First Day At Work: Meeting The New Team Member

What does “welcome aboard” mean in English?

“Welcome aboard!” is something people say when a new person joins a team, a company, or a project. In the video, a new employee named David joins a marketing team, and at the end his new colleagues say: “We’re happy to have you on the team. Welcome aboard!” The word “aboard” originally meant “on a ship.” Now it is used to mean “on the team” or “part of the group.”

This phrase comes from the world of ships and planes, where “aboard” means on the vessel. Over time, people started using it to welcome new team members — the idea is that the company is like a ship, and you are now a passenger. You will also hear “on board” in similar situations: “I’m glad you’re on board with this plan.” Both are common in workplaces, schools, and sports teams. The phrase is warm and friendly, not formal.