colloquial

1751, from earlier term colloquy (a conversation), from Latin colloquium (conference, conversation), from con- (together) + loqui (speak).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kəˈləʊ.kwi.əl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/, /kəˈloʊ.ki.əl/

• Audio (Canada)

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colloquial (comparative more colloquial, superlative most colloquial)

1. (linguistics) Denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.
2. Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

It is a common misconception that colloquial somehow denotes "local" or a word being "regional". This is not the case; the word root for colloquial is related to locution, not location.

Note that while colloquy and colloquium refer to formal conversation, colloquial refers instead specifically to informal conversation.

• colloq., coll.

• colloquium
• colloquy
• slang

colloquial (plural colloquials)

1. A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism