colloquial
/kə'loukwiəl/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation: Used to describe words, phrases, or a style of language that is used in ordinary, everyday conversation rather than in formal writing or speech.
- Suitable for familiar, relaxed communication: Indicates a tone or register that is casual, natural, and typical of how people speak to each other in informal settings.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The author used a colloquial style in his dialogue to make the characters sound more realistic.
- Words like "gonna" and "wanna" are colloquial contractions of "going to" and "want to."
- Her speech was full of colloquial expressions that were common in her hometown.
Advanced Usage
- Colloquialism (n): A word or phrase that is used in colloquial language.
- "Ain't" is a well-known colloquialism that is generally avoided in formal writing.
- Colloquially (adv): In a colloquial manner.
- This plant is colloquially known as "lady's slipper."
Variants and Related Words
- Conversational (adj): Similar to colloquial, suggesting the informal style of a conversation.
- He has a very conversational tone in his lectures.
- Informal (adj): Not formal; relaxed. This is a broader term that can include colloquial language.
- The email had an informal greeting.
- Slang (n): Very informal language, often specific to a particular group and considered non-standard. Slang is often a subset of colloquial language but is typically more ephemeral and subcultural.
- Some old slang terms from the 1920s sound strange today.
Synonyms
- Conversational: Pertaining to or characteristic of conversation.
- Everyday: Common, ordinary, used in daily life.
- Vernacular: The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.
Antonyms
- Formal: Following or according with established form, custom, or rule; used in official or serious contexts.
- Literary: Characteristic of or suitable for literature and formal writing.
- Technical: Relating to a particular subject, art, or craft, and its specialized terminology.
Related Phrases and Usage Notes
- Colloquial speech: The everyday spoken language of a region or people.
- The linguist studied the colloquial speech of the coastal community.
- Note on Register: "Colloquial" describes a register of language. It is not inherently incorrect or substandard, but it is context-dependent. It is appropriate for casual communication but often unsuitable for academic papers, official reports, or formal speeches.
Adjective
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characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
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wrote her letters in a colloquial style
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the broken syntax and casual enunciation of conversational English
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