1 Data

“Data” is information that can be stored on a computer. This word has the / eɪ / sound: data / deɪ.tə / For example, “We’ve been studying the data to find some patterns.” 
Note: in US English (mostly), this word can also be pronounced with the / æ / sound, and the “t” more like a / d / sound: data /dæ.də/

2 Money

“Money” refers to the coins (metal money) or bank notes (paper money) we use to buy things. This word has the weak / ʌ / sound, and the long / iː / sound at the end: money / mʌ.niː / For example, “We made a lot of money last year.”

3 Quote

A “quote” is a written document with the price that you want to charge for some work. This word has the / əʊ / sound: quote / kwəʊt / For example, “We need to send the client the quote.” 

4 Colleague

Your “colleague” is someone you work with. This word has the long / i: / sound: colleague / kɒ.liːɡ / For example, “I went out for a drink with a work colleague.”
Note: college (the school or university) has the much shorter / ɪ / sound: college / kɒ.lɪdʒ /

5 Area

An “area” of business is a specific part of it: marketing, sales, accounting, finance… This word has three syllables and the / eə / sound at the start: area / eə.riː.ə / For example, “This isn’t really our area of expertise.”

6 Finance

Someone who works in the “finance” department of a company manages the money. This word has the / aɪ / sound: finance / faɪ.næns / For example, “She works in the finance department.”

7 Director

A “director” is in charge of an activity, department or organization. This word has the / aɪ / sound at the start, and a weak schwa sound / ə / at the end: director / daɪ.rek.tə / For example, “She’s the financial director.”

8 Company

A “company” is a business organization that makes money by selling goods or services. The letter “o” is pronounced as the weak / ʌ / sound: company / kʌm.pə.niː / For example, “I’ve worked at this company for over 20 years!”

9 Discount

A “discount” is a reduction in the usual price of something.  This word has the stress on the first syllable: discount / dɪs.kaʊnt / For example, “We offered them a 10% discount if they agreed to sign the contract today.”

10 Schedule 

A “schedule” is a list of planned activities with the times or dates when they should happen. This word has several complicated sounds and two possible pronunciations: schedule / ske.dʒuːl / or schedule / ʃe.dʒuːl / For example, “They sent us the new production schedule.”

11 Product

A “product” is something that is made and sold by companies. The letter “o” in this word has the / ɒ / sound, and the letter “u” is pronounced with the weak / ʌ / sound: product / prɒ.dʌkt / For example, “We’re developing a new product.”

12 Guarantee

A “guarantee” is a written promise by a company to replace or repair a product free of charge. The letter “u” in this word is silent: guarantee / ɡæ.rən.tiː / For example, “This product comes with a 12-month guarantee.”

13 Business

A “business” is an organization which produces and sells goods or services. This word has several issues: the letter “u” is pronounced with an / ɪ / sound, and the letter “i” is silent: business / bɪz.nɪs /
Another issue is the plural form, which has the / ɪz / sound at the end: businesses / bɪz.nɪ.sɪz / For example, “We deal with several businesses in the local area.”

14 Percentage / percent

A “percentage” (%) is a fraction of a number or amount; we use the word “percent” after a specific number: 10%, 22%, 35%, etc. The letter “c” in these words is pronounced as an / s / sound: percentage / pə.sen.tɪdʒ / and / percent / pə.sent / For example, “Sales have increased by 25 percent this year.”

15 Supplier

A “supplier” is a person or company that sells goods or equipment to customers or other companies. This word has the weak schwa sound / ə /: supplier / sə.plaɪ.ə / For example, “This company is one of our main suppliers.”

16 Project

A “project” is a job or task that requires a lot of time and effort, and perhaps even a team. This word has the / dʒ / sound, which some students find difficult: project /prɒ.dʒekt / For example, “We started work on a new project.”

Click here for some exercises on these words!