Lesson 1: Greetings, Intros & Personal Details

Welcome to your very first vocabulary lesson! Taking that first step to say hello in English can be intimidating, but mastering a few basic phrases will help you sound natural and confident.

In this interactive lesson, you will learn essential English greetings, how to introduce yourself, and how to correctly state your first and last name. We will also explore a common mistake many beginners make regarding name order.

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Welcome to your very first vocabulary lesson! I am Teacher Sopheak, and today we are going to learn exactly how to greet people when you walk into a cafe or meet a new friend.

Taking that first step to say hello in English can be scary, but I promise you will sound like a natural in no time.

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Core Words & Phrases

Greeting

Hello / Hi /həˈloʊ/ /haɪ/

A friendly word used to greet someone.

Example: Hello! It is nice to see you today.

Personal Detail

First name /ˈfɜːrst neɪm/

A personal name given to someone at birth.

Example: His first name is Vuthy.

Personal Detail

Last name /ˈlæst neɪm/

The family name shared by members of a family.

Example: In Cambodia, many people have the last name Sok.

Phrase

Nice to meet you. /naɪs tu miːt ju/

A polite greeting when meeting someone for the first time.

Example: "I am Sophea. Nice to meet you."

record_voice_over In Action: At the Coffee Shop

A

Hello. What is your name?

B

Hi! My name is Anna. And you?

A

I am Sok. Nice to meet you.

B

Nice to meet you too.

warning Watch Out: Name Order!

English names are reversed compared to many other languages.

language Other Languages

Meas
Last Name (Family)

+

Dara
First Name (Given)

---

public English Order

Dara
First Name

+

Meas
Last Name

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Real-World Check

storefront At the Mall

You just bumped into your friend Sokha at the mall. What is the most natural way to greet him in English?

local_taxi Waiting for a Taxi

A tourist asks for your "first name" while you are waiting for a taxi. If your full name is Meas Dara, what should you say?

school Meeting the Teacher

You are introducing your brother to your new English teacher. After they say "Hello", what is the most polite thing for your brother to say next?

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Lesson Complete!

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Study Resources

Lesson Summary & Review

Let's review the key concepts covered in the interactive module above to ensure you are ready to introduce yourself confidently.

Core Vocabulary

• Name: The word used to identify a person.
• First Name: Your personal, given name (e.g., Dara, Anna).
• Last Name: Your family name (e.g., Sok, Smith).

Cultural Context: Name Order

One of the most important things to remember when speaking English is that the name order is reversed compared to many other languages. In English, you always state your First Name before your Last Name. For example, if your family name is "Sok" and your given name is "Dara," you would introduce yourself as "Dara Sok" in an English context.

Essential Phrases for Conversation

To start a conversation, you will need to ask the other person's name using the question, "What is your name?"

When someone asks you, reply with, "My name is..." Once you have exchanged names, it is polite to say, "Nice to meet you." If someone says this to you, the correct response is, "Nice to meet you too."