Colloquialism Meaning in English
word
Definition
A colloquialism is a word or phrase used in informal, everyday speech and not usually in formal writing or speech.
Usage & Nuances
Usually informal. Colloquialisms often reflect local or regional ways of speaking. Not suitable for academic or professional writing. Common collocations: 'use a colloquialism', 'an American colloquialism'. Learners often confuse 'colloquialism' with 'slang'—slang is more restricted to certain groups, while colloquialisms are broader and widely understood within a language community.
Example Sentences
The word "gonna" is a colloquialism for "going to".
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Teachers often avoid using colloquialisms in the classroom.
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Each region has its own colloquialisms.
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I love learning new colloquialisms when I travel to different countries.
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Some colloquialisms make no sense if you translate them word for word.
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That's just a local colloquialism—don't take it literally!
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