colloquial

/kəˈləʊkwiəl/ (bre, ipa) · /kəˈləʊkwiəl/ (ame, ipa) · /kə-ˈlō-kwē-əl/ (ame, mw)

colloquial — adjective

  • colloquialpositive
  • more colloquialcomparative
  • most colloquialsuperlative

1. describing words or expressions that people use in relaxed, everyday talk with f

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing words or expressions that people use in relaxed, everyday talk with friends or family, rather than in serious writing or official documents.

例句

The word 'gonna' is a colloquial way of saying 'going to' in everyday English speech.

colloquial way of saying — pattern: colloquial + noun describing language

Diego's teacher advised him not to use colloquial phrases in his university application essay.

colloquial phrases — contrast with formal writing

同義詞
  • informal

    Broader term — applies to situations, dress, behaviour, not just language

  • conversational

    Emphasises the back-and-forth rhythm of dialogue; can apply to written texts that read like speech

  • everyday

    Highlights the ordinary, routine nature of the language; less technical than 'colloquial'

反義詞
  • formal

    Describes language that follows strict rules and is used in official or serious contexts

  • literary

    Characteristic of written literature rather than spoken conversation

文法句型

colloquial + noun (language/expression/term)

用法筆記

Restricted to describing language (words, phrases, expressions); not used for people or behaviour. For a person you would say they 'use colloquial language', never that they 'are colloquial'. Compare with 'informal', which can apply to dress, behaviour, and situations as well as language.

常見錯誤

❌He is very colloquial when chatting with his colleagues.
✅He uses very colloquial language when chatting with his colleagues.
💡'colloquial' describes words and expressions, not a person's way of behaving.