different between colloquial vs familiarregister

English

Etymology

1751, from earlier term colloquy (“a conversation”), from Latin colloquium (“conference, conversation”), from con- (“together”) + loquor (“to speak”), + -al.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k??l??.kw??l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /k??lo?.kwi.?l/
• Hyphenation: col?lo?qui?al

Adjective

colloquial (comparative more colloquial, superlative most colloquial)

1. (linguistics) Denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.

2. Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

Usage notes

It is a common misconception that colloquial somehow denotes "local" or a word being "regional". This is not the case; the word root for colloquial is related to locution, not location. A more appropriate word for describing "local" or "regional" language is vernacular.

Note that while colloquy and colloquium refer to formal conversation, colloquial refers instead specifically to informal conversation.

Synonyms

• colloq., coll.

Derived terms

Related terms

• colloquium
• colloquy

Translations

See also

• argot
• slang
• vernacular

Noun

colloquial (plural colloquials)

1. A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism

Related terms

• colloquialism