# colloquially

/kəlˈəʊkwɪəli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colloquially
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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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.