colloquial

/kə'loukwiəl/

Thân thiện

She used a colloquial phrase that made everyone smile.

Definition

1. 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.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
   • wrote her letters in a colloquial style
   • the broken syntax and casual enunciation of conversational English

Từ đồng nghĩa

• conversational