1
a
: used in or characteristic of familiar and informal conversation
In colloquial English, «kind of» is often used for «somewhat» or «rather.»
also
: unacceptably informal
b
: using conversational style
Did you know?
The noun colloquy was first used in English to refer to a conversation or dialogue, and when the adjective colloquial was formed from colloquy it had a similar focus. Over time, however, colloquial developed a more specific meaning related to language that is most suited to informal conversation—and it ultimately garnered an additional, disparaging implication of a style that seems too informal for a situation. Colloquy and colloquial trace back to the Latin verb colloqui, meaning «to converse.» Colloqui in turn was formed by combining the prefix com- («with») and loqui («to speak»). Other conversational descendants of loqui in English include circumlocution, eloquent, loquacious, soliloquy, and ventriloquism.
Synonyms
Example Sentences
But I think part of this pickle that we’re in—if I may be colloquial, even though I’m not running for office—is that we’ve lost their sense of responsibility.
—
Sarah Vowell, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2008
Langston was the merriest and the most colloquial of them all. «Best party I’ve ever been given!» he said.
—Gwendolyn Brooks, Booklist, 15 Oct. 1993
Mr. Salisbury’s firsthand account is written in a fast-paced, chaotic and colloquial style, which often feels confused and hastily set down.
—Susan Shapiro, New York Times Book Review, 10 Sept. 1989
Although in the circle of his friends, where he might be unreserved with safety, he took a free share in conversation, his colloquial talents were not above mediocrity, possessing neither copiousness of ideas, nor fluency of words.
—Thomas Jefferson, letter, 2 Jan. 1814
the new coworker’s rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way
a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
What Is the Grandfather Paradox? (Credit: Drawlab19/Shutterstock) Broadly speaking, the Grandfather Paradox is a colloquial term for just about any causality paradox.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2023
Ijames unpacks it all in a chili-and-cornbread combo of colloquial language and Shakespearean English, with characters that reflect an authentic Black experience.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2023
Of course because class exhibits heritability in the colloquial non-genetic sense in the Old World height was a strong tell as to one’s position in the status hierarchy.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2011
In his sprawling, colloquial narrative, history isn’t a sloppy progression but a nefarious plot serving capitalism’s theft of people’s labor and dignity.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 3 Mar. 2023
At times, lines that are meant to be conversational or colloquial feel rote or cliched.
—Carole V. Bell, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
When asked about the chat platform Discord, for example, ChatGPT returned text with words cut short, as if they were spoken in colloquial English.
—Ben Goggin, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2023
Allergies Allergies are defined as ‘hypersensitive immune responses’—or, in colloquial terms, odd moments when our immune systems flip out.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2013
That’s a colloquial name for beech blight aphids, a native insect that feeds in aggregations on beech.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘colloquial.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1751, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of colloquial was
in 1751
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Dictionary Entries Near colloquial
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colloquial. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on colloquial
Last Updated:
9 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
разговорный, нелитературный, разговорный язык
прилагательное
- разговорный (о языке, словах, выражениях)
- употребляющий разговорные слова и выражения
существительное
- лингв. разговорный язык
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful — очерк на тему «Ключ к успешному браку», написанный в разговорном стиле 
spoken / colloquial English — разговорный английский
colloquial expression — разговорный оборот
colloquial flavour — особенность разговорной речи
colloquial / informal language — язык неофициального общения, разговорный язык
colloquial phrase — разговорное выражение
colloquial form — разговорная форма
colloquial speech — разговорная речь
colloquial word — разговорное слово
popular / colloquial language — просторечие
colloquial language — разговорный язык
Примеры с переводом
She wrote her letters in a colloquial style.
Она писала свои письма простым разговорным языком.
Langston was the merriest and the most colloquial of them all. “Best party I’ve ever been given!” he said.
Лэнгстон был самый весёлый и самый разговорчивый из всех. — Это лучшая вечеринка, которую мне когда-либо устраивали! — сказал он.
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
…the new coworker’s rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way… 
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
colloquialism — коллоквиализм, разговорное слово, разговорное выражение
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
1751, from earlier term colloquy (“a conversation”), from Latin colloquium (“conference, conversation”), from con- (“together”) + loquor (“to speak”), + -al.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kəˈləʊ.kwɪəl/
- (General American) IPA(key): /kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/
- Hyphenation: col‧lo‧qui‧al
Adjective[edit]
colloquial (comparative more colloquial, superlative most colloquial)
- (linguistics) Characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.
-
You’re using too many colloquial words in this cover letter: I suggest changing «I picked up loads of cool skills» to «I acquired a great deal of positive abilities»
-
The colloquial and at times sarcastic tone of her books make her popular with teenagers.
-
- Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.
Usage notes[edit]
It is a common misconception that colloquial somehow denotes «local» or a word being «regional». This is not the case; the word root for colloquial is related to locution, not location. A more appropriate word for describing «local» or «regional» language is vernacular.
Note that while colloquy and colloquium refer to formal conversation, colloquial refers instead specifically to informal conversation (casual tone). This does not always mean spoken as opposed to written, but it always means informal as opposed to formal.
Synonyms[edit]
- casual
- colloq., coll.
Antonyms[edit]
- noncolloquial
Derived terms[edit]
[edit]
- colloquium
- colloquy
Translations[edit]
of oral communication language
- Arabic: (Eastern Arabic) عَامِّيّ (ʕāmmiyy), (Western Arabic) دَارِج (dārij)
- Armenian: խոսակցական (hy) (xosakcʿakan)
- Belarusian: размо́ўны (razmóŭny)
- Bulgarian: разгово́рен (bg) (razgovóren)
- Catalan: col·loquial
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 口語／口语 (zh) (kǒuyǔ)
- Czech: hovorový (cs)
- Danish: dagligsprogs-
- Dutch: gemeenzaam (nl), idiomatisch (nl), van de spreektaal, informeel (nl)
- Estonian: kõnekeelne (et), argikeelne
- Finnish: puhekielinen (fi)
- French: familier (fr), parlé (fr)
- Galician: coloquial
- Georgian: სალაპარაკო (salaṗaraḳo), სალაპარაკო ენა (salaṗaraḳo ena), სასაუბრო (ka) (sasaubro), სასაუბრო ენა (sasaubro ena)
- German: umgangssprachlich (de), Umgangs- (de) (noun prefix)
- Greek: κοινολεκτικός (el) (koinolektikós), δημώδης (el) (dimódis), καθομιλούμενος (kathomiloúmenos)
- Ancient Greek: λεκτικός (lektikós)
- Hungarian: köznyelvi (hu), társalgási, kötetlen (hu), fesztelen (hu), hétköznapi (hu)
- Interlingua: colloquial
- Japanese: 口語体 (こうごたい, kōgotai), 話し言葉の (はなしことばの, hanashikotoba no), 口語の (ja) (こうごの, kōgo no)
- Korean: 구어(口語)의 (gueo-ui), 구어체(口語體)의 (gueoche-ui)
- Luxembourgish: ëmgangssproochlech (lb)
- Macedonian: разговорен (razgovoren)
- Norwegian: hverdagslig
- Persian: عامیانه (fa) (‘âmmiyâne)
- Persian: عامیانه (fa) (‘âmmiyâne)
- Polish: kolokwialny (pl), potoczny (pl), obiegowy (pl), swobodny (pl)
- Portuguese: coloquial (pt)
- Romanian: colocvial (ro), familiar (ro)
- Russian: разгово́рный (ru) (razgovórnyj), неформа́льный (ru) (neformálʹnyj), нелитерату́рный (ru) (neliteratúrnyj)
- Slovak: hovorový
- Slovene: pogovorni
- Spanish: coloquial (es), familiar (es)
- Swedish: vardaglig (sv)
- Thai: ภาษาปาก (th) (paa-sǎa-bpàak), ซึ่งปาก
- Ukrainian: розмо́вний (rozmóvnyj), просторі́чний (prostoríčnyj)
- Vietnamese: thông tục (vi), bình dân (vi)
See also[edit]
- argot
- slang
- vernacular
Noun[edit]
colloquial (plural colloquials)
- A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism
[edit]
- colloquialism
Colloquial language is casual and conversational: it’s the difference between «What are you going to do?» and «Whatchagonnado?»
The word colloquial comes from the Latin word colloquium, which means «speaking together.» The roots are the prefix com-, which means «together,» and the suffix -loqu, which means «speak.» Some may think that colloquial language is not good, when in fact it may just not be appropriate for the context. While it is OK to be colloquial and chatty with friends, it is not acceptable to be colloquial in an essay for school or work.
Definitions of colloquial
-
adjective
characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
“wrote her letters in a
colloquial style”-
synonyms:
conversational
-
informal
used of spoken and written language
-
informal
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WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023
col•lo•qui•al /kəˈloʊkwiəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
- characteristic of or suitable to familiar conversation, rather than formal writing;
informal:colloquial style; colloquial expressions.
col•lo•qui•al•ly, adv.
- colloquial, conversational, informal refer to types of speech or to usages that are not on a formal level. The word colloquial is often mistakenly used as if it had the sense of disapproval, or as if it referred to «vulgar» or «bad» or «incorrect» usage, but it simply describes a casual or familiar style used in speaking and writing: colloquial expressions. conversational refers to a style used in speech, in simple meetings between two speakers: The newsletter was written in an easy conversational style. informal means without formality, without strict attention to set forms, and it describes the ordinary, everyday language of cultivated speakers: informal English.See -loq-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023
col•lo•qui•al
(kə lō′kwē əl),USA pronunciation adj.
- characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing;
informal. - involving or using conversation.
- colloquy + —al1 1745–55
col•lo′qui•al•ly, adv.
col•lo′qui•al•ness, col•lo′qui•al′i•ty, n.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Colloquial, conversational, informal refer to types of speech or to usages not on a formal level.
Colloquial is often mistakenly used with a connotation of disapproval, as if it meant «vulgar» or «bad» or «incorrect» usage, whereas it is merely a familiar style used in speaking and writing.
Conversational refers to a style used in the oral exchange of ideas, opinions, etc.:an easy conversational style.Informal means without formality, without strict attention to set forms, unceremonious:an informal manner of speaking;
it describes the ordinary, everyday language of cultivated speakers.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged formal.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
colloquial /kəˈləʊkwɪəl/ adj
- of or relating to conversation
- denoting or characterized by informal or conversational idiom or vocabulary
colˈloquially adv colˈloquialness n
‘colloquial‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
colloquial
not formal or literary; belonging to or typical of ordinary or familiar language
Not to be confused with:
colloquium – an academic conference or seminar
colloquy – the act of conversing; a conversation
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
col·lo·qui·al
(kə-lō′kwē-əl)
adj.
1. Characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech; informal.
2. Relating to conversation; conversational.
col·lo′qui·al n.
col·lo′qui·al·ly adv.
col·lo′qui·al·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
colloquial
(kəˈləʊkwɪəl)
adj
1. (Linguistics) of or relating to conversation
2. (Linguistics) denoting or characterized by informal or conversational idiom or vocabulary. Compare informal
colˈloquially adv
colˈloquialness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
col•lo•qui•al
(kəˈloʊ kwi əl)
adj.
1. characteristic of or suitable to ordinary or familiar conversation or writing rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
2. involving or using conversation.
col•lo′qui•al•ly, adv.
col•lo′qui•al•ness, col•lo`qui•al′i•ty, n.
syn: colloquial, conversational, informal refer to types of speech or to usages that are not on a formal level. colloquial is often mistakenly used with a connotation of disapproval, as if it meant “vulgar” or “bad” or “incorrect” usage, whereas it merely describes a casual or familiar style used in speaking and writing: colloquial expressions. conversational refers to a style used in the oral exchange of ideas, opinions, etc.: The newsletter was written in an easy conversational style. informal means without formality, without strict attention to set forms, unceremonious; it describes the ordinary, everyday language of cultivated speakers: informal English.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
colloquial
Used to describe words or expressions that are found in everyday speech.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Adj. | 1. | colloquial — characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation; «wrote her letters in a colloquial style»; «the broken syntax and casual enunciation of conversational English»
informal — used of spoken and written language |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
colloquial
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
colloquial
adjective
In the style of conversation:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
عامّي، دارِج
hovorový
daglidags-dagligdagshverdags-kollokvialtalesprogs-
kötetlen társalgási nyelvi
talmáls-
paprastai sakantšnekamosios kalbõsšnekamosios kalbos žodis/posakis
sarunu-
konuşma diline ait
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
colloquial
[kəˈləʊkwiəl] adj [language, speech] → familier/ière; [term, sense] → familier/ière; [English] → parlé(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
colloquial
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
colloquial
(kəˈləukwiəl) adjective
of or used in everyday informal, especially spoken, language. a colloquial expression.
colˈloquially adverbcolˈloquialism noun
an expression used in colloquial language.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
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educalingo
I tended to emphasize the secular, the casual, the colloquial, the vernacular against the sacred.
David Antin
PRONUNCIATION OF COLLOQUIAL
GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF COLLOQUIAL
Colloquial is an adjective.
The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.
WHAT DOES COLLOQUIAL MEAN IN ENGLISH?
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word, phrase or other form used in informal language. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier. Colloquialism is related to, but not the same as slang. Some colloquial speech contains a great deal of slang, but some contains no slang at all. Slang is permitted in colloquial language, but it is not a necessary element. Other examples of colloquial usage in English include contractions or profanity. Colloquial language is a variety of language commonly employed in conversation or other communication in informal situations. Colloquial language is distinct from formal speech or formal writing. It is the variety of language that speakers typically use when they are relaxed and not especially self-conscious. In the philosophy of language the term «colloquial language» refers to ordinary natural language, as distinct from specialized forms used in logic or other areas of philosophy. In the field of logical atomism, meaning is evaluated in a different way than with more formal propositions.
Definition of colloquial in the English dictionary
The definition of colloquial in the dictionary is of or relating to conversation.
WORDS THAT RHYME WITH COLLOQUIAL
Synonyms and antonyms of colloquial in the English dictionary of synonyms
SYNONYMS OF «COLLOQUIAL»
The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «colloquial» and belong to the same grammatical category.
Translation of «colloquial» into 25 languages
TRANSLATION OF COLLOQUIAL
Find out the translation of colloquial to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of colloquial from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «colloquial» in English.
Translator English — Chinese
口语的
1,325 millions of speakers
Translator English — Spanish
coloquial
570 millions of speakers
Translator English — Hindi
बोलचाल
380 millions of speakers
Translator English — Arabic
العامية
280 millions of speakers
Translator English — Russian
разговорный
278 millions of speakers
Translator English — Portuguese
coloquial
270 millions of speakers
Translator English — Bengali
চলিত
260 millions of speakers
Translator English — French
familier
220 millions of speakers
Translator English — Malay
Bahasa sehari-hari
190 millions of speakers
Translator English — Japanese
口語の
130 millions of speakers
Translator English — Korean
구어체의
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Javanese
Coro
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Vietnamese
thân mật
80 millions of speakers
Translator English — Tamil
பேச்சுவழக்கு
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Marathi
संभाषण
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Turkish
konuşma diline ait
70 millions of speakers
Translator English — Italian
familiare
65 millions of speakers
Translator English — Polish
potoczny
50 millions of speakers
Translator English — Ukrainian
розмовний
40 millions of speakers
Translator English — Romanian
colocvial
30 millions of speakers
Translator English — Greek
καθομιλουμένης
15 millions of speakers
Translator English — Afrikaans
volksmond
14 millions of speakers
Translator English — Swedish
vardagligt
10 millions of speakers
Translator English — Norwegian
dagligdagse
5 millions of speakers
Trends of use of colloquial
TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «COLLOQUIAL»
The term «colloquial» is quite widely used and occupies the 46.023 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «colloquial» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of colloquial
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «colloquial».
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «COLLOQUIAL» OVER TIME
The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «colloquial» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «colloquial» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.
Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about colloquial
9 QUOTES WITH «COLLOQUIAL»
Famous quotes and sentences with the word colloquial.
When I started writing seriously in high school, English was the language I had at my disposal — my Spanish was domestic, colloquial, and not particularly literary or sophisticated.
I tended to emphasize the secular, the casual, the colloquial, the vernacular against the sacred.
You have to be careful not to use anything too colloquial or you date the book.
I will never forget the pleasure and instruction I derived from working with a true master of his art, such as Edward G. Robinson was — and is. Surely his record for versatility, studied characterization — ranging from modern colloquial to the classics — and artistic integrity is unsurpassed.
I think that a classic style in writing tends to remove the reader one level from the immediacy of the experience. For any normal reader, I think a colloquial style makes him feel more as though he is within the action, instead of just reading about it.
I write in a slangy colloquial speech that has not been common in the Israeli tradition of writing, and that is one of the things that gets lost a little in translation.
When I was in college, I did do some writing of poetry, somewhat inspired, I think at that time, by Carl Sandburg, because English was still relatively new to me, and Sandburg, of course, wrote in a very easy-to-understand, very colloquial and informal manner.
Colloquial poetry is to the real art as the barber’s wax dummy is to sculpture.
Country music originates with the colloquial, rural aspects of white America. It’s really, truly, rural white America’s blues.
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «COLLOQUIAL»
Discover the use of colloquial in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to colloquial and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Colloquial Greek: The Complete Course for Beginners
This second edition of Colloquial Greek has been completely revised and updated to make learning Greek easier and more enjoyable than ever before.
2
Colloquial Persian: The Complete Course for Beginners
Written by an experienced teacher of the language, this new edition of Colloquial Persian offers an up-to-date, step-by-step approach to the written and spoken language of Iran, also known as Farsi.
3
Colloquial Icelandic: The Complete Course for Beginners
2×60-minute CDs featuring dialogues from the accompanying book. Designed to help improve pronunciation and listening skills.
4
Colloquial Cambodian: A Complete Language Course
This programme offers a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Cambodian in a broad range of everyday situations.
5
Colloquial Tamil: The Complete Course for Beginners
Colloquial Tamil is easy to use and completely up to date.
R. E. Asher, E. Annamalai, 2002
6
Colloquial Kansai Japanese: The Dialects and Culture of the …
With clear explanations of grammar, a Kansai-ben dictionary, and a helpful index, Colloquial Kansai Japanese is an indispensable guide to the rich speech of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.
D. C. Palter, Kaoru Slotsve, 2006
7
Colloquial Albanian: The Complete Course for Beginners
Course components: The complete course comprises the book and audio materials. These are available to purchase separately in paperback, eBook, CD and MP3 format.
Linda Mëniku, Hector Campos, 2012
8
Colloquial Korean: A Complete Language Course
This accessible coursebook in modern Korean pays particular attention to the Korean writing system. The course has been written by an author who has taught the language in both Korea and the United States.
Andrew Inseok Kim, In-Seok Kim, 1996
Course components: The complete course comprises the book and audio materials. These are available to purchase separately in paperback, ebook, CD and MP3 format.
Bingzheng Tong, David E. Pollard, 1982
10
Colloquial and Literary Latin
This book sets out to answer such questions, beginning with examinations of how the term ‘colloquial’ has been used by linguists and by classicists (and how its Latin equivalents were used by the Romans) and continuing with exciting new …
Eleanor Dickey, Anna Chahoud, 2010
10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «COLLOQUIAL»
Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term colloquial is used in the context of the following news items.
The ‘Wisdom of Crowds’ Is Not That Wise
The “wisdom of crowds” is a colloquial way of describing the market as a complex system. The work on wisdom of crowds shows that when … «Bloomberg View, Jul 15»
14 Email Etiquette Rules Every Professional Should Know
Don’t use laid-back, colloquial expressions like, «Hey you guys,» «Yo,» or «Hi folks.» «The relaxed nature of our writings should not affect the … «POPSUGAR, Jul 15»
Navin gets Anirudh, Imman and GV Prakash for Vil Ambu
«The lead’s character is that of a local boy and the song had colloquial words in the lyrics. And, Anirudh does such songs very well. «Times of India, Jul 15»
The Raiders of Ruta 7
… a tranquil place for a self-imposed exile, and to perfect my colloquial Spanish in an environment free of other foreigners. In doing so, I discovered raid culture. «Roads and Kingdoms, Jul 15»
Don’t obsess with data and give us creative control, Singapore …
Unable to execute Javascript. Some clients, Ryan Chan suggested, do not want content that contains Singlish, colloquial Singaporean English. «Mumbrella Asia, Jul 15»
Flashed Yesterday: Arre! UDigital announces brand name
Arré is one of the most commonly spoken words across India – a friendly, Indian colloquial term that is popularly understood as ‘Hey’. While its … «Best Media Info, Jul 15»
The Motherf**ker With the Hat is a Motherf**king Powerful Play
What had me clapping with more vigour than usual was the play’s honest account laid out in raw and colloquial dialogue of adults trying to cope … «Huffington Post UK, Jul 15»
The Impact of King v. Burwell on “Applicable Large Employers”
So—at least in a colloquial sense—the real issue before the Court was the extent to which it is the Court’s job to fix Congress’ mistakes. «The National Law Review, Jul 15»
The Monster in the Maze, Barbican London, review: Jonathan …
It’s the story of the Minotaur with a cheerful twist; in Alasdair Middleton’s colloquial libretto, Minos is portrayed as a pantomime villain, there’s … «The Independent, Jul 15»
New Computer Learning System Can Recognize Irony And Sarcasm
Seeing that the contents mostly used colloquial, everyday language, Saig further expressed that «the content could provide a good database for … «Tech Times, Jul 15»
REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Colloquial [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/colloquial>. Apr 2023 ».
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Asked by: Korey Jaskolski
Score: 4.9/5
(51 votes)
Colloquialism or colloquial language is the linguistic style used for casual communication. It is the most common functional style of speech, the idiom normally employed in conversation and other informal contexts.
What are examples of colloquial words?
English Colloquialism Examples
- Ace — word to describe something excellent.
- Anorak — someone who is a little bit of a geek with expertise usually in an obscure niche.
- Blimey — exclamation of surprise.
- Bloke — a regular man or «guy»
- Boot — the trunk of a car.
- Brilliant — something that’s really great.
- Brolly — an umbrella.
What is the meaning of colloquial and examples?
The definition of colloquial refers to words or expressions used in ordinary language by common people. An example of colloquial is casual conversation where some slang terms are used and where no attempt is made at being formal. … Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.
What does colloquialism mean?
colloquialism Add to list Share. … Colloquialism comes from the Latin word colloquium meaning «conference, conversation,» or literally «a speaking together.» When you talk, colloquialisms are so common, you might not be aware you are using them — that is, until one comes up that is unfamiliar to someone in the group.
Does colloquial mean slang?
Colloquial language includes slang, along with abbreviations, contractions, idioms, turns-of-phrase, and other informal words and phrases known to most native speakers of a language or dialect. Jargon is terminology that is explicitly defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, or group.
35 related questions found
Is Guy is a colloquial word?
(colloquial) A form of address for a group of male persons or a group of mixed male and female persons. Hi guys! Plural form of guy. (colloquial) Persons, irrespective of their genders.
What does bloody mean in England?
In British slang, bloody means something like “very.” That’s bloody brilliant! Things that are literally bloody have blood on them or are made of blood. … To bloody something is to cover it in blood: «I will bloody your nose if you say that again!» It comes from the Old English blodig, from blod, or «blood.»
Is Stress is a colloquial word?
Is stress a colloquial word? Answer. Answer: stress is the colloquial word among the all four mentioned above.
Why is colloquial language used?
Colloquial language is used in informal writing situations and creates a conversational tone. Everyday spoken language gives your writing a casual, relaxed effect. Colloquial language is not necessarily “wrong,” but it is used when a writer is trying to achieve informality.
How do you use colloquial in a sentence?
Colloquial sentence example
- His colloquial talents were indeed of the highest order. …
- The merchant families of Iannina are well educated; the dialect spoken in that town is the purest specimen of colloquial Greek. …
- His sermons were colloquial , simple, full of conviction and point.
How do you identify colloquial words?
Words can be colloquialism examples if they demonstrate the regional dialect of the speaker, or it they are contractions or examples of profanity. Phrases and aphorisms are colloquialisms if they aren’t literal usages, yet are widely understand within a geographical boundary.
What does Cervine mean in English?
: of, relating to, or resembling deer.
What are some old slang words?
50 Vintage Slang Words That Sound Hilarious Today
- Wisenheimer.
- Knuckle sandwich.
- Arf’arf’an’arf.
- Ducky shincracker.
- Khaki wacky.
- Sockdolager.
- Applesauce.
- Gigglemug.
What are inappropriate colloquialisms?
Colloquialisms are slang, informal, or localized language. When writing formal papers, both clichés and colloquialisms are inappropriate. Eliminating them requires changing habits. Examples of inappropriate phrases: “She was running around like a chicken with her head cut off. “ (
What are colloquialisms in writing?
Colloquialisms are words and expressions that become commonplace within a specific language, geographic region, or historical era. Authors use colloquialisms to give personality and authenticity to their characters.
Is stuff is a colloquial word?
Informal. one’s trade, skill, field, facts, etc.: She knows her stuff. Slang. any kind of drug, especially an illicit one.
What does Guy mean in slang?
guy Add to list Share. A guy is a dude, a boy, a man, or really anybody. It’s an informal way to refer to a person, especially a male.
What are stress words?
Word stress is the emphasis we place in a specific syllable of a word when pronouncing it. … In English words that have more than one syllable, we usually don’t pronounce every syllable with the same weight, so each syllable in a word can be stressed or unstressed.
Is bloody a bad word in England?
“Bloody” is no longer Britain’s most commonly used swear word, while the number of uttered expletives has dropped by more than a quarter in 20 years, a study has found. Bloody is a common swear word that is considered to be milder and less offensive than other, more visceral alternatives.
Is Frick a swear word?
Frick isn’t a swear word. I know there are certain individuals who think c r a p is a swear word (even though it really isn’t), but “frick” isn’t a swear word by any sense of the meaning of “swear word”. No one is going to get offended by someone saying “frick”.
Why do the English use the word bloody?
Origin. Use of the adjective bloody as a profane intensifier predates the 18th century. Its ultimate origin is unclear, and several hypotheses have been suggested. … The Oxford English Dictionary prefers the theory that it arose from aristocratic rowdies known as «bloods», hence «bloody drunk» means «drunk as a blood».
What is a colloquial metaphor?
a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech. Metaphorverb. (intransitive) To use a metaphor. Colloquialismnoun. a word or phrase that is not formal or literary and is used in ordinary or familiar conversation.
What is the opposite of colloquial language?
(formal) Opposite of used in or suitable for everyday conversation rather than formal or official contexts. formal. literary. bookish. learned.
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[ kuh—loh-kwee-uhl ]
/ kəˈloʊ kwi əl /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
involving or using conversation.
QUIZ
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Which sentence is correct?
Origin of colloquial
First recorded in 1745–55; colloquy + -al1
synonym study for colloquial
1, 2. Colloquial, conversational, informal refer to types of speech or to usages not on a formal level. Colloquial is often mistakenly used with a connotation of disapproval, as if it meant “vulgar” or “bad” or “incorrect” usage, whereas it is merely a familiar style used in speaking and writing. Conversational refers to a style used in the oral exchange of ideas, opinions, etc.: an easy conversational style. Informal means without formality, without strict attention to set forms, unceremonious: an informal manner of speaking; it describes the ordinary, everyday language of cultivated speakers.
OTHER WORDS FROM colloquial
col·lo·qui·al·ly, adverbcol·lo·qui·al·ness, col·lo·qui·al·i·ty, nounqua·si-col·lo·qui·al, adjectivequa·si-col·lo·qui·al·ly, adverb
sem·i·col·lo·qui·al, adjectivesem·i·col·lo·qui·al·ly, adverbun·col·lo·qui·al, adjectiveun·col·lo·qui·al·ly, adverb
Words nearby colloquial
colloid chemistry, collop, collophane, collophore, colloq., colloquial, colloquialism, colloquium, colloquy, collotype, collude
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to colloquial
conversational, vernacular, chatty, common, demotic, dialectal, everyday, idiomatic, jive, popular, street
How to use colloquial in a sentence
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What people have suffered during the pandemic is “touch hunger,” a colloquial term for what social scientists call “affection deprivation”, a state in which individuals want or need more affection than they receive.
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Descent of Woman fit well into a genre of colloquial science that aimed to present scientific arguments to readers with common sense but little scientific training.
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Other linguistic variations that challenge AI include different slang or colloquial expressions to convey similar meanings and other paralinguistic features like tone, intonation, pacing, pausing, and pitch.
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Color has not disclosed a valuation with recent rounds, making this the first official confirmation that the company is a “unicorn,” a colloquial industry term for a private startup worth over $1 billion.
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And, hey, the name Finimondo — “the end of the world” — seems appropriate for these times, though the importer explains that the name is a colloquial expression meaning the wine is terrific.
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A hypothetical history of how words become part of the colloquial lexicon.
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There are no naked bodies (at least in the colloquial sense).
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The lanky, scandal-scarred former Congressman and purveyor of the now colloquial sext, has lived and died by the tweet.
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In Austria, schnaps is a colloquial term that historically references distilled fruit brandy.
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To use an US Army colloquial term, he is a «No Go» for the cabinet post.
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«All they can rap and run for» is the more frequent colloquial version of this quaint phrase.
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The brilliance of his wife, and her most fascinating colloquial powers, also reflected much luster upon his name.
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He had traveled over Europe, and parts of the East, and possessed great colloquial powers when inclined to be sociable.
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In the Attic poetry which was written in direct imitation of colloquial speech, viz.
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A «growler» is a colloquial term applied to icebergs of small mass, which therefore only show a small portion above the surface.
British Dictionary definitions for colloquial
adjective
of or relating to conversation
denoting or characterized by informal or conversational idiom or vocabularyCompare informal
Derived forms of colloquial
colloquially, adverbcolloquialness, noun
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Crossword clues for colloquial
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
colloquial
adjective
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ colloquial expressions
▪ It’s a useful little phrase book, full of colloquial expressions.
▪ The best way of improving your colloquial English is by listening to native speakers.
▪ You shouldn’t use phrases like «sort of» in essays — they’re too colloquial.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Although some students have a good grasp of colloquial language, few have ever got to grips with the concept of register.
▪ Catledge inserted the more rustic touches, a kind of hominy style that gave their writing a colloquial flavor.
▪ For an ordinary wedding a colloquial way of speaking will be suitable.
▪ The wire services demanded language stripped of the local, the regional, and the colloquial….
▪ There is a colloquial standard to learn on the playground and a literary standard to learn in class.
▪ There is also growing differentiation between colloquial and literal vocabulary.
▪ There is nothing colloquial about the auditor calling the company his/her client.
▪ This tale was collected in the Louisiana Creole colloquial speech.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Colloquial
Colloquial Col*lo»qui*al, a. [See Colloqui.]
Pertaining to, or used in, conversation, esp. common and
familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied;
informal; as, colloquial intercourse; colloquial phrases; a
colloquial style. — Col*lo»qui*al*ly, adv.
His [Johnson’s] colloquial talents were, indeed, of the
highest order.
—Macaulay.
Douglas Harper’s Etymology Dictionary
colloquial
1751, from colloquy «a conversation» + -al (1). Related: Colloquially.
Wiktionary
colloquial
a. 1 (context linguistics English) Denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is characteristic of familiar conversation; informal. 2 Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.
WordNet
colloquial
adj. characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation; «wrote her letters in a colloquial style»; «the broken syntax and casual enunciation of conversational English» [syn: conversational]
Usage examples of «colloquial».
So twenty-fourth century aliens in the Antares system would speak a colloquial Brooklynese, commanders of the Black Hole Explorer would long for their Ganymede Lady.
Library to use colloquial Anglic, hiring Kanten, Tymbrimi, and others as consultants.
I feel certain his work would shed light on the phonotactic differences between the scribal and colloquial writing systems in the Greece of that period.
The only difference was that someone had removed the boarding evidently meant to keep unwanted house hunters out, a someone who did not in tend to be put off by any would-be attempts to remove them if the graffiti scrawled across the doors and windows were anything to go by, Garth decided as he briefly read the colloquial message to the effect that uninvited visitors would not be welcome.
When I called upon Dr. Johnson next morning, I found him highly satisfied with his colloquial prowess the preceding evening.
Honourable Mr. Stables, which bids fair to outshine the old one, on which he has so long rested his colloquial reputation.
I put up with all his deficiences, because he dressed my hair to my taste, and his constant chattering offered me the opportunity of practising the colloquial French which cannot be acquired from books.
Like much else, the derivation of the colloquial name for any form of portable storage was lost in the mists of technological antiquity.
Engineering designs based on their equations resulted in the construction of the first Caplis generator, variations of which power all interstellar vessels by accelerating them to speeds that allow them to slip into the fifth dimension, more commonly known today by its colloquial designation, space-plus.
Ye powers that rule the tongue, if such there are, And make colloquial happiness your care, Preserve me from the thing I dread and hate, A duel in the form of a debate.
Eleria eventually came to realize that the language she had come to know as the language of poetry had a more colloquial form which they could use for everyday communication.
Nelson Coleridge, shows how pregnant, how pithy, how full of subtle observation, and often also of playful humour, could be the talk of the great discourser in its lighter and more colloquial forms.
Another junkie of the secret life, as Hyde had once described it to Aubrey, who had pursed his lips in disownment of the colloquial epithet.
Yet the theme was good, and timely, and heartfelt, and White preserves an awareness of persons and aerates the dialectics with traits of character and colloquial asides.
Indignation, the sense of moral insecurity engendered by such a treacherous proceeding joined to the immediate apprehension of a broken neck, would, in the colloquial phrase, put him in a state.