🦬 Yak Yacker • Commands you can actually use
Tip: Add “please” to soften most commands
Commands are the fastest way to move a conversation forward. They are also the fastest way to sound rude if your tone is sharp.
Use the phrases below as building blocks. When you want to be polite, add please, use a friendly voice, or switch to a question like “Could you…?”
Quick Picks: The Commands You Will Use Constantly
Tap Hear to practice pronunciation. Then practice the real skill: saying it like a calm human.
Stop!
Cease movement or action immediately.
Stop! The light is red.
Go away!
Leave; you are not welcome here (strong).
Go away! I am busy right now.
Hold on.
Wait a moment.
Hold on. Let me grab my keys.
Follow me.
Come with me; stay behind me.
Follow me. The office is this way.
Look out!
Warning: danger is close.
Look out! That bike is coming fast.
Pull over.
Move the car to the side and stop.
Pull over. I think we missed the turn.
Do not touch that.
Hands off; do not make contact.
Do not touch that. The paint is still wet.
Do not panic.
Stay calm in a stressful situation.
Do not panic. We can fix this step by step.
The Big List: 90 Useful Commands in English
Most of these can be softened by adding “please.” Some are naturally strong, so use them wisely.
| # | Command | Meaning | Use it when… | Example | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop! | Cease movement or action. | You need an immediate pause. | Stop! That is not your bag. | |
| 2 | Go away! | Leave; go somewhere else (strong). | You need distance right now. | Go away! I will talk later. | |
| 3 | Come here. | Approach me. | You want someone closer. | Come here. I want to show you something. | |
| 4 | Come in. | Enter the room or space. | Someone is at the door. | Come in. The meeting is starting. | |
| 5 | Get out. | Leave (often urgent or strong). | You need someone to exit quickly. | Get out. There is smoke in here. | |
| 6 | Sit down. | Move to a seated position. | Class, meetings, clinics. | Sit down and make yourself comfortable. | |
| 7 | Stand up. | Rise to a standing position. | You need someone on their feet. | Stand up so I can adjust the chair. | |
| 8 | Take a seat. | Sit down (friendly/neutral). | Welcoming someone in. | Take a seat. I will be right with you. | |
| 9 | Be quiet. | Stop talking or reduce noise. | Noise is a problem. | Be quiet. The baby is sleeping. | |
| 10 | Speak up. | Talk louder. | You cannot hear someone. | Speak up. The train is really loud. | |
| 11 | Listen up. | Listen carefully (often before instructions). | You are about to give important info. | Listen up. Here are the safety rules. | |
| 12 | Pay attention. | Focus and watch closely. | Someone is distracted. | Pay attention. This part is important. | |
| 13 | Look at this. | Direct your eyes to something. | You want to show an object or screen. | Look at this. The numbers do not match. | |
| 14 | Look out! | Warning of danger. | Something risky is about to happen. | Look out! That door swings fast. | |
| 15 | Watch your step. | Be careful where you walk. | Slippery floors, stairs, uneven ground. | Watch your step. The floor is wet. | |
| 16 | Slow down. | Reduce speed. | Walking, driving, talking too fast. | Slow down. I cannot understand you. | |
| 17 | Hurry up. | Move faster. | You are running late. | Hurry up. The bus is here. | |
| 18 | Calm down. | Relax; reduce emotion or stress. | Someone is upset or angry. | Calm down. We can talk about it. | |
| 19 | Take a deep breath. | Breathe slowly to relax. | Stress, panic, stage fright. | Take a deep breath. You are safe. | |
| 20 | Wait here. | Stay in this spot and wait. | You will return soon. | Wait here. I will grab the tickets. | |
| 21 | Hold on. | Wait a short time. | You need a moment. | Hold on. I am looking for the file. | |
| 22 | Hold still. | Do not move. | Photos, medical checks, haircuts. | Hold still. I need to bandage this. | |
| 23 | Let go. | Release your grip. | Someone is holding something too tightly. | Let go. That handle is broken. | |
| 24 | Move aside. | Shift to the side. | You need space to pass. | Move aside. This cart is heavy. | |
| 25 | Step back. | Move a little farther away. | Safety, personal space, crowds. | Step back. The glass is hot. | |
| 26 | Step forward. | Move a little closer. | Lines, photos, inspections. | Step forward when your number is called. | |
| 27 | Follow me. | Come with me. | Guiding someone. | Follow me. The restroom is upstairs. | |
| 28 | Stay with me. | Do not separate from me. | Crowds, travel, safety. | Stay with me. This station is confusing. | |
| 29 | Stay here. | Remain in this place. | You want someone to wait in one spot. | Stay here. I will ask for directions. | |
| 30 | Stay away. | Keep a safe distance. | Danger, boundaries, privacy. | Stay away. The dog is scared. | |
| 31 | Keep going. | Continue; do not stop. | Directions, encouragement. | Keep going. You are almost there. | |
| 32 | Turn around. | Reverse direction. | You are going the wrong way. | Turn around. The entrance is behind us. | |
| 33 | Go straight. | Continue forward. | Giving directions. | Go straight for two blocks. | |
| 34 | Turn left. | Change direction to the left. | Walking or driving directions. | Turn left at the traffic light. | |
| 35 | Turn right. | Change direction to the right. | Walking or driving directions. | Turn right after the bank. | |
| 36 | Take the first left. | Turn left at the first possible street/path. | Giving clear directions. | Take the first left and you will see the park. | |
| 37 | Take the next right. | Turn right at the next opportunity. | Directions when the turn is not immediate. | Take the next right after this corner. | |
| 38 | Pull over. | Move the vehicle to the side and stop. | Driving, safety checks, confusion. | Pull over. I need to check the map. | |
| 39 | Use the stairs. | Take stairs instead of an elevator. | Elevator is busy or unavailable. | Use the stairs. The elevator is out of service. | |
| 40 | Take the elevator. | Use the elevator (lift). | You want an easier route. | Take the elevator to the fifth floor. | |
| 41 | Line up. | Form a line. | Schools, events, checkout counters. | Line up on the left side, please. | |
| 42 | Queue up. | Form a line (common in UK and global English). | Crowds, tickets, cafés. | Queue up here if you are ordering. | |
| 43 | Come closer. | Reduce the distance between us. | You need someone nearer to hear or see. | Come closer. I will show you the details. | |
| 44 | Back off. | Move away; stop pressuring (strong). | Someone is too close or aggressive. | Back off. Give me some space. | |
| 45 | Be careful. | Act with caution. | Something could cause harm or damage. | Be careful. The soup is hot. | |
| 46 | Keep your hands to yourself. | Do not touch other people. | Boundaries, classrooms, crowded spaces. | Keep your hands to yourself. Everyone needs space. | |
| 47 | Do not touch that. | Hands off that object. | Safety, fragile items, rules. | Do not touch that. It is very delicate. | |
| 48 | Put it back. | Return an item to its original place. | Shops, homes, offices. | Put it back where you found it. | |
| 49 | Pick it up. | Lift it from the floor or a surface. | Something fell or needs carrying. | Pick it up before someone trips. | |
| 50 | Put it down. | Place it on a surface. | Someone is holding something heavy or unsafe. | Put it down. That box looks too heavy. | |
| 51 | Clean up. | Tidy the area. | After eating, working, or making a mess. | Clean up the table when you finish. | |
| 52 | Throw it away. | Put it in the trash. | Disposing of waste. | Throw it away if you do not need it. | |
| 53 | Wash your hands. | Clean your hands with soap and water. | Before eating, after travel, after the restroom. | Wash your hands before you cook. | |
| 54 | Dry your hands. | Remove water from your hands. | After washing. | Dry your hands so the phone does not slip. | |
| 55 | Open it. | Uncover or unseal something. | Doors, boxes, apps, files. | Open it carefully. The seal is tight. | |
| 56 | Close it. | Shut something. | Doors, windows, lids, tabs. | Close it. The wind is coming in. | |
| 57 | Turn it on. | Start a device or switch. | Electronics, lights, machines. | Turn it on and wait for the blue light. | |
| 58 | Turn it off. | Stop a device or switch. | Saving power or ending use. | Turn it off when you leave the room. | |
| 59 | Plug it in. | Connect to power. | Charging, using an appliance. | Plug it in. The battery is low. | |
| 60 | Unplug it. | Disconnect from power. | Safety, moving equipment. | Unplug it before you clean the machine. | |
| 61 | Restart it. | Turn it off and on again. | Fixing basic tech problems. | Restart it. The screen is frozen. | |
| 62 | Log in. | Enter your account. | Apps, websites, work systems. | Log in with your email address. | |
| 63 | Log out. | Exit your account. | Shared computers, privacy. | Log out when you finish using this computer. | |
| 64 | Save it. | Store your work or file. | Before closing or sending. | Save it so you do not lose your changes. | |
| 65 | Delete it. | Remove it permanently (or to trash). | Cleaning files or messages. | Delete it if it has the wrong information. | |
| 66 | Copy this. | Duplicate selected text or a file. | You need a second version. | Copy this and paste it into the form. | |
| 67 | Paste it. | Insert copied content. | After copying text or a link. | Paste it into the chat so I can see it. | |
| 68 | Send it. | Transmit a message or file. | Email, chat, apps. | Send it to me when you finish the draft. | |
| 69 | Share it. | Make it available to others. | Docs, photos, links. | Share it with the team so everyone can comment. | |
| 70 | Call me. | Phone me. | You want a voice conversation. | Call me when you arrive. | |
| 71 | Text me. | Send a text message. | Quick updates. | Text me the address. | |
| 72 | Email me. | Send an email message. | Longer details or official info. | Email me the schedule when it is ready. | |
| 73 | Answer the phone. | Pick up the call. | A phone is ringing. | Answer the phone. It might be the delivery. | |
| 74 | Leave a message. | Record or write a message for later. | Someone cannot answer now. | Leave a message after the beep. | |
| 75 | Check your email. | Look in your inbox. | Important info was sent. | Check your email. I sent the link. | |
| 76 | Sign here. | Write your signature in this spot. | Forms, deliveries, contracts. | Sign here to confirm you received the package. | |
| 77 | Show your ID. | Present identification. | Hotels, airports, age checks, security. | Show your ID at the front desk. | |
| 78 | Read this. | Look at the text and understand it. | Instructions, messages, signs. | Read this and tell me what it means. | |
| 79 | Write it down. | Put it in writing. | Remembering details. | Write it down so you do not forget. | |
| 80 | Repeat that. | Say it again. | You did not hear or understand. | Repeat that. The connection is bad. | |
| 81 | Spell it. | Say each letter. | Names, emails, addresses. | Spell it so I can enter it correctly. | |
| 82 | Show me. | Demonstrate or point to it. | You need a visual explanation. | Show me how to open the lid. | |
| 83 | Help me. | Assist me. | You need support. | Help me carry this to the car. | |
| 84 | Give me a hand. | Help me (often with a task). | You need practical help. | Give me a hand with this suitcase. | |
| 85 | Take a break. | Rest for a short time. | Work, study, exercise. | Take a break. You have been staring at that screen. | |
| 86 | Get some rest. | Sleep or relax more. | Someone is tired or sick. | Get some rest. We can finish tomorrow. | |
| 87 | Drink some water. | Hydrate. | Heat, exercise, illness, headaches. | Drink some water and sit down for a minute. | |
| 88 | Eat up. | Finish your food. | Mealtimes, encouragement. | Eat up while it is still warm. | |
| 89 | Do not panic. | Stay calm; avoid fear. | Emergencies or stressful moments. | Do not panic. We have time to fix it. | |
| 90 | Call an ambulance! | Get urgent medical help. | Someone needs emergency care. | Call an ambulance! He cannot breathe. |
Polite, Neutral, Strong: Fast Variants
Same goal, different vibe. Each phrase has its own mini example, because tone is the whole game.
| Goal | Variants (with mini examples) |
|---|---|
| Make someone stop | Strong Stop! Stop! That is dangerous. Neutral Please stop. Please stop. I need to concentrate. Polite Could you stop, please? Could you stop, please? I am on a call. |
| Ask for repetition | Strong Say that again. Say that again. I missed the last part. Neutral Repeat that. Repeat that. The audio cut out. Polite Could you repeat that, please? Could you repeat that, please? I am still learning. |
| Get someone to wait | Strong Wait. Wait. Do not cross yet. Neutral Hold on. Hold on. I need a minute. Polite One moment, please. One moment, please. I will check the schedule. |
| Ask for space | Strong Back off. Back off. You are too close. Neutral Step back. Step back. The door opens outward. Polite Could you give me some space, please? Could you give me some space, please? Thank you. |
| Warn about danger | Strong Look out! Look out! The branch is falling. Neutral Be careful. Be careful. The floor is slippery. Polite Please be careful. Please be careful. The steps are steep. |
| Ask someone to come closer | Strong Come here. Come here. Now. Neutral Come closer. Come closer. You will see the difference. Polite Could you come over here, please? Could you come over here, please? I have a question. |
| Keep hands off | Strong Do not touch that. Do not touch that. It is fragile. Neutral Please do not touch. Please do not touch. It is on display. Polite Could you please not touch that? Could you please not touch that? Thank you. |
| Handle stress | Strong Do not panic. Do not panic. Follow the instructions. Neutral Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath. We will solve it. Polite Please stay calm. Please stay calm. Help is on the way. |
