Colloquialism
noun
A word or phrase that is not formal or literary and is used in ordinary or familiar conversation.
Using 'gonna' instead of 'going to' is a common colloquialism.

Often appears as...
- local colloquialism
- common colloquialism
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
The use of informal words, phrases or even slang in a piece of writing.
The author's use of colloquialism gives the novel an authentic feel.

Often appears as...
- use of colloquialism
- colloquialism in literature
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A word or phrase that is not formal or literary and is used in ordinary or familiar conversation.
Using 'gonna' instead of 'going to' is a common colloquialism.

Often appears as...
- local colloquialism
- common colloquialism
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
The use of informal words, phrases or even slang in a piece of writing.
The author's use of colloquialism gives the novel an authentic feel.

Often appears as...
- use of colloquialism
- colloquialism in literature
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 2

Cultural Flavor
Colloquialisms can vary widely by region, adding distinct local flavor to speech.

In Australia, a common colloquialism is 'no worries,' implying a relaxed attitude.
Casual Interactions
Use colloquialisms to sound more casual and friendly in everyday conversations.

Instead of 'I do not know,' you might say 'dunno' as a colloquialism.
Not for Formal
Avoid colloquialisms in formal writing or speeches; they can seem out of place.

He refrained from using colloquialisms during the academic presentation.
Cultural Flavor
Colloquialisms can vary widely by region, adding distinct local flavor to speech.

In Australia, a common colloquialism is 'no worries,' implying a relaxed attitude.
Casual Interactions
Use colloquialisms to sound more casual and friendly in everyday conversations.

Instead of 'I do not know,' you might say 'dunno' as a colloquialism.
Not for Formal
Avoid colloquialisms in formal writing or speeches; they can seem out of place.

He refrained from using colloquialisms during the academic presentation.
Cultural Flavor
Colloquialisms can vary widely by region, adding distinct local flavor to speech.

In Australia, a common colloquialism is 'no worries,' implying a relaxed attitude.
Casual Interactions
Use colloquialisms to sound more casual and friendly in everyday conversations.

Instead of 'I do not know,' you might say 'dunno' as a colloquialism.
Not for Formal
Avoid colloquialisms in formal writing or speeches; they can seem out of place.

He refrained from using colloquialisms during the academic presentation.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 325 PIPE...
my colloquialism there it would be great as well ah sorry there's some track see let's link to dear Dre I do apologize for that dear Dre not dear dree I'm sorry let's link to you
Video examples
Béatrice Coron: Stories...
and what are the words, colloquialisms, that we have with the expressions. It's all if. So what if we were living in balloon houses? It would make a very uplifting world.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 325 PIPE...
my colloquialism there it would be great as well ah sorry there's some track see let's link to dear Dre I do apologize for that dear Dre not dear dree I'm sorry let's link to you
Video examples
Béatrice Coron: Stories...
and what are the words, colloquialisms, that we have with the expressions. It's all if. So what if we were living in balloon houses? It would make a very uplifting world.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Kevin Gates
American Musician
Recreative' is a word that I invented because in urban culture, with colloquialism, we invent so many slangs. I don't like the way that 'recreational' sounds - I don't like to say I do a lot of 'recreational' reading. I like to say that I read 'recreatively.' I do a lot of 'recreative' reading.

Quote examples
Peaches Geldof
British Journalist
Broadsheets can be scathing. But I have respect for broadsheet journalists because they haven't succumbed to degrading themselves, to writing pidgin English with all these terrible colloquialisms, the phrasing of which is just, like, embarrassing.

Quote examples
Ben Gibbard
American Musician
People always talk about how time flies; it's become sort of a colloquialism now. You don't really understand it until you reach your late 30s and early 40s - and I'm sure time will move even faster as I get older.

Quote examples
Beck
American Musician
I'm really fascinated by lingos and colloquialisms that are outmoded and have gone by the wayside. I love the way people spoke in the '30s, and the amazing slang of the mid-'60s and '70s.

Quote examples
Kevin Gates
American Musician
Recreative' is a word that I invented because in urban culture, with colloquialism, we invent so many slangs. I don't like the way that 'recreational' sounds - I don't like to say I do a lot of 'recreational' reading. I like to say that I read 'recreatively.' I do a lot of 'recreative' reading.

Quote examples
Peaches Geldof
British Journalist
Broadsheets can be scathing. But I have respect for broadsheet journalists because they haven't succumbed to degrading themselves, to writing pidgin English with all these terrible colloquialisms, the phrasing of which is just, like, embarrassing.

Quote examples
Ben Gibbard
American Musician
People always talk about how time flies; it's become sort of a colloquialism now. You don't really understand it until you reach your late 30s and early 40s - and I'm sure time will move even faster as I get older.

Quote examples
Beck
American Musician
I'm really fascinated by lingos and colloquialisms that are outmoded and have gone by the wayside. I love the way people spoke in the '30s, and the amazing slang of the mid-'60s and '70s.

Example 1 of 4
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