All about colloquialisms and colloquial language

Colloquial vs. colloquialism

The terms “colloquialism” and “colloquial” are often used interchangeably to describe informal language, but they are not identical.

The words are defined as such:

• Colloquial is an adjective that means “used in, or characteristic of a familiar or informal conversation.”
• Colloquialism is a noun that refers to a colloquial expression.

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Colloquial language is how to speak when you’re not thinking about how you speak. It’s the sort of informal language you use with friends and family when you’re relaxed and comfortable. Think about the words you choose when you’re writing a formal paper or a professional email and compare them to the language you use around your closest friends. They’re probably miles apart.

Colloquial language is the opposite of formal language, which is more rigid and standardized. While formal language tends to follow a set of rules for its specific language that may have developed over time, colloquialisms are regionally dependent and can adapt quickly.

Slang and jargon vs. colloquialisms

While colloquialisms are one kind of informal speech, it may be easy to confuse them with other types of informal language, like slang and jargon. An easy way to remember the difference is that colloquial language is usually regionally specific, while slang and jargon are more about other groups.

Slang words gain popularity within cultural and social groups. They gain traction quickly and may become part of that group’s vernacular almost overnight. One way to think about slang is with different generations. Each age group has their own specific way of talking about common things. For example, terms like “going postal” and “bogus” were hallmarks of Generation X youth. Millennials latched on to words like “humblebrag” and “adulting,” while Gen Z mocks the older generations with phrases like “cheugy” and “OK boomer.”

Jargon refers to technical, industry-specific language. These words and expressions are commonplace for those who work within specific trades and professions but may sound totally foreign to outsiders. If you don’t have a law-adjacent job, words like “peremptory challenge” may be totally out of your realm of understanding.

In short, neither slang nor jargon is considered colloquialism.

Using colloquial language in your writing

Using colloquial language in your casual conversations feels effortless, because it is effortless. Applying these same phrases in your writing might take a little more work, but when used appropriately, they can add authenticity and charm to your writing. There are a few different ways that colloquialisms can be used to flesh out your story:

• Characters and dialogue both benefit from details that speak to their environment. The main characters in Huckleberry Finn and A Clockwork Orange speak in language that is specific to where they’re from and the period of time that the books are set in. The realistic dialogue makes the reader feel as though the characters are real and that their experiences are truthful.
• Settings are partially made through the strength of the characters that inhabit it. A setting isn’t only buildings and forests, but it’s also the people who live in them. Lending local color through language to a place makes it feel real, and it makes the audience feel as though the things happening to the characters could actually happen in such a setting.

Examples of colloquialisms

There are hundreds of thousands of examples of different regional terms and phrases that can help identify where a person is from. These colloquialisms make their way into everyday conversation as well as into writing. The different regions of the United States are rife with examples of area-specific terms for various items and words:

• A foot-long sandwich may be referred to as a sub, grinder, hero, hoagie, or po’boy, depending on which part of the country you’re in.
• The shoes you wear for athletic pursuits are known as sneakers, tennis shoes, and gym shoes, with the latter only applying to the cities of Chicago and Cincinnati.
• Soft drinks are generally known as “soda” across the country, but in the Midwest, they’re called “pop,” and in the American South, they’re simply “Coke.” Portions of eastern New England may even refer to them as “tonics.”
• Most of the country will tell you to put something “away,” but if you’re in the Southern part of the US, you’ll be told to “put it up.”

These regionally specific phrases lend authenticity to your writing. Taking time to learn about an area or time period’s colloquial language can improve your characters and your stories. Learn more ways to improve your writing.