colloquial meaning (colloquial): definition

colloquial

adj

UK /kəˈləʊ.kwɪəl/ · US /kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/

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

Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Colloquial, Comparative Characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.

You're using too many colloquial words in this cover letter: I suggest changing "I picked up loads of cool skills" to "I acquired many positive abilities"
The colloquial, and at times sarcastic, tone of her books makes her popular with teenagers.

1 more example

If you know what it means to be a “fidlet” going for a “jolly” in your “doo”, then you are part of an exclusive club that speaks colloquial Antarctic English.2024 June 20, Eva Corlett, “Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang”, in The Guardian:

Colloquial, Comparative Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

Synonyms: casual, colloq., coll.
Antonyms: formal, professional, literary, bookish
Derived terms: colloquialese, colloquialisation, colloquialise, colloquialism, colloquialist, colloquiality, colloquialize, colloquially, colloquialness, pseudo-colloquial, pseudocolloquial, semicolloquial, uncolloquial
Related terms: colloquium, colloquy, argot, slang, vernacular

colloquial

noun

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

A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism.

Related terms: colloquialism