Phrases for Showing Interest in Conversation

Phrases for Showing Interest in Conversation (and Sounding More Natural in English)

Good conversations are not built only on good grammar. They are built on attention, curiosity, and reaction. You can speak perfect English and still sound cold, distant, or uninterested if you don’t react to what the other person is saying. On the other hand, even simple English sounds warm and natural when you know how to show interest, surprise, sympathy, or curiosity. Phrases for Showing Interest in Conversation

Native speakers constantly use short, natural phrases like:

“Oh really?”

“That sounds interesting.”

“No way!”

“Tell me more.”

These small expressions act like social glue. They keep conversations flowing, make the other person feel heard, and make you sound friendly, engaged, and confident.

In this lesson, you’ll learn useful everyday phrases for showing interest in conversation, grouped by situation and feeling — exactly the kind of language that helps in real-life conversations, Cambridge speaking exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced, IELTS), as well as meetings, social situations, and small talk.

Simple neutral reactions

These are perfect when you want to show interest without sounding too emotional.

• That’s interesting.
• Oh, really?
• I see.
• Right
• Is that so?
• I didn’t know that.
• Really?

“I’ve started learning Italian.”

— Oh really? That’s interesting!

“We moved here last year.”

— I see. Do you like it so far?

“I work night shifts.”

— Is that so? That must be tiring.

Showing real interest and curiosity

Use these when you genuinely want the person to continue talking.

• That sounds interesting.
• That sounds fascinating.
• Tell me more.
• What happened next?
• How did that go?
• What was it like?
• I’d love to hear more about that.

“We travelled through Peru by bus.”

— That sounds fascinating! What was it like?

“I changed careers last year.”

— Oh really? Tell me more.

“We had a very strange experience at the hotel.”

— What happened next?

Showing surprise or amazement

These are brilliant for storytelling moments and emotional reactions.

• Really?!
• No way!
• You’re joking!
• You’re kidding!
• Seriously?
• That’s incredible!
• I can’t believe it!

“He proposed to her on top of a mountain.”

— No way! That’s incredible!

“They cancelled the flight five minutes before boarding.”

— You’re kidding! That’s awful.

“She learned English in just one year.”

— Seriously? That’s impressive.

Showing sympathy or emotional involvement

These make you sound human, warm, and empathetic.

• Oh no…
• That’s awful.
• That’s a shame.
• I’m sorry to hear that.
• That must have been difficult.
• That sounds stressful.
• Poor you.

“My phone was stolen on holiday.”

— Oh no… that’s awful.

“We lost the contract in the end.”

— That’s a shame. You must have been disappointed.

“I worked 12-hour shifts for three months.”

— That sounds exhausting.

Showing approval or positive interest

Use these when you want to encourage or praise the other person.

• That’s great!
• That’s wonderful!
• Good for you!
• That sounds brilliant!
• I’m happy for you!
• Well done!
• That’s impressive!

“I finally passed my driving test.”

— That’s great! Well done!

“I got the job I applied for.”

— That’s wonderful! I’m really happy for you.

“She wrote her first novel.”

— That’s impressive!

Keeping the conversation going

These phrases are conversation magic. They stop awkward silence and invite the other person to continue.

• And then?
• What about you?
• How about…?
• Why was that?
• How come?
• What do you mean exactly?

“We met at a conference.”

— Oh really? And then?

“I decided to quit.”

— How come?

“It didn’t work out in the end.”

— What do you mean exactly?

Sounding natural: short reaction words

Native speakers constantly use tiny reactions while listening:

• Oh!
• Ah!
• Right!
• Wow!
• Mmm…
• Yeah?

“So we arrived at 3 a.m…”

— Oh wow.

“And then everything went wrong.”

— Ah… I see.

These don’t interrupt the speaker — they encourage them.

Why this matters for Cambridge speaking exams

Examiners don’t only listen to what you say — they also listen to how you interact. Using reaction phrases makes you sound natural and communicative, shows good interactive communication, improves fluency and coherence and makes the conversation feel real, not like a memorised speech

Compare:

❌ “That is interesting. Next question.”

✅ “Oh really? That sounds interesting. What happened next?”

Same grammar. Very different impression.

Final thought

Good English is not only about correct sentences. It’s about connection.

If you master these small, natural phrases, your English will suddenly sound warmer, more confident and human.

And the best part? Native speakers will instantly feel more comfortable talking to you — even if your grammar isn’t perfect.

As we say in old-fashioned terms: manners make the speaker 😉

If you really want to learn English but don’t know how or where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Tap the banner to learn more!