[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/colloquial/)

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# colloquial

adjective (colloquial; more colloquial); adverb form colloquially

«colloquial» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Colloquial language is the informal, everyday way people talk with friends and family, not the careful language of books, letters and exams. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#m1)
2. A colloquial word or phrase is one used mainly in casual speech, such as «gonna», «telly» or «kids». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English lessons pupils learn to tell colloquial language from formal language and to choose the right one: colloquial for chats and stories with dialogue, formal for reports and exam answers. Dictionaries mark such words «informal» or «colloquial». Phrases: colloquial speech, colloquial English, colloquial expression.

### Examples

- «Kids» is a colloquial word for children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x1)
- In your report, avoid colloquial words like «stuff» and «loads». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x2)
- The characters in the story speak in colloquial English. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x3)
- «Arvo» is a colloquial Australian word for afternoon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x4)
- Our teacher explained that «gonna» is colloquial for «going to». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x5)
- Colloquially, people say «cheers» to mean «thank you». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x6)
- The book is written in a chatty, colloquial style. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x7)
- The colloquial manner rarely rises to the dignified, and the essence of the folk-tale manner in English is colloquial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/#x8)

### Note

Spelling: double «l» — col-LO-qui-al. It does not mean rude or wrong; colloquial language is normal for talking, just not for formal writing. Opposite: formal. Related noun: colloquialism (a colloquial word or phrase).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «colloquial» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colloquial/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«colloquial» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/colloquial.html) on Mova free.