Colloquialism: meaning, definitions and examples

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colloquialism

 

[ ˌkɒləˈkwiːəlɪz(ə)m ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

informal language

Colloquialism refers to informal words, phrases, or even slang that are used in everyday conversation instead of formal language. Colloquialisms are often specific to a certain region or group of people, and can vary widely in different cultures.

Synonyms

informal language, slang, vernacular

Examples of usage

  • It's common to use colloquialisms like 'gonna' instead of 'going to' in casual conversation.
  • One example of a colloquialism is 'y'all' which is commonly used in the southern United States.
  • Colloquialisms can add a sense of familiarity and informality to speech.
  • Understanding colloquialisms can be challenging for non-native speakers of a language.
  • Colloquialisms can change over time as language evolves.

Translations

Translations of the word "colloquialism" in other languages:

🇵🇹 coloquialismo

🇮🇳 बोलचाल की भाषा

🇩🇪 Umgangssprache

🇮🇩 ungkapan sehari-hari

🇺🇦 розмовне слово

🇵🇱 kolokwializm

🇯🇵 口語表現 (こうごひょうげん)

🇫🇷 expression familière

🇪🇸 coloquialismo

🇹🇷 argo

🇰🇷 구어체 (구어)

🇸🇦 تعبير عامي

🇨🇿 hovorový výraz

🇸🇰 hovorový výraz

🇨🇳 口语表达 (kǒuyǔ biǎodá)

🇸🇮 pogovorni izraz

🇮🇸 talmál

🇰🇿 ауызекі сөз

🇬🇪 საუბრის ენა (saubris ena)

🇦🇿 ünsiyyət dili

🇲🇽 coloquialismo

Word origin

The term 'colloquialism' originated from the Latin word 'colloquium', meaning 'conversation'. It has been used in English since the 18th century to describe informal language used in everyday conversation. Colloquialisms play an important role in language diversity and reflect the cultural context in which they are used.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,453, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.