colloquial
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for colloquial, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Belonging to ordinary conversation rather than to formal or written language.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use colloquial
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
colloquial English
colloquial expression
colloquial usage
a colloquial tone
colloquially known as
A neutral descriptive label used by dictionaries and style guides; it describes register, not poor English.
Etymology
From Latin colloquium meaning a conversation, from com- together and loqui to speak.
Full origin of colloquial →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between colloquial and slang?
Colloquial language is ordinary spoken English that almost everyone uses and understands, such as a bit or loads of. Slang is narrower, newer and tied to a particular group or moment, and can puzzle outsiders. All slang is colloquial, but most colloquial language is not slang.
Is colloquial language incorrect?
No. It is simply a different register. It is out of place in a legal filing or a research paper, but it is exactly right in speech, dialogue and most journalism.
What is the difference between colloquial and vernacular?
Colloquial contrasts casual speech with formal usage within a language. Vernacular usually means the everyday language of a particular place or community as opposed to a prestige or official language.
