How to keep speaking when you can’t find a word in English

You’re explaining something in English. You know what you want to say, but halfway through the sentence, a word won’t come.

“We need to update the… the…”

You can picture it. You may even have used the word before. Now you’re searching for it, and the point you wanted to make is getting lost.

What do you do next?

You don’t need to know every word to speak fluently. You need to know how to keep communicating when a word is missing, and how to return to the message you wanted to express.

Try this: DESCRIBE / ASK (if you need to) / CONTINUE.

Describe what you mean using the English you have. If the other person understands, continue. If you need help finding the word, ask. Then return to your idea.

1. DESCRIBE: give the other person something to work with

“The thing… you know… the thing” doesn’t give someone much information. One useful detail can make a difference.

You don’t need a dictionary definition. Describe so that the other person can understand you, not simply so that they can guess the missing word.

Imagine you’re looking for your small digital luggage scale at home. You wouldn’t normally need every clue below. Start with what it does. If that isn’t enough, add a detail about its appearance or where you keep it. Use details that are true of the object you mean.

You can also explain when you use it: “You use it before a flight to check that your bag isn’t too heavy.”

You can describe people and actions too:

“We need to speak to the person who organises the deliveries.”

“Could you check this for spelling mistakes before I send it?”

In the second example, you’ve made the request without needing the word proofread. If the other person knows what to do, you can carry on.

2. ASK (if you need to)

Sometimes your description is enough. Sometimes the other person supplies the word without being asked. And sometimes you need to ask directly.

After describing something, you can say:

“What do you call it?”

“What’s the word for that?”

If you’re talking to a group, you could ask:

“Does anyone know what it’s called?”

Give people a clue first. “What’s the word?” is much easier to answer when you’ve explained what you mean.

“How do you say…?” or “What do you call…?”

“How do you say…?” asks how to express something. It can be a word, a phrase or an idea:

“How do you say ‘almacén’ in English?”

Or, if you speak Italian:

“How do you say ‘magazzino’ in English?”

These questions work if the other person understands the Spanish or Italian word. If they don’t, describe the place instead:

“It’s the place where a company stores its products. What do you call it?”

“What do you call…?” asks for the name of something. You can describe it, point to it or refer to something you both know.

Another useful option is “What’s the word for…?”:

“What’s the word for someone who repairs cars?”

You don’t need to memorise every version. Choose a question you feel comfortable using, and practise giving enough information for someone to answer it.

3. CONTINUE: finish what you wanted to say

Once you’ve been understood, return to your message. You might still need to make a request, explain a problem or agree on what happens next.

Here are two ways that can happen.

When the description is enough

You’re staying with a friend and can’t remember drying rack:

You: “Where’s the… I can’t think of the word. The thing you hang wet clothes on indoors?”

Your friend: “It’s in the spare room.”

You: “Thanks. Can I use it? My clothes are still wet.”

Your friend understood the description. You continued with your request, and neither of you needed to stop and name the object.

When someone helps you find the word

You’re discussing deliveries with a colleague:

You: “We need to update the… I can’t remember the word. The plan showing when each delivery is due.”

Your colleague: “The delivery schedule?”

You: “Yes, the delivery schedule. We need to update it before Friday because two dates have changed.”

Repeating the suggested word confirms it. The rest of your reply completes your contribution.

If the suggested word doesn’t fit, say so and add a clue:

“Not quite. I mean the one that shows…”

You can keep the conversation moving while still making sure the other person understands the right thing.

4. Useful phrases: small changes that matter

To ask for a name, use “what”.

For this meaning, ask “What is it called?” or “What do you call this?” rather than “How is it called?” or “How do you call this?”

When a word won’t come, “can’t” often sounds more natural.

“I don’t remember the word” is possible, but “I can’t remember the word” or “I can’t think of the word” often sounds more natural when the problem is happening at that moment. If you’ve never learnt it, “I don’t know the word in English” explains the situation.

“You know what I mean?” is natural in informal conversation.

The full question is “Do you know what I mean?” Both can check whether someone is following you, but neither replaces a clear explanation. Describe what you mean first.

5. Practise finishing the message

Choose something you might need to talk about this week. Imagine you can’t remember its English name. Describe it aloud, then finish the request or explanation you wanted to make.

Try these two situations before reading the examples.

At work: You need the latest quotation to check a price. Explain which document you want without using that word. If your partner supplies it, use it to finish your request.

One possible exchange:

“Could you send me the document with the price you’re offering for this order?”

“The quotation?”

“Yes, the quotation. I need to check the price before we confirm.”

In a café: You need a socket to charge your laptop. Explain what you’re looking for, then continue even if nobody gives you the word.

One possible exchange:

“Is there somewhere I can plug in my laptop?”

“Yes, under that table.”

“Thanks. Is it OK if I sit there? I need to charge it.”

If you practise with someone else, swap roles. Sometimes they can suggest the word; sometimes they can simply respond to your description. In both cases, finish your message.

Quick reference

Remember: “What is it called?”, not “How is it called?”

Asking for clarification helps when you don’t understand someone else. Describing a missing word helps when the difficulty is expressing your own idea. In both cases, the goal is the same: keep the conversation moving.

So when a word won’t come, describe what you mean, ask for help if you need it, and then continue with what you wanted to say.

If you’d like to practise with situations from your work or everyday life, book a free 20-minute trial lesson. We can work on explaining your ideas clearly and keeping the conversation going.