---
title: colloquial — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «colloquial» in the school dictionary: Colloquial language is the informal, everyday way people talk with friends and family, not the careful language of books, letters and exams. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# colloquial

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Colloquial language, people, Kids, you, your, characters · **What happens:** be, talk, use, avoid, report, speak · **To what, where:** informal everyday way, colloquial word, casual speech, colloquial words, report, colloquial English · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«colloquial» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [colloquial in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/colloquial.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Colloquial language is the informal, everyday way people talk with friends and family, not the careful language of books, letters and exams.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:m1:1
# text = Colloquial language is the informal, everyday way people talk with friends and family, not the careful language of books, letters and exams.
1	Colloquial	colloquial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	everyday	everyday	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	talk	talk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	exams	exam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Colloquial language | the informal everyday way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | present | people | the informal everyday way *not said here* |  |  |  | with friends and family and the careful language of books and letters and exams | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A colloquial word or phrase is one used mainly in casual speech, such as «gonna», «telly» or «kids».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:m2:1
# text = A colloquial word or phrase is one used mainly in casual speech, such as «gonna», «telly» or «kids».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	colloquial	colloquial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	casual	casual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	gonna	gonna	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	telly	telly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | a colloquial word or phrase |  | casual speech or kids |  | mainly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Kids» is a colloquial word for children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x1:1
# text = «Kids» is a colloquial word for children.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	colloquial	colloquial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Kids | a colloquial word |  |  |  | for children | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In your report, avoid colloquial words like «stuff» and «loads».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x2:1
# text = In your report, avoid colloquial words like «stuff» and «loads».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	colloquial	colloquial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	loads	load	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avoid** | imperative | you *not said here* | colloquial words |  | your report |  | like stuff and loads | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent word=Location |
| 2 | **report** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom report «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The characters in the story speak in colloquial English.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x3:1
# text = The characters in the story speak in colloquial English.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	characters	character	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	colloquial	colloquial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | the characters in the story |  |  | colloquial English |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Arvo» is a colloquial Australian word for afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x4:1
# text = «Arvo» is a colloquial Australian word for afternoon.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Arvo	Arvo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	colloquial	colloquial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Arvo | a Australian word |  |  | afternoon |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher explained that «gonna» is colloquial for «going to».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x5:1
# text = Our teacher explained that «gonna» is colloquial for «going to».
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	gonna	gonna	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	colloquial	colloquial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	acl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | Our teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | gonna colloquial |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** *in a quote* | gerund | gonna colloquial *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Colloquially, people say «cheers» to mean «thank you».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x6:1
# text = Colloquially, people say «cheers» to mean «thank you».
1	Colloquially	colloquially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	cheers	cheer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | people | cheers |  |  |  | colloquially *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cheer=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **thank** *speech: thank* *in a quote* | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book is written in a chatty, colloquial style.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x7:1
# text = The book is written in a chatty, colloquial style.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	chatty	chatty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	colloquial	colloquial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · passive |  | the book |  | a chatty colloquial style |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in style=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The colloquial manner rarely rises to the dignified, and the essence of the folk-tale manner in English is colloquial.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colloquial:x8:1
# text = The colloquial manner rarely rises to the dignified, and the essence of the folk-tale manner in English is colloquial.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	colloquial	colloquial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	rarely	rarely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	rises	rise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
8	dignified	dignify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	essence	essence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
15	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
22	colloquial	colloquial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | present | the colloquial manner |  |  |  |  | rarely *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dignify** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | the essence of the tale manner in English |  |  |  |  | to the dignified colloquial | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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