Colloquials

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Forms of informal language or expressions commonly used in conversation rather than in formal writing
2. Phrases and words unique to a specific region or group, often embodying cultural nuances and casual speech
3. Linguistic variations that reflect everyday speech patterns, typically characterized by their relaxed or conversational tone

Etymology: The plural "colloquials" is simply the noun form of "colloquial", which entered English in 1751 as an adjective meaning conversational or informal. Its ancestor, "colloquy" (a conversation), came from Latin "colloquium", built from "con-" ("together") and "loquor" ("to speak"), so the root idea is speaking with someone. The adjective added the suffix "-al", a common English ending for forming adjectives from nouns, and the word has been used of informal, everyday speech ever since. In its noun form, "colloquials" refers to the everyday expressions and turns of phrase that belong to a particular place or group. The word thus moved from describing a manner of talking to naming the items of that talk themselves, which is a natural step for a term built around the idea of conversation.

Synonyms: informal expressions, slang, colloquialisms

Antonyms: formal expressions