Colloquial Meaning

/kəˈləʊ.kwɪəl/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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adjCharacteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.

adjOf or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

These stories are told in colloquial and everyday language.
Colloquial speech is used in everyday conversation.
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
While writing, avoid ____ phrases that are too informal for academic essays.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The casual phrase 'gonna' is a very common ____ expression used in everyday spoken English.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin loquor Latin colloquor Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ium Latin colloquiumder. Middle English colloquies English colloquy Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English colloquial 1751, from earlier term colloquy (“a conversation”), from Latin colloquium (“conference, conversation”), from con- (“together”) + loquor (“to speak”), + -al.

"If you know what it means to be a “fidlet” going for a “jolly” in your “doo”, then you are part of an exclusive club that speaks colloquial Antarctic English." — 2024 June 20, Eva Corlett, “Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang”, in The Guardian:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
While writing, avoid ____ phrases that are too informal for academic essays.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The casual phrase 'gonna' is a very common ____ expression used in everyday spoken English.

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