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Getting Getting_Started

Talk about brands

Unit 11

  • I CAN name product categories
  • I CAN say which brands I prefer
Talk about brands
Speaking

Speaking

7 cards

Discussing which brands you like is a normal part of everyday conversation in English. Friends ask each other about phones, trainers, cars and coffee. In meetings, colleagues compare software tools and headphones. Being able to talk about your favourites — and to explain why you like them — is a very practical skill.

Below are six useful phrases. Each one can be combined with a brand name and a product category.

English phrase Arabic How to use it
"I'm a big fan of …" أنا من المعجبين بـ ... To show strong enthusiasm.
"My favourite brand is …" علامتي التجارية المفضلة هي ... To state a clear preference.
"I prefer … because …" أفضل ... لأن ... To compare two or more brands.
"I've been using … for years." أستخدم ... منذ سنوات. To show loyalty to a brand.
"I'm loyal to …" أنا مخلص لـ ... To stress that you never change brand.
"What brand do you use for …?" ما العلامة التجارية التي تستخدمها لـ ...؟ To ask about someone else's choice.

Putting the phrases together

A complete answer usually follows a simple pattern: category → brand → reason. For example:

  • "In terms of trainers, I prefer Nike because the quality is excellent."
  • "For coffee, my favourite brand is Lavazza. The flavour is so rich."
  • "When it comes to laptops, I've been using Lenovo for years. They're reliable."

You can also give more than one reason in a single answer. Joining words such as because, and, so, as well as and also help you add reasons without sounding repetitive: "I prefer Samsung because the cameras are great and the price is reasonable."

Asking about other people's brands

When you ask someone else, keep the question short and clear. "What brand do you use for headphones?" sounds more natural than "What is your favourite headphone brand?" You can also say "Have you tried …?" or "What do you think of …?" — these short questions are perfect openings for a friendly conversation about brands.

Polite ways to disagree

Sometimes you will not like the same brand as your friend. You do not need to be rude. Try soft phrases such as "I see your point, but …" or "That's fair, although I prefer …". These keep the conversation friendly while still sharing your own opinion.

Common brands to recognise

Here are some brands that come up often in British English conversation: Apple, Samsung, Google, Dyson (technology); Nike, Adidas, Primark, Marks & Spencer (clothing and trainers); Lavazza, Nespresso, Costa, Starbucks (coffee); Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Ford (cars). You do not need to like any of these — the point is to be able to talk about them confidently. If a friend mentions a brand you have never heard of, you can simply say: "I haven't tried that one yet — is it good?"

In the practice that follows, you will hear a short dialogue between two friends, repeat a key sentence out loud, and then hold your own short conversation with Tom. Try to use at least three of the phrases above.

Generating translation…

Listen to Emma and Tom chatting about their favourite brands. Pay attention to the phrases they use to give opinions and ask questions.

  1. E
    Emma Hi Tom! I just bought a new phone.
  2. T
    Tom Oh nice! Which brand did you go for this time?
  3. E
    Emma I chose Samsung. I'm a big fan of their cameras.
  4. T
    Tom I'm loyal to Apple, actually. I've had iPhones for years.
  5. E
    Emma That's fair. What do you like most about them?
  6. T
    Tom The quality, and how everything connects. But Samsung is great too.

I'm a big fan of Samsung because the cameras on their phones are excellent.

Notice the structure: phrase ('I'm a big fan of') + brand name + 'because' + reason. Use this pattern to extend your own answer.

Required

Read the sentence aloud. Focus on clear pronunciation of 'favourite' and the linking 'their'.

My favourite brand is Apple. I've been using their laptops for years.

Required

Read the sentence aloud. Try to join the two reasons smoothly with 'and'.

I prefer Adidas for running because the quality is excellent and the price is reasonable.

Required

You are chatting with Tom about brands. Mention at least one brand you prefer, explain why you like it, and ask Tom about his preferences. Try to use phrases such as 'I'm a big fan of…', 'I prefer… because…' and 'What brand do you use for…?'.

Required
Vocabulary

Vocabulary

6 cards

When you walk into a shop, browse an online store or watch a film on television, you are surrounded by brands. A brand is more than just a name printed on a product — it is a complete identity. A strong brand promises customers a certain level of quality, a particular style and a feeling of trust. Some brands, like Apple, Nike or Samsung, are recognised almost everywhere on Earth. Other brands are smaller and become popular in just one country, one city or one community. Even so, the vocabulary we use to discuss brands is the same. Mastering this small set of words will help you compare companies, understand marketing news and explain your own preferences clearly.

Here are eight essential words for talking about brands. Study the table carefully, then read the example sentences.

Word Part of speech Arabic Example
brand noun علامة تجارية Tesla is one of the most talked-about car brands in the world.
product noun منتج This skincare product is made from natural ingredients.
consumer noun مستهلك Modern consumers care a lot about where products are made.
loyal adjective وفي / مخلص He is a loyal customer of that little café in the market.
quality noun جودة The company is famous for the quality of its running shoes.
reputation noun سمعة The brand has built a strong reputation for excellent service.
launch verb يطلق They plan to launch a new range of laptops in May.
advertise verb يعلن / يروّج The company advertises during major sporting events.

Notice how these words connect to one another. A company launches a new product and then advertises it to attract new consumers. If the product has good quality, the brand's reputation improves, and consumers stay loyal for many years. This cycle is at the heart of every successful business and is the reason marketing teams spend so much time thinking about every small detail.

You will also use these words to talk about product categories — that is, the type of product, rather than a specific model. Common product categories include smartphones, trainers, cosmetics, soft drinks, cars, laptops, clothing, headphones, perfume and coffee. When you discuss brands, it is often a good idea to start from a category: "In terms of trainers, I prefer Adidas", or "For coffee, I always buy Lavazza", or "When it comes to smartphones, I have always been loyal to Apple." This pattern — category + brand + reason — is the natural way English speakers express their preferences.

One more useful point. The word brand can be both countable and uncountable in certain contexts. We say "a well-known brand" (singular) and "well-known brands" (plural). We also use it as a verb in business English, meaning "to attach a brand name to something": "The product is branded as a premium item." However, in everyday conversation the noun form is far more common, and that is the form to focus on first.

In the practice that follows, you will meet these words again in short tasks. Listen to the audio carefully, notice the pronunciation, and try to use each word in your own short sentence about a brand you know well.

الكلمات اللي قدامك دي كلها بتستخدم لما تتكلم عن عالم الشركات والمنتجات والتسويق. هي mix بين أسماء زي brand وproduct وconsumer وquality وreputation، وصفة واحدة هي loyal، وفعلين هما launch وadvertise.

نوع كل كلمة

  • brand (اسم): العلامة التجارية، زي Samsung أو Nike، ودي أهم كلمة في الـ set.
  • product (اسم): المنتج نفسه، أي حاجة الشركة بتبيعها.
  • consumer (اسم): المستهلك، يعني الشخص اللي بيشتري ويستخدم الـ product.
  • quality (اسم): الجودة، وبتوصف بيها مستوى المنتج.
  • reputation (اسم): السمعة، ودي اللي بتبني ثقة العميل في الشركة.
  • loyal (صفة): وفي أو مخلص، وبتنوصف بيها العميل اللي بيفضل يرجع لنفس البراند.
  • launch (فعل): يطلق، وبتنستخدم لما شركة بتنزّل منتج جديد في السوق.
  • advertise (فعل): يعلن أو يروّج، يعني بيعمل دعاية للمنتج.

الكلمات دي بتربط ببعض في cycle واحدة

في الـ business English، الكلمات دي مش بتيجي لوحدها، لأ دي بتمشي مع بعض في دورة معروفة:

  • الشركة بتـ launch منتج جديد.
  • وبعدين بتـ advertise عليه في التلفزيون والسوشيال ميديا.
  • لو الـ product جودته (quality) عالية، الـ reputation بتتحسن.
  • والـ consumers بيفضلوا loyal سنين طويلة، وده بيخلي البراند ينجح.

Pattern مهم جداً: category + brand + reason

لما تتكلم عن تفضيلاتك في الكلام اليومي، استخدم التركيب ده، لأنه الطبيعي عند الـ English speakers:

  • In terms of trainers, I prefer Adidas.
  • For coffee, I always buy Lavazza.
  • When it comes to smartphones, I have always been loyal to Apple.

كلمة brand كـ noun وكـ verb

كلمة brand بتنفع countable في أغلب الحالات: "a well-known brand" / "well-known brands". وكمان بتنفع verb في الـ business English بمعنى يحط اسم البراند على منتج، زي: "The product is branded as premium." بس في الكلام العادي، ركز على الـ noun الأول.

مثال كامل من الحياة

The company launched a new product last year and has been advertising it on social media ever since. Because of the high quality, consumers stay loyal and the brand's reputation keeps growing.

الجملة دي فيها تقريباً كل الكلمات اللي درسناها، وبتوضحلك إزاي الكلمات دي بتمشي مع بعض في سياق واحد. احفظ الـ cycle دي كويس، لأن أي كلام عن البراندات في الـ B2 level غالباً هيبقى جوّه نفس الـ framework ده.

Meet the eight key words for talking about brands. Tap each word to hear it, then read the example sentence.

  • advertise
    advertise ˈæd.və.taɪz
    to make a product, service, or event known to the public in order to encourage people to buy or take part. Als
  • brand
    brand brænd
    A type of product or service identified by a name, logo, or design that distinguishes it from others in the ma
  • consumer
    consumer kənˈsjuːmə
    A consumer is a person who buys goods and services for personal use.
  • launch
    launch lɔːntʃ
    To start or begin something, such as a project, product, or rocket, especially in a formal or public way.
  • loyal
    loyal ˈlɔɪəl
    Someone who is loyal shows firm and constant support or devotion to a person, group, or organization, and does
  • product
    product ˈprɒdʌkt
    A product is something that is made, grown, or created to be sold, often referring to goods produced by a comp
  • quality
    quality ˈkwɒləti
    The standard or level of excellence of something; a characteristic that describes what something is like.
  • reputation
    reputation ˌrɛpjʊˈteɪʃən
    The opinion or view that people in general have about someone or something; a widespread belief about the qual
Required

Match each word on the left with the correct definition on the right.

Match each word on the left with the correct definition on the right.

  • brand
  • product
  • consumer
  • loyal
  • quality
  • reputation
  • launch
  • advertise
  • a name that identifies a product made by a particular company
  • something that is made or grown to be sold or used
  • a person who buys and uses products
  • always buying from or supporting the same company
  • how good or bad something is, or its standard
  • the general opinion that people have about a company
  • to introduce a new product to the public for the first time
  • to tell people publicly about a product so they want to buy it

The company launched a new product last year and has been advertising it on social media ever since.

Notice the past simple 'launched' and the present perfect continuous 'has been advertising'. Both verbs describe a brand's activity over time.

Required

Listen carefully. What did the company do last month?

  • They closed a factory.
  • They launched a new product.
  • They bought another company.
Required

Which sentence uses the word 'consumer' correctly?

  • The consumer launched a new phone in March.
  • Consumers are asking for more sustainable packaging.
  • Our consumer is famous for the quality of its cameras.