Your Voice in Presentations
Sound clear, calm and confident when you present in English.
In a presentation, how you say something matters as much as what you say. Learn the words for pace, pauses and emphasis, and practical phrases to sound confident in English.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pace | Tempo | Slow your pace down at the beginning. |
| pause | Pause | A short pause gives your audience time to think. |
| emphasis | Betonung, Nachdruck | Put emphasis on the key numbers. |
| filler words | Füllwörter | Try to cut filler words like "um" and "you know". |
| to articulate | deutlich aussprechen | Articulate clearly, especially names and numbers. |
| to rush | hetzen, zu schnell sprechen | Don't rush when you're nervous. |
| nerves | Nervosität | Everyone has nerves before a presentation. |
| to vary your pitch | die Tonhöhe variieren | Vary your pitch to keep people interested. |
| eye contact | Blickkontakt | Make eye contact with different people. |
| delivery | Vortragsweise | Her content was good, but her delivery was flat. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to sound confident
- to slow down
- to stress the key word
- a dramatic pause
- to keep the audience's attention
- to speak from notes
- to end on a strong note
- to calm your nerves
"Pause after your main point – then end on a strong note."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Using your voice on purpose
- Here's the key point. (pause)
- This is really important.
- Let me say that again.
- So, to sum up…
Handling nerves
- Take a breath before you start.
- Slow down – it always feels slower to you than to them.
- Smile at the first sentence.
- If you lose your place, pause and check your notes.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- How do you feel before you present in English?
- Which speaker do you find easy to listen to? Why?
- Do you use filler words? Which ones?
- What could you try in your next presentation?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "Füllwörter" in English?
Filler words.
2. What does "to rush" mean when you speak?
To speak too quickly.
3. What is "delivery" in a presentation?
The way you present: your voice, pace and body language.
Explore More
More pages in the Voice & Singing series.
Present with confidence.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and enjoy using your voice in English.
Slow down. Pause. Stress the point.