Vocabulary

How to respond to “THANK YOU” in English

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We all know that it’s polite to say “Thank you” to someone after they’ve done something good or helpful.

And as you learn words like “please,” “thank you,” “sorry,” and “excuse me,” mastering your manners in English can really help you sound more natural. If you don’t use these expressions in certain situations, it can even sound like you’re not really speaking English at all! That’s what my experience with the language has shown me!

So, if someone thanks you for something, what can you say in reply?

1. “You’re welcome” — the classic reply

“You’re welcome” is the most common response. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using it. It’s the standard, polite reply, and in many cases, it comes out automatically.

But because it’s so common, it can feel a bit overused.
That’s why it’s essential to expand your vocabulary and learn other ways to respond—each with slightly different meanings or levels of formality.

2. Good manners in English

If you want to sound more natural or native-like, you’ll often use variations of “you’re welcome” instead of the phrase itself.

Below is a short skit that shows different ways people reply to “thank you.”
👉 Try watching it first without English subtitles, focusing on pronunciation.
Then watch it again with subtitles if you need support.

Do the same with all four videos in this lesson.

3. Useful expressions to respond to “THANK YOU”

Neutral

  • You’re welcome.

More formal

  • You’re quite welcome.
  • You’re very welcome.
  • You’re so welcome.
  • You’re truly welcome.

Informal

  • Don’t mention it.
  • No worries.
  • Don’t worry about it.
  • It was no problem.
  • Not a problem.
  • No problem.
  • No prob! (slang)
  • Sure.
  • Sure, no worries.
  • Sure thing.
  • Sure, anytime.
  • It was nothing.
  • It’s nothing.
  • Anytime!

Professional or social situations

  • The pleasure is mine.
  • It’s my pleasure.
  • It was my pleasure.
  • With pleasure.
  • My pleasure.
  • Pleasure.
  • I’m happy I could help.
  • I’m happy to help.
  • I’m glad to help.
  • Happy to help.

👉 Watch the last two responses from Bob in the video below.

4. Quiz

The following material includes a short quiz so you can practice the expressions you’ve just learned.

5. And one more thing!

Next time you thank someone, don’t be surprised if they reply:
👉 “Thank YOU!”

This means that not only did you benefit from the situation, but they also feel that you helped them in some way.

Health problems

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🧠 Vocabulary Review

Common health problems:

  • a cold
  • a fever
  • a headache
  • a stomachache
  • a sore throat
  • the flu
  • allergies
  • a cough

👂 Asking About Someone’s Health

Here are the most common ways to ask how someone feels:

  • How do you feel (today)?
    → Como você está se sentindo (hoje)?
  • How are you feeling?
    → Como você está se sentindo?
  • Is everything okay?
    → Está tudo bem?

🗣️ Typical Responses

When someone asks how you’re feeling, you can respond:

  • I’m fine.
    → Estou bem.
  • I feel sick.
    → Estou me sentindo mal.
  • Not so good.
    → Não muito bem.
  • Not very well.
    → Não estou muito bem.
  • I don’t feel well.
    → Não estou me sentindo bem.
  • I’m sick.
    → Estou doente.

🔍 Asking for More Details

When you see (or hear) someone isn’t feeling well, you can ask:

  • What’s the matter?
    → O que houve?
  • What’s wrong?
    → O que aconteceu?

🧾 Describing What’s Wrong

To say what’s wrong with you:

  • I have + [health condition].
    → I have a headache.
    → I have the flu.
  • I’ve got + [health condition]. (more common in British English)
    → I’ve got a sore throat.
    → I’ve got a runny nose.

(Both forms are correct and mean the same thing.)

✅ Practice Activity

1. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the responses.

a) How are you feeling?
→ __________________________ (not good)

b) What’s the matter?
→ __________________________ (headache)

c) Is everything okay?
→ __________________________ (not well, sore throat)

2. Role Play

Create a short dialogue:

A: Hi! You don’t look so good. What’s wrong?
B: __________________________
A: I’m sorry. Do you need anything?

Practice using the questions and responses from the lesson.

3. Correct the Mistake

a) I am with fever.
→ ________________________

b) She have a sore throat.
→ ________________________

c) He has got cough.
→ ________________________

4. Dialogue

Discuss the following questions:

  • Do you ever get headaches?
  • How often do you catch a cold?

🏁 Wrap Up

  • Go back to your symptom list from the video.
  • Share one health problem you’ve had before and how you treated it.

The Many Uses of Kind, Sort, and Type

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Kinda sorta

In English, there are two main ways to use these words:

  1. To talk about categories or groups of things.
  2. To express uncertainty or approximation — but only with kind and sort (not type).

Watch the video below to see these expressions in action! It explains when to use kind of, sort of, and type of, and show you how kinda and sorta sound in real-life English. It’s short, clear, and full of examples you can start using right away.

1. KIND OF, SORT OF, TYPE OF — Categories or Groups

We use these expressions to describe types, kinds, or categories of things.
They always come with the preposition of.

Examples:

  1. What type of music do you like?
    (Que tipo de música você gosta?)
  2. What are the different kinds of spices in this cake?
    (Quais são os diferentes tipos de condimentos desse bolo?)
  3. That magazine prints fake news and all sorts of other rubbish.
    (Aquela revista publica notícias falsas e todo tipo de besteira.)

💡 Tip:
In everyday English, kind of and sort of are often used interchangeably, but type of sounds a little more formal.

2. KINDA & SORTA — Expressing Uncertainty or Softening Statements

When spoken quickly, kind of and sort of often become kinda and sorta.
They can mean a little, more or less, or sort of in Portuguese (“um pouco”, “meio”, “mais ou menos”).

Examples:

  1. Mm, I’m kinda cold. Could you please close the window?
    (Estou com um pouquinho de frio. Você poderia fechar a janela?)
  2. Do you like tomatoes? — Mm, sorta.
    (Você gosta de tomates? — Mais ou menos.)

They are also used to soften opinions — when you’re unsure or want to sound polite:

It’s kinda expensive. → (É meio caro.)
She’s sorta shy. → (Ela é meio tímida.)

3. “KINDA-SORTA” — Modern, Playful English

This fun combination — kinda-sorta — is common in casual, spoken English, especially among younger speakers.
It can mean:

  1. A little
  2. A lot (ironically)
  3. Indecision
  4. Laziness or hesitation

Examples:

  1. Who is that actor?
    — Oh, he used to be kinda-sorta famous back in the 90s.
    (Ele costumava ser um pouco famoso nos anos 90.)
  2. How’s my writing paper?
    — Um… it still kinda-sorta needs some work.
    (Ainda precisa de muitas melhoras.)
  3. So, are you guys, like, together?
    — Well, we’re kinda-sorta boyfriend/girlfriend.
    (Bem, somos meio que namorados.)
  4. Do you wanna go out tonight?
    — Mm… kinda-sorta, not really, maybe, but yeah, okay.
    (Mais ou menos, não muito, talvez, mas tá, ok.)

🧠 Practice Time

Exercise 1 — Fill in the blanks

Complete with kind of, sort of, or type of.

  1. What _______ job are you looking for?
  2. It’s _______ cold today, isn’t it?
  3. I don’t really like that _______ music.
  4. I’m _______ tired, but I’ll help you.
  5. What _______ food do they serve there?

Exercise 2 — Choose the correct option

  1. She’s _______ shy.
    a) type of  b) kinda  c) sort
  2. What _______ chocolate do you prefer — dark or milk?
    a) kind of  b) sorta  c) kinda-sorta
  3. He’s _______ funny, but not always.
    a) type  b) kinda  c) of kind
  4. They have all _______ of fruit juices here.
    a) sorts  b) kind  c) sorta

Exercise 3 — Express yourself!

Translate and complete these sentences using kind of, sort of, type of, or kinda-sorta.

  1. Eu estou meio cansado hoje.
    → I’m ______________________ today.
  2. Que tipo de filme você gosta?
    → What ______________________ do you like?
  3. Ele é meio estranho, mas simpático.
    → He’s ______________________ weird but nice.
  4. Ela é meio que minha melhor amiga.
    → She’s ______________________ my best friend.

Answer Key:

Exercise 1: 1. kind of / 2. kinda / 3. kind of / 4. kinda / 5. type of
Exercise 2: 1. b / 2. a / 3. b / 4. a
Exercise 3: (open answers)

💬 Reflection Question

In what situations do you use kind, sort, or type in your daily life?
Share your example in the comments! 👇

Oktoberfest in Blumenau

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🥨 What is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is a German-style festival that takes place every October in Blumenau, Brazil.
It celebrates German culture, with music, food, dance, and lots of fun!

🗝️ Key Vocabulary

EnglishPortugueseExample sentence
Festival / Celebration
Festa / CelebraçãoOktoberfest is a big celebration in Blumenau.
Parade
Desfile
The streets are full of colors during the parade.
CostumesTrajes / FantasiasPeople wear traditional German costumes.
BeerCervejaBeer is a big part of Oktoberfest.
Beer mugCaneca de cervejaMany people drink beer from large mugs.
BreweryCervejariaBlumenau has many local breweries.
Music bandBanda de músicaThe bands play cheerful German songs.
DancingDançaThere’s a lot of dancing at the party.
Traditional foodComida típicaYou can try delicious traditional food.
SausageSalsichaSausages are one of the most popular dishes.
Pork knuckleJoelho de porcoPork knuckle is a traditional German dish.
PretzelPretzelPretzels are salty and soft.
StrudelStrudelApple strudel is a sweet dessert.
Waiter / WaitressGarçom / GarçoneteThe waiters wear traditional clothes too.
DecorationsDecoraçõesThe pavilions are full of colorful decorations.
Music and dance groupGrupo de música e dançaFolk groups perform at the festival.
German roots / heritageRaízes / herança alemãThe city celebrates its German roots.
Funfair / Amusement parkParque de diversõesThere are rides for children and families.
ContestConcursoThere are contests like the “Chope em Metro.”
Cheers!Saúde! / Um brinde!People raise their mugs and say “Cheers!”

🗣️ Useful Phrases

  • Let’s go to Oktoberfest! – Vamos para a Oktoberfest!
  • I love the music and the atmosphere! – Eu adoro a música e o clima da festa!
  • What’s your favorite food here? – Qual é a sua comida preferida aqui?
  • The parade is amazing! – O desfile é incrível!
  • Prost! (Cheers in German) – “Prost!” (Saúde!)

💬 Practice

👉 Complete the sentences:

  1. Oktoberfest is a ___________ in Blumenau.
  2. People wear ___________ clothes.
  3. You can eat ___________, ___________, and ___________.
  4. The German word for “Cheers!” is ___________.
  5. The festival celebrates German ___________.

🧠 Cultural Note

Blumenau was founded by German immigrants in the 19th century.
That’s why the city keeps many German traditions, and Oktoberfest is a way to celebrate them with joy, music, and friendship. 🇧🇷🇩🇪

To Downtown or Not to Downtown?

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Understanding How to Use “Downtown” in English

Recently, a student was describing his weekend and said:
“We went to downtown to visit.”

Hmm… something’s not quite right.
Can we say that?

This little sentence inspired me to dig deeper into how “downtown” is used in American and British English — and the results were interesting!

🇺🇸 American vs. 🇬🇧 British English

The word “downtown” is commonly used in American English, but much less in British English. In fact, its use and grammatical role change depending on the variety of English and the context.

🧠 In American English, “downtown” is often used as:

🔹 An adverb (no preposition needed!)

Meaning: to or in the central part of a city

Examples:

  • I’m going downtown now.
  • She works downtown, but lives in the suburbs.
  • We were stuck downtown in traffic.

✅ So instead of saying:
“We went to downtown to visit.”
You should say:
“We went downtown to visit.”

“Downtown” as an adverb does not need the preposition “to.”

🔹 An adjective (used before a noun)

Meaning: related to the central business district

Examples:

  • A downtown hotel
  • Downtown Los Angeles
  • A downtown office building

Used this way, “downtown” describes where something is.

🏙️ In British English…

British speakers are more likely to say:

  • “the city centre” or
  • “the town centre”

Example:

  • We went to the city centre to visit a museum.

They tend to use “downtown” only as a noun, and even that is rare or used in specific contexts.

🔹 As a noun

Meaning: the central part of a city

Examples:

  • There’s a nice hotel in the heart of downtown.
  • We walked around downtown for hours.
  • The restaurant is two blocks from downtown.

Note: In this case, you can use a preposition like “in” or “from”, depending on the verb.

❗ So, what’s is the most important point to remember?

If you’re speaking American English, don’t say “to downtown.”
Instead, say:
✅ “We went downtown.”

Unless you’re using “downtown” as a noun (less common), which would allow for:
✅ “We went to the downtown area.”
✅ “We stayed in downtown.”

👉 Watch this short video explanation:

✍️ Try it yourself!

✅ Decide if the sentence is Correct or Incorrect — and if incorrect, fix it:

  1. We had lunch downtown.
  2. She went to downtown.
  3. I love downtown cafés.
  4. They moved downtown last year.
  5. He works in a downtown office.
  6. We explored the downtown.

Check your answers at the end!

💬 Creative Practice (Bonus)

Write a short paragraph or dialogue using at least three of these expressions:

  • go downtown
  • downtown store
  • live downtown
  • downtown traffic
  • the heart of downtown

✅ Answers (Correct or Incorrect):

  1. ✅ Correct
  2. ❌ Incorrect → Correct: She went downtown.
  3. ✅ Correct
  4. ✅ Correct
  5. ✅ Correct
  6. ✅ Correct — In American English, “the downtown” is acceptable when “downtown” is used as a noun, e.g., “We explored the downtown (area).”

💡 For a more natural version of sentence 6, you could also say:
“We explored downtown.”

🗺️ So how do we say that we went to visit a new city and wanted to see its downtown?

There are a few natural ways to say this in English, depending on how “downtown” is used:

  • ✅ “We went downtown to visit.” (adverb)
  • ✅ “We drove downtown to visit.” (adverb)
  • ✅ “We went to downtown Luiz Alves to visit.” (adjective – modifying a proper noun)
  • ✅ “We went to visit the downtown of the city.” (noun)

Each version is grammatically correct — just remember the structure depends on how “downtown” is functioning in the sentence.