colloquial

Summary

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Colloquial” (August 5, 2026)

Overview

In this episode, host Peter Sokolowski introduces the word “colloquial” as Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day. The episode explores the meaning, history, and usage of the term, especially in the context of familiar and informal conversation. The discussion is concise yet rich, highlighting how “colloquial” language fits (or doesn’t fit) in certain scenarios.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Common Usage

• Colloquial (adjective): Used with words like “term,” “word,” and “expression” to describe language that is used in familiar and informal conversation.
  • Example sentence:

  “Known by a host of colloquial names, including timberdoodle, bogsucker, and mudsnipe, the [American woodcock] species is about the size of the American robin.”
  —Green Bay Press Gazette [00:26]

Etymology & History

• The noun “colloquy” has been around since the 15th century, meaning conversation or dialogue.
• “Colloquial” was formed in the mid-18th century with a similar focus but became more specific over time.
  • Both words trace back to the Latin verb colloqui, which means “to converse.” [00:45]
• Over time, “colloquial” developed a specialized meaning, tied particularly to informal language use.

Nuanced Usage

• Colloquial language is most suited for familiar, informal contexts.
• It can also refer to language informal enough to be deemed inappropriate in certain scenarios (e.g., academic writing).
  • Illustrative example:

  “When writing an academic paper about Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, it would not serve to say that the crew of the Endurance was in quite a pickle when they became trapped in ice off the Caird Coast. Although the word pickle does indeed mean a difficult situation in this context, its flavor may be considered too colloquial—that is, unacceptably informal for academic use.”
  —Peter Sokolowski [01:30]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Peter Sokolowski on the importance of register [01:30]:

  “Although the word pickle does indeed mean a difficult situation in this context, its flavor may be considered too colloquial—that is unacceptably informal for academic use.”

• Etymology Connection [00:45]:

  “Both [colloquy and colloquial] trace back to the Latin verb colloquy, meaning to converse.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–00:20 — Introduction and spelling of the word “colloquial.”
• 00:20–00:40 — Example of colloquial names for the American woodcock.
• 00:40–01:00 — Etymology and historical background of “colloquial” and “colloquy.”
• 01:00–01:50 — Development of the meaning; illustration of colloquial inappropriateness for academic writing.
• 01:50–02:06 — Closing remarks and wrap-up.

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Summary

This episode succinctly explains the definition and proper context for using the word “colloquial,” including its etymology and evolution. Peter Sokolowski emphasizes how choosing colloquial language affects register and appropriateness, especially in formal writing. Through memorable examples and clear exposition, the episode illuminates how words shift between formal and informal registers and why that matters.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign. It's the word of the day for August 5th. Today's word is colloquial, spelled C O L L O Q U I A l. Colloquial is an adjective. It's used with words like term and word and expression to to describe language that is used in familiar and informal conversation. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Green Bay Press Gazette the American woodcock is a native North American bird species found in Wisconsin and much of the eastern United States and Canada. Known by a host of colloquial names, including timberdoodle, bogsucker, and mudsnipe, the species is about the size of the American robin. The noun colloquy has since the 15th century, referred to a conversation or dialogue, and when the adjective colloquial was formed in the mid 18th century, it had a similar focus. Both words trace back to the Latin verb colloquy, meaning to converse. Over time, however, colloquial developed a more specific meaning related to language that is most suited to informal conversation, and it ultimately garnered a secondary use for language that is so informal as to be inappropriate for a given situation. For instance, when writing an academic paper about Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, it would not serve to say that the crew of the Endurance was in quite a pickle when they became trapped in ice off the Caird Coast. Although the word pickle does indeed mean a difficult situation in this context, its flavor may be considered too colloquial that is unacceptably formal for for academic use with your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[B]

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