# colloquial

/kəˈɫoʊkwiəɫ/ (US) · /kəlˈəʊkwɪəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colloquial
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. informal speech

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes words or language that you use when talking to friends or family in a casual way.

For teachers: characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing.

- The teacher explained that 'gonna' is a colloquial way of saying 'going to'.
- While the student's essay was logically sound, the professor noted that the tone was far too colloquial for a formal academic submission.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes, such as 'colloquial expression' or 'colloquial language'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse 'colloquial' with 'slang'; explain that colloquialisms are standard but informal, whereas slang is often restricted to specific social groups.

### 2. an informal word

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a word or phrase that is used in everyday conversation.

For teachers: a colloquial word, phrase, or expression; a colloquialism.

- The phrase 'what's up' is a common colloquial used in many English-speaking countries.
- The dictionary includes several new colloquials that have entered the language through social media and digital communication.

Usage: This noun form is much less common than the adjective or the related noun 'colloquialism'.

Teaching tip: Advise students to use 'colloquialism' instead of 'colloquial' when they need a noun, as it is the more standard term.

## Examples

- The song uses many colloquial phrases from the local dialect.
- While the official report uses formal language, the informal version contains several colloquial expressions that make it easier to read.
- Linguists often study colloquial speech to understand how language evolves naturally among communities, as these informal patterns eventually influence standard grammar and vocabulary.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.