Business Vocabulary
Master C1-C2 business English: negotiation tactics, strategic planning, financial terminology, and corporate communication. Essential for MBA, executives, and professionals.
Business English Core · Listen & Learn
Click the green audio button to hear professional pronunciation. Study definitions, business contexts, and real corporate examples.
negotiate
/nɪˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/🔹 Definition: to discuss something in order to reach an agreement, especially in business or politics.
Business Examples:
- "We need to negotiate better terms with our suppliers."
- "The CEO successfully negotiated a multi-million dollar merger."
- "Learning to negotiate effectively is crucial for career advancement."
strategy
/ˈstræt.ə.dʒi/🔹 Definition: a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
Business Examples:
- "Our market expansion strategy focuses on emerging economies."
- "The company's digital transformation strategy boosted revenue by 40%."
- "A clear strategy differentiates successful startups from failures."
revenue
/ˈrev.ən.juː/🔹 Definition: income generated from business activities, typically from sales of goods or services.
Business Examples:
- "Annual revenue exceeded $10 million for the first time."
- "The new product line contributed significantly to overall revenue growth."
- "Investors focus on recurring revenue streams for stability."
investment
/ɪnˈvest.mənt/🔹 Definition: the action or process of allocating resources (usually capital) with the expectation of generating income or profit.
Business Examples:
- "The company secured $50 million in venture capital investment."
- "Return on investment (ROI) is a key performance metric."
- "Strategic investment in R&D drives innovation."
partnership
/ˈpɑːt.nə.ʃɪp/🔹 Definition: a collaborative relationship between two or more parties to achieve shared business objectives.
Business Examples:
- "The strategic partnership expanded our market reach significantly."
- "We entered into a joint venture partnership with a leading tech firm."
- "Successful partnerships are built on trust and mutual benefit."
stakeholder
/ˈsteɪkˌhəʊl.dər/🔹 Definition: any person or group with an interest in an organization's activities and outcomes (e.g., shareholders, employees, customers).
Business Examples:
- "We must consider all stakeholders when making strategic decisions."
- "Effective communication with stakeholders builds trust and alignment."
- "The company's success depends on balancing stakeholder interests."
scalable
/ˈskeɪ.lə.bəl/🔹 Definition: capable of being expanded or adapted to accommodate growth without losing performance or quality.
Business Examples:
- "Investors look for scalable business models with high growth potential."
- "Our cloud infrastructure is highly scalable to meet increasing demand."
- "A scalable solution reduces long-term operational costs."
leverage
/ˈliː.vər.ɪdʒ/🔹 Definition: to use something to maximum advantage, often resources, relationships, or capital, to achieve a desired outcome.
Business Examples:
- "We can leverage our existing customer base to launch new products."
- "The company used debt to leverage its expansion strategy."
- "Successful entrepreneurs leverage their networks and expertise."
Business English Quiz
Test your understanding of C1-C2 business vocabulary.
💼 Negotiation Tip
When negotiating, focus on creating value for both parties. Use phrases like "Let's find a mutually beneficial solution" and "What would make this work for you?"
📊 Strategic Planning
Effective strategy requires clear KPIs, stakeholder alignment, and scalability considerations. Always measure ROI and adjust based on market feedback.
Bonus: Business Idioms
creative thinking
start a project
do something poorly to save money
the most important factor