colloquial
Americanadjective
-
characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
- Antonyms:
- formal
-
involving or using conversation.
adjective
-
of or relating to conversation
-
denoting or characterized by informal or conversational idiom or vocabulary Compare informal
Synonym Usage
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 Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of colloquial
Explanation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing colloquial
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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The AP English Exam: Writing, Grammar, and Word Choice
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Vivacious Vernacular: Words About Slang
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Salam's writing is both colloquial and kaleidoscopic, and the combination of high literary aspirations and streetwise storytelling can be traced back to his upbringing.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
The genus name comes from "bicharraco," a colloquial Spanish term meaning "big animal."
From Science Daily • May 12, 2026
"Surviving Nigerian heat with no light," she wrote, using the colloquial term for electricity.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
“Hyperscalers are situationships, not spouses,” Rezaei wrote in a Tuesday note, referencing a colloquial term for romantic entanglements lacking clear boundaries and formal commitment.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026
“Sure,” he said, and his English was colloquial and mouthfilling, “the Mexican Canal is overdue. What the hell? It will get finished just the same, old boy.”
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
