colloquial
Meaning
(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
Structure
Usage
The author uses a very colloquial style to make the characters feel authentic.
"Gonna" is a colloquial contraction of "going to".
While appropriate in casual settings, colloquial expressions are often avoided in academic papers.
Etymology
The word "colloquial" originates from the Latin colloquium, meaning "conversation", itself formed from col- (a variant of com-, "together") and loqui ("to speak"). It entered English in the mid-18th century via the stem of the earlier word "colloquy". The literal sense of "speaking together" evolved to describe the style of language used in such informal, mutual exchange. Thus, "colloquial" specifically denotes language characteristic of familiar conversation, as opposed to formal speech or writing.
Analysis
- col-: A prefix from Latin com- meaning "together" or "with". It assimilates to col- before l. - loqu: A root from Latin loqui meaning "to speak" or "to talk". - ial: An adjective-forming suffix from Latin -ialis, indicating "pertaining to" or "characterized by".