colloquial
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See also: col·loquial
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/
Audio (Canada) (file) - Hyphenation: col‧lo‧qui‧al
Adjective[edit]
colloquial (comparative more colloquial, superlative most colloquial)
- (linguistics) Denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is 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.
Synonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Derived terms
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
of oral communication language
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See also[edit]
Noun[edit]
colloquial (plural colloquials)
- A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism