) - The more common word in daily talk. Only "start" works for cars and machines. Example: "Cars and machines. You start a car. You start a computer." 14. Begin [/bɪˈɡɪn/] (verb) - A little more serious, like the time on a ticket or a class schedule. Example: "The show begins at seven. The class begins on Monday." 15. See [/siː/] (verb) - Your eyes do it without trying. Example: "You open your eyes, and you see the rain." 16. Look [/lʊk/] (verb) - You choose to move your eyes to something. We usually say "look at." Example: "Look at this photo. Look at the board, please." 17. Watch [/wɑːtʃ/] (verb) - To look at something that moves or changes for some time. Example: "You watch a soccer game. You watch birds in the sky." 💬 Join the Conversation: What can you hear right now? Write one sentence in the comments, and start with: "I can hear..." Bonus: Tell us your café order too! "Can I get a large..." 🎧 How to Practice: 1. Listen once without reading to test your natural comprehension. 2. Listen a second time while reading the subtitles to catch pronunciation nuances. 3. Pick one new phrase from today's episode and write your own sentence in the comments! #LearnEnglish #EnglishPodcast #EnglishListening #SpokenEnglish #B1English #EnglishSynonyms #DailyEnglish #PodcastForLearners #BeginnerEnglish