Basic Details
Word: Colloquial
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Used in ordinary, relaxed conversation rather than in formal speech or writing.
Synonyms: informal, conversational, casual, everyday
Antonyms: formal, literary
Word origin: From Latin colloquium, 'conversation', from com- (together) and loqui (to speak).
How to Spell Colloquial
Syllables: col - lo - qui - al
Tricky part: It needs a double l at the start, then qu, then ial. Students often drop one l or swap the last two vowels into colloquail.
Watch out for: coloquial, colloquail, colloqial
Memory tip: Two friends chat, so two l's: col-lo. Then qui-al, with the qu of quiet chats.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Mate is a colloquial word for friend in Australia.
Example 2: Grandpa's letters were full of colloquial phrases from his college days.
Example 3: The novel's dialogue sounds natural because it is so colloquial.
Fun Fact
Loqui, the Latin for to speak, also hides in eloquent and in ventriloquist, a person who seems to speak from the belly.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. colloquial 2. vernaculer 3. pronounciation 4. expresion
a) a word or phrase that people use to say something
b) the way a word is said
c) the everyday language spoken by people of a region
d) suitable for ordinary, informal conversation
Show answer
d) suitable for ordinary, informal conversation. Colloquial is the one spelt right; vernacular, expression and pronunciation are the correct forms of the others.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to colloquial as used in the sentence:
Words like kiddo and gonna are colloquial, so keep them out of your exam essay.
a) chatty
b) formal
c) casual
d) informal
Show answer
b) formal. Colloquial language is relaxed talk; the opposite is formal language.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The film's dialogue was so quaiclolol that it felt like listening to real people.
a) collateral
b) colloquial
c) colloquium
d) colonial
Show answer
b) colloquial. Colloquium ends in um, colonial is two letters short, and collateral needs t, e and r; colloquial uses every letter once.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
colloquieal
a) i
b) a
c) e
d) u
Show answer
c) e. No e sits before the a: the word closes with ial.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which is a colloquial way of saying 'I am very tired'?
a) I am fatigued.
b) I require rest.
c) I'm totally wiped out.
d) I am experiencing exhaustion.
Show answer
c) I'm totally wiped out.
2. Colloquial language suits ____ best.
a) a science textbook
b) a prize certificate
c) a court judgment
d) a chat with friends
Show answer
d) a chat with friends
