What does colloquial mean?
Colloquial is an adjective describing language that belongs to ordinary, relaxed conversation rather than formal speech or writing. A colloquial expression — such as "hang out," "kids," or "gonna" — is one people use naturally in everyday talk but might avoid in a legal contract, academic paper, or formal address. The word also characterizes a broader style: a writer with a colloquial voice sounds warm, direct, and conversational, even on the page. Derived from the Latin colloqui, meaning "to converse," it entered English in the mid-eighteenth century and remains a standard term in linguistics, editing, and literary criticism. Colloquial carries no inherent judgment: describing speech as colloquial simply identifies its register, though the label signals that the wording may be too casual for formal settings. It is a useful word for anyone thinking carefully about how tone shifts between contexts, from text messages to dissertations, and for distinguishing natural spoken English from its more ceremonial written counterpart.
adjectiveUsed in, or characteristic of, ordinary informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing. Of a word or expression, denoting language that is familiar and casual in register.
- (Of language, words, or expressions) belonging to ordinary, informal conversation rather than formal writing or speech.
- (Of style or manner) having the relaxed, familiar character of everyday conversation.
"Her essays mix scholarly analysis with a warm, colloquial voice."
""Gonna" and "wanna" are colloquial contractions rarely seen in formal prose."
"The professor's lectures were admired for their colloquial warmth and clarity."
"Colloquial" literally means "of talking together" — from the same Latin root that gives us soliloquy, literally talking alone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colloquial
Colloquial derives from the Latin colloqui, meaning "to talk together" or "to converse," formed from com- ("together") plus loqui ("to speak"). It entered English in the mid-eighteenth century as an adjective describing conversational language. It shares its Latin root with related words such as colloquy, colloquium, soliloquy, and elocution, all built on loqui, the verb "to speak."
Related word forms
How colloquial is actually used
Colloquial is largely neutral to mildly positive when describing an author's style, suggesting approachability rather than sloppiness; however, calling a word merely colloquial can imply it is unsuitable for formal contexts. It describes register, not regional dialect — terms like 'vernacular' or 'dialectal' carry different implications.
Easily confused with colloquial
A colloquium is a formal academic meeting or conference, whereas colloquial describes informal conversational language — despite both deriving from Latin loqui (to talk).