What does colloquially mean?
"Colloquially" is an adverb describing the way something is expressed in informal, everyday conversation rather than in formal, technical, or literary language. It most often appears in scholarly and journalistic prose to flag a gap between official vocabulary and popular usage: a medical condition might be "colloquially known as" the winter blues, or a geographic feature "colloquially called" the Valley. In such constructions it introduces an unofficial name or expression widely used by ordinary speakers. The word derives from "colloquial," which traces back through Latin colloqui, meaning "to converse." Although "colloquial" is sometimes mistaken for a synonym of sloppy or uneducated language, it properly denotes register only — the relaxed idiom people naturally use when talking — not incorrectness. Writers value "colloquially" because it lets them acknowledge common usage without endorsing it as formal standard, making it indispensable in dictionaries, encyclopedias, science writing, and any text that must bridge expert terminology and plain speech. Its adverbial form keeps that signal concise and precise.
adverbIn a manner characteristic of informal, everyday conversation rather than formal or literary language. Used especially to indicate that a term or expression is the common, casual name for something.
- In the language of ordinary, informal conversation; in the vernacular of everyday speech.
- Used to introduce an unofficial or popular name for something (as in 'known colloquially as...').
"Colloquially, the whole region is known simply as 'the Valley.'"
"The condition is colloquially called 'the winter blues,' though doctors use a more precise term."
"He wrote the essay formally but peppered it with phrases borrowed colloquially from his hometown."
When scientists say a species is 'known colloquially as' something, they're admitting that everyday speech has outpaced the official record.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colloquially
"Colloquially" derives from "colloquial," which entered English in the mid-18th century from Latin colloqui, meaning "to converse," formed from com- ("together") and loqui ("to speak"). The same root loqui produced related English words including "colloquy," "elocution," and "loquacious." The adverb was formed regularly with the suffix -ly and has been used since at least the 19th century to mark informal versus formal registers of language.
Related word forms
How colloquially is actually used
Typical of academic, journalistic, and reference writing, where it signals a shift from technical or formal terminology into everyday speech. It carries no negative connotation — 'colloquial' describes register, not poor quality. It frequently appears in the pattern 'known/referred to/termed colloquially as X.'
Easily confused with colloquially
'Eloquently' means in a fluent, persuasive, or expressive manner, whereas 'colloquially' means in an informal, conversational manner.