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Hi! Last time, you practiced saying which part of someone’s message you understood and which part was unclear. Today the message is clear, but your answer isn’t ready yet. Maybe you’re choosing between two options, looking for a word, or considering a question you’ve never been asked before.
In those moments, you don’t need to answer instantly. You can use a small sound or a short phrase to show that you’re still engaged and need a moment to think. The goal is not to eliminate silence; it’s to make a pause feel comfortable in a real conversation.
Give your pause a purpose
Imagine a friend asks, “What was the best part of your weekend?” You know what happened, but you need a moment to choose one thing. A natural response might be:
“Hmm, let me think for a second… Probably dinner on Saturday. We stayed and talked for hours.”
The first few words tell your friend that you heard the question and are forming an answer. Then you answer. You don’t have to keep talking throughout the pause.
Watch these parts of “That’s a Good Question…” — How to Buy Time While Speaking from Go Natural English. Listen for how a thinking phrase can begin a response without becoming the response itself.
“That’s a Good Question…” — How to Buy Time While Speaking
Go Natural English demonstrates short phrases that give you time to think, then shows how to continue into an answer.
Watch three openings for “That’s a good question,” “Let me think for a second,” and “I’ve never thought about that before.” Then watch complete responses, paying attention to the moment between the opening phrase and the speaker’s actual point.
These openings are useful in different situations. “Let me think for a second” works for an ordinary question when you genuinely need a short pause. “That’s a good question” fits a question that takes some thought; it can sound excessive if someone has only asked where you put the keys. “I’ve never thought about that before” tells the listener why your answer may take longer, but use it when it’s true.
You can also begin with “Hmm…” and leave a brief silence. That silence is part of the response, not a failure to respond.
Choose a small sound—or a short phrase
In casual American conversation, you’ll hear “um,” “uh,” “hmm,” “well,” and “so” before people continue speaking. You don’t need all of them. Start by noticing what each one does in an exchange.
Read the short explanation in Duolingo’s How to Use the Most Common English Filler Words. It gives context for why speakers use fillers and which ones can help them keep their turn.
“Like,” “Well,” “Um,” and Other Common English Filler Words
Duolingo explains why these small words have a practical role in conversation, even though they add little to the main message.
In “What are filler words?”, read the explanation. Then, in “Examples of filler words,” read the opening examples, including the paragraph comparing casual and more formal speech. Focus on the idea of holding the floor: signaling that you have not finished your turn.
Now hear some of those words in speech. In Top 7 FILLER Expressions, Speak English With Vanessa gives casual examples of “um,” “uh,” “like,” “well,” and “so.” You’re listening for their sound and placement, not trying to put every filler into your own speech.
Top 7 FILLER Expressions: Advanced English Vocabulary Lesson
Speak English With Vanessa demonstrates short fillers in everyday speech and shows how repeating one too often can distract from the message.
Watch um and uh to hear short hesitations, then like in context for the contrast between occasional and repeated use. Finish with well and so, which often come at the start of a response.
Here is how those openings might feel in a conversation:
“Uh… I think it starts at seven.”
A brief hesitation while recalling a detail.
“Hmm… I’m not sure which one I’d choose.”
A sign that you’re considering the question.
“Well, I’d probably go on Friday.”
A gentle start to an answer that may need a little thought.
“So… I think the earlier time would work better.”
A way to gather your thought before stating it.
“Um” and “uh” are ordinary in casual speech; you don’t need a strict rule for choosing between them. “Well” can be especially useful when your answer isn’t a simple yes or no. “Like” is common too, but adding it repeatedly won’t necessarily make you sound more natural. One comfortable opening followed by your point is usually enough.
Match the phrase to what you’re doing
Sometimes you’re considering an opinion. Sometimes you’re trying to remember one word. The listener can follow your pause more easily when your phrase matches the situation.
If you need to consider an answer, try:
“Let me think for a second… I’d probably choose the morning.”
If you need to remember a detail, try:
“Give me a second… I think her flight gets in around eight.”
If you’re looking for words, you can say so:
“I know what I mean—I’m just looking for the right words.”
The last phrase is useful when the idea is clear in your mind but the sentence hasn’t come together yet. You can pause, then say it simply. You don’t need a perfect version before you start.
Go Natural English gives a few more examples of naming what you’re doing while you think.
“That’s a Good Question…” — How to Buy Time While Speaking
Return to Go Natural English for phrases that tell the listener whether you need a moment or are searching for the right words.
Watch more holding phrases. Listen particularly for “Give me a second” and “I’m looking for the right words.” Notice that these phrases can be useful on their own; you needn’t combine several before every answer.
There’s also a practical limit: a holding phrase doesn’t oblige you to produce an answer you don’t have. If you still can’t remember, you can say, “I can’t remember right now.” If you really intend to check later, add “I’ll let you know.”
Keep it light, then get to your point
A good pattern is one opening, a short pause, then an answer. Hear the difference in these exchanges:
Friend: “Where should we eat?”
You: “Hmm, let me think… Maybe the place across the street?”
Coworker: “What do you think of this idea?”
You: “That’s a good question. Let me think for a second… I like the main idea, but I’m not sure about the timing.”
The second question invites more consideration, so a longer opening feels appropriate. For a quick question, a small “Hmm…” may be all you need.
Try not to treat fillers as a requirement to make noise until you’re ready. A response such as “Um, well, uh, that’s a good question, so…” may delay your answer without helping the listener. A brief quiet moment after “Let me think” often sounds more at ease than a chain of fillers. You can take that moment without apologizing for it.
For a few minutes of spoken practice, replay one short line from each video and echo just its opening—perhaps “Hmm, let me think,” “That’s a good question,” or “Give me a second.” Leave a small pause after it, then finish with a simple answer of your own. Practice the opening and the return to your point together; that’s the part you’ll need in a live conversation.
Takeaway
When you understand the question but need time, let the other person hear that you’re thinking. “Hmm,” “Well,” “Let me think for a second,” and “Give me a second” can all keep your turn open. Choose one that fits the moment, allow a real pause, and continue with your answer when you’re ready.
Next, you’ll look at what to say while someone else has the floor: short listening responses such as “right,” “uh-huh,” and “I see.”