Business English for Negotiations

Why English matters in business negotiations

In a negotiation, every sentence carries a commitment. "We can deliver in April" and "We could probably deliver in April" are two very different promises, and the difference is one word. Professionals who negotiate in English without controlling this distinction either commit to more than they intended, or sound so vague that the other side stops trusting the offer.

The second reason is pace. A negotiation is a conversation with pauses, silences and returns to earlier points. If you need ten seconds to build each sentence, you lose the ability to react — and reacting is most of the work. That is why fixed expressions matter more here than in almost any other professional situation: they free your attention for the numbers and the conditions.

For Moroccan professionals negotiating with clients or suppliers abroad, there is a third factor: the same deal is often discussed in French internally and in English externally. Translating French commercial formulas directly into English usually produces sentences that are either far too formal or accidentally rude.

Essential phrases for starting a negotiation

The opening sets the frame: what you are discussing, in what order, and how much time you have. It costs thirty seconds and prevents most misunderstandings.

• "Thanks for making the time. Shall we start with the volumes and then move to pricing?"
• "Before we get into numbers, can I check what matters most to you here?"
• "Let me summarise where we are, so we start from the same point."
• "We have about forty minutes — is that enough to cover both points?"
• "Our goal today is to agree on the delivery schedule, if possible."

Making offers

Offers in English are almost always built with conditionals. The pattern "If you…, we can/could…" keeps the offer linked to what you receive in exchange, which is exactly what a negotiation is.

• "If you can commit to twelve months, we can hold the current price."
• "We'd be able to reduce the unit price if the order goes above 500 pieces."
• "What we can offer is a 5% discount on the first order."
• "One option would be to split the payment into two instalments."
• "Would it help if we handled the shipping ourselves?"

Asking for better terms

Asking for more is normal and expected. What determines whether it sounds professional is not the request but the reason attached to it: an ask with a justification invites a counter-offer, an ask without one invites a refusal.

• "Is there any flexibility on the price?"
• "That's slightly above the budget we've been given. Could we look at 90?"
• "We'd need a longer payment term to make this work — 60 days rather than 30."
• "Is that your best offer, or is there room to move?"
• "If we increase the volume, what could you do on the unit price?"

Agreeing and disagreeing professionally

English-language business culture softens disagreement almost systematically. "No, that is not possible" is grammatically correct and commercially expensive. The safe pattern is: acknowledge, then state your position, then offer a direction.

• "That works for us." / "We're comfortable with that."
• "I see where you're coming from, but that timeline is difficult for us."
• "I'm afraid we can't go that low — here's what we can do instead."
• "I'd rather not commit to that today. Can I come back to you tomorrow?"
• "We're close. The only open point is the delivery date."

Clarifying conditions

Most disputes after a deal come from a condition that was mentioned once and never confirmed. Clarifying questions are cheap; renegotiating an invoice is not.

• "Just to be clear: does that price include delivery?"
• "When you say 'end of the month', do you mean the 30th or the last working day?"
• "Is the discount for the first order only, or for all orders this year?"
• "What happens if the volumes are lower than planned?"
• "Can you confirm that in writing so we both have the same version?"

Negotiating prices

Price language in English is short and numeric. Long explanations before a number weaken it; a number followed by one reason is stronger than a paragraph.

• "Our standard rate is 1,200 per unit."
• "That's more than we budgeted for."
• "We could meet you at 1,100 if the payment is upfront."
• "Let's split the difference."
• "For that price we'd have to reduce the scope — one report instead of three."

Reaching an agreement

Whoever summarises the agreement usually controls what it says. This is the safest part of the negotiation to practise, because the sentences are short and predictable.

• "So, to confirm: 1,100 per unit, 500 units, delivery on 15 May, payment at 45 days."
• "Are we agreed on that?"
• "I'll send a written summary this afternoon for you to confirm."
• "Who signs on your side, and what do you need from us?"
• "Pleasure doing business with you — I'll follow up with the contract."

Useful vocabulary

• terms and conditions — the rules of the agreement
• lead time — the time between order and delivery
• unit price / total value — price per item versus the whole deal
• payment terms — when and how you pay (upfront, 30/60 days)
• deposit — a part payment made in advance
• discount / rebate — a price reduction, immediate or later
• scope — exactly what is included in the deal
• deadline / delivery date — when it must arrive
• penalty clause — what happens if a condition is missed
• to compromise / to meet halfway — to move towards each other
• deal-breaker — the condition you cannot accept
• to close a deal — to finalise the agreement

Common mistakes Moroccan professionals make

• Translating French formality directly, which makes a simple offer sound heavy and unclear
• Using "I want" instead of "we would like" or "we'd need", which sounds abrupt in English
• Saying "yes" to signal understanding, which is read as acceptance of the offer
• Avoiding numbers until the end, leaving the other side to set the frame
• Skipping the written confirmation because the conversation felt clear
• Apologising before every request, which weakens the position without adding politeness

Practice tips

• Write your three key conditions in one English sentence each, before the call
• Prepare your walk-away point and the sentence you will use to state it
• Rehearse the conditional pattern out loud until "If you…, we could…" is automatic
• Record a two-minute mock offer and listen back once for clarity, not accent
• Role-play the hardest objection with a teacher who pushes back hard
• After every real negotiation, write the summary email in English yourself

What professionals say about Englify

• J’avais besoin d’améliorer mon anglais pour être plus à l’aise lors des réunions avec des partenaires internationaux. Les cours d’Englify sont très pratiques et directement liés à mon quotidien professionnel. J’ai rapidement gagné en confiance à l’oral.

  Amine — Project Manager, Casablanca

• Englify m’a vraiment aidée à améliorer mon anglais professionnel. Nous travaillons sur des situations réelles : présentations, réunions, échanges avec des clients et vocabulaire professionnel. Je me sens aujourd’hui beaucoup plus à l’aise dans mon environnement de travail.

  Lina — Marketing Specialist, Rabat

• Les cours sont parfaitement adaptés à mes besoins professionnels. Je voulais notamment améliorer ma communication avec des équipes internationales. Les exercices de conversation et les mises en situation m’ont beaucoup aidé à parler de manière plus naturelle et professionnelle.

  Omar — IT Manager, Casablanca

• J’ai choisi Englify pour améliorer mon anglais dans le cadre de mon travail. J’apprécie particulièrement l’approche personnalisée et le fait que les cours soient centrés sur des situations professionnelles concrètes. Une très bonne expérience.

  Sara — HR Manager, Marrakech

• Mon objectif était de pouvoir communiquer plus facilement avec des clients étrangers. Les cours d’Englify m’ont permis d’améliorer mon vocabulaire professionnel et surtout ma confiance lors des conversations. Je recommande vivement leurs cours de Business English.

  Mehdi — Sales Executive, Tanger

• Je cherchais une formation qui ne soit pas uniquement basée sur la grammaire. Avec Englify, nous avons beaucoup travaillé sur la communication et les situations que je rencontre réellement au travail. J’ai constaté une nette amélioration dans mes échanges professionnels.

  Nadia — Finance Professional, Casablanca

• Les cours d’Englify m’ont beaucoup aidé à préparer mes échanges avec des clients et partenaires internationaux. L’approche est dynamique, professionnelle et orientée vers la pratique. Je suis aujourd’hui beaucoup plus à l’aise pour défendre mes idées en anglais.

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• Une excellente expérience pour développer mon anglais professionnel. Les séances sont adaptées à mon niveau et à mes objectifs. Nous travaillons notamment sur les réunions, les présentations et la communication avec les clients, ce qui rend les cours très utiles au quotidien.

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• J’avais besoin d’un anglais plus professionnel pour développer mon activité à l’international. Englify m’a permis de travailler exactement sur les compétences dont j’avais besoin : parler avec des clients, présenter mes services et mener des discussions professionnelles avec plus de confiance.

  Anas — Entrepreneur, Agadir

• Ce que j’apprécie le plus chez Englify, c’est l’aspect pratique des cours. On ne se contente pas d’apprendre des règles : on apprend à communiquer efficacement dans des situations professionnelles réelles. Cela a vraiment amélioré ma confiance en anglais.

  Salma — Operations Manager, Casablanca

Frequently asked questions

What English level do I need to negotiate in English?

B1 is usually enough to handle a structured negotiation with prepared phrases, and B2 to argue and improvise comfortably. A free placement test confirms your level before a programme is built.

Is it rude to ask for a discount in English?

No. Asking is expected in commercial conversations. What matters is the wording: "Is there any flexibility on the price?" is normal, while a flat demand without a reason sounds abrupt.

Can Englify train negotiation English specifically?

Yes. Negotiation is one of the situations trained in Business English classes, through role-play built from the learner's real deals, clients and sector vocabulary.

How much do private Business English classes cost?

100 MAD per hour, with monthly plans from 500 MAD for 4 hours to 2,000 MAD for 20 hours. The trial class and level assessment are free.

Who teaches these classes?

All Englify private classes are taught by Moroccan teachers who are based in Morocco, live on Google Meet, and are available to learners anywhere in the country.

Explore more

• Business English in Morocco
• Private Business English classes
• Private English classes in Morocco
• English for meetings
• Professional emails in English
• English for customer service
• All English learning guides