Colloquial language is the informal language people use in ordinary conversation and casual writing. In I’ll get back to you in a bit, in a bit is a familiar conversational way to say soon.
Examples of colloquial English
- Hang on a second. The speaker is asking someone to wait briefly.
- We’re all set. Depending on the situation, the group is ready or has everything it needs.
- I’ll swing by after work. The speaker plans to make a short visit.
Colloquial language and slang
Many colloquial expressions are familiar across a wide audience. Slang can be more closely associated with a group or a particular period. Hang on a second can work in dialogue or a quick message. Please wait while the file loads fits instructions that readers may encounter without any conversational context. See register for more on matching language to a situation.
