5 Phrases That Cause Misunderstandings in Cross-Cultural Communication

Cross-cultural communication is notoriously (= “famously” but in a negative way) tricky and nuanced. Misunderstandings can arise from seemingly simple expressions like “I’m ok” or “Yes.”

In this article, we will examine 5 common phrases and how their interpretations vary (= differ) across cultures.

1. “I’m ok”

While in many European countries “I’m ok” is used as a polite and friendly response to “How are you?”, in the US this phrase often shows disengagement and lack of enthusiasm. Let’s compare how this phrase may be perceived (= understood) in different cultural contexts:

Europe: Hey, how are you this morning? I’m ok. (= I’m actually doing well)

The US: Hey, how are you this morning? I’m ok. (= I’m not doing too well but don’t want to talk about it)

Takeaway: Avoid using “I’m ok” as a response to “How is it going?” or “How are you?”. Instead, use phrases that convey enthusiasm such as “Pretty good!” or “I’m doing great!”, etc.

Tip: In the US, it is common to use “I’m ok” to politely decline help. For example:

Do you want Lucy to help you?

No, I’m ok. Just need a few days to get everything ready.

2. “I’m not sure”

While in most European and Asian countries “I’m not sure” literally means what it says (“I’m not certain” or “I need more time”), in the US this phrase can also be a polite way of disagreeing or expressing hesitation. It can indicate that someone isn’t on board with (= doesn’t agree with) an idea but doesn’t want to confront the issue directly. Compare:

Europe: This feature should be enough to solve the issue, right? - I’m not sure (= I need more time and information to decide, I’m not certain right now)

The US: This feature should be enough to solve the issue, right? I’m not sure (= I don’t think so, I disagree)

Takeaway: Don’t take the phrase “I’m not sure” too literally. For example, if your American client says “I’m not sure about this”, ask them follow-up questions instead of assuming they need more time to give you a “real” answer.

3. “We’ll get in touch soon”

How soon is soon? Different cultures and even different individuals have varying concepts of what “soon” means. For instance, in Germany or the US “soon” is likely to mean “a few days” while in Latin America it may stand for “a few weeks”.

The issue gets even more complicated with “implicit” cultures where context is not discussed directly. For example, an Indian company rep saying “We’ll get in touch soon” may mean “We’ll follow up, but only when the time is right or if we hear from you again”.

Takeaway: Always quantify what you mean by “soon”, especially when communicating cross-culturally. For example:

We will get in touch with you soon, within 2–3 business days

Conversely (= on the other hand), don’t be shy to ask clarifying questions to find out what others mean by “soon”. For example:

We will follow up with you soon. - Sure! Just to clarify, are we talking about a few days or more like a week?

4. “Yes”

This simple phrase has proven to be a common stumbling block in cross-cultural relationships. While in direct cultures such as the U.S. or the Netherlands “Yes” is a straightforward confirmation of agreement or understanding, in many Asian cultures such as India, the word “Yes” may be laced with (= full of) nuance. For example:

The Netherlands: Can we complete this by Friday? - Yes, no problem (= “yes” literally means what it says, this is a commitment to complete something by the agreed time)

India: Can we complete this by Friday? - Yes (= we actually can’t, but I don’t want to seem unprofessional or get into a disagreement)

Takeaway: Ask clarifying questions to give you an understanding if someone actually means “yes” when they say it.

For example, if you’re leading a tech team, you may ask your developers “So, how are you going to solve this problem? Give me an approximate step-by-step plan you have in mind. How long will each step take you?”

5. “Nothing special”

This phrase often causes miscommunication in Eastern European vs. American relationships. In Eastern Europe “Nothing special” means something that’s “alright” or just “regular”. On the other hand, in the US this phrase may come off as standoffish (= unfriendly) or even offensive. For example:

Eastern Europe: So, how was the conference? - It was nothing special. (= It was alright, just not mindblowing)

The US: So, how was the conference? - It was nothing special. (= It was a waste of time)

Takeaway: As a general rule of thumb, use positive language when communicating with North Americans. For instance, when describing something that’s good (but not awesome), say “It’s alright”, “It’s pretty good”, or “It’s decent”.

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