English - Hesitation

Lesson 91 of 139

Goal: Small pauses that sound natural

Free English lessons with audio, guided practice, and speaking support.

A quick, friendly lesson to make your English sound relaxed and natural. We'll practice two short spoken phrases that help you hesitate or correct yourself in conversation.

Level A2: In lesson 91 you'll practice two useful spoken phrases: "Or something like that." and "Wait, I mean ___." These help you show uncertainty and make quick self-corrections in small talk. CEFR-aligned and ready for real conversations—no grammar stress, just practice and repeat.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

At A2: recognize and use the spoken hedge "Or something like that." to sound natural when you're unsure.
Use "Wait, I mean ___" to pause and correct yourself in conversation.
Hear the phrases in a short dialogue and practice them aloud.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Or something like that.

Add uncertainty after an approximate statement.

Meaning: Add uncertainty after an approximate statement.

When to use: Use after an estimate or guess when you want to sound less certain.

Tip: Don't use this as a formal, precise phrase in writing; it is casual spoken English.

I can come around 3 p.m., or something like that.

He bought a few books, or something like that.

Wait, I mean ___.

Pause and self-correct while speaking

Meaning: Pause and self-correct while speaking.

When to use: Say it when you notice you said something wrong and want to fix it quickly.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget to follow with the corrected word or phrase; always finish the sentence after "Wait, I mean..."

I was born in June—wait, I mean July.

The class is on Monday. Wait, I mean Wednesday.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David check a meeting time and use hesitation phrases.

Anna and David in a short conversation practicing natural hesitation and self-correction.

Who corrects their time in the conversation?

Anna

I think the meeting is at 2, or something like that.

David

Really? I wrote 3 on my calendar.

Anna

Oh—wait, I mean 3. Sorry, I misread the note.

David

No problem. We can double-check the email, or something like that.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase adds uncertainty after a guess?

You said, "I live in Spain—wait, I mean ___." Which word completes the correction?

David says, "Let's meet on Friday, or something like that." What does he mean?

Which sentence is a spoken self-correction?

I will bring snacks, plates, or something like that.

I will bring snacks, plates, ___.

The teacher said the test is on Thursday — wait, I mean Friday.

The teacher said the test is on Thursday — ___.

I'm planning to go at 6 p.m., or something like that.

I'm planning to go at 6 p.m., ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Or something like that.

Add uncertainty after an approximate statement.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wait, I mean ___.

Pause and self-correct while speaking.