Word
colloquially
Phoneticscol·lo·qui·al·ly
UK/kəlˈəʊkwɪəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that people use when they are speaking casually. It describes how people talk in everyday life rather than in a formal or technical way.
adv. in a manner characteristic of informal speech or common usage. Often used to describe how a word or phrase is used by a specific group of people in daily conversation.
Examples
“The word for 'car' is colloquially called a 'car'.”
“While the official name is 'bicycle', it is often referred to colloquially as a 'bike' in most English-speaking countries.”
“The term 'folks' is used colloquially to refer to one's family or a group of people, though it carries a slightly more traditional or rural tone in modern urban speech.”
Examples
simple
“The word for 'car' is colloquially called a 'car'.”
contextual
“While the official name is 'bicycle', it is often referred to colloquially as a 'bike' in most English-speaking countries.”
complex
“The term 'folks' is used colloquially to refer to one's family or a group of people, though it carries a slightly more traditional or rural tone in modern urban speech.”
Real-World Examples
“Others do what are colloquially known as “renovictions”: remodels that are loud, inconvenient, unnecessary and designed to annoy a resident so much that they leave.” “Known colloquially as the “King of the Fruits,” durian commands attention with its pungent scent and spiky husk.” “If a colleague is easily and unscrupulously making their way up the company ladder, you colloquially refer to them as a 'climber' in Spanish.” Etymology
From colloquial + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/colloquially