Colloquialism vs. Vernacular — What's the Difference?

Colloquialism or colloquial language is the linguistic style used for casual communication. It is the most common functional style of speech, the idiom normally employed in conversation and other informal contexts.

A vernacular or vernacular language refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, normally spoken informally rather than written, and seen as of lower status than more codified forms.

A word or phrase that is not formal or literary and is used in ordinary or familiar conversation

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region

Colloquial style or quality.

Architecture concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings

A colloquial expression.

(of language) spoken as one's mother tongue; not learned or imposed as a second language.

A colloquial word or phrase; a common spoken expression.

(of architecture) concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings

Colloquial style of speaking.

The everyday language spoken by a people as distinguished from the literary language.

A colloquial expression, not employed in formal discourse or writing.

A variety of such everyday language specific to a social group or region

A colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

The specialized vocabulary of a particular trade, profession, or group

The common, nonscientific name of a plant or animal.

Native to or commonly spoken by the members of a particular country or region.

Using the native language of a region, especially as distinct from the literary language

Relating to or expressed in the native language or dialect.

Of or being an indigenous building style using local materials and traditional methods of construction and ornament, especially as distinguished from academic or historical architectural styles.

Occurring or existing in a particular locality; endemic

Relating to or designating the common, nonscientific name of a biological species.

The language of a people or a national language.

Everyday speech or dialect, including colloquialisms, as opposed to standard, literary, liturgical, or scientific idiom.

Language unique to a particular group of people.

A language lacking standardization or a written form.

Indigenous spoken language, as distinct from a literary or liturgical language such as Ecclesiastical Latin.

(architecture) A style of architecture involving local building materials and styles, not imported.

Of or pertaining to everyday language, as opposed to standard, literary, liturgical, or scientific idiom.

Belonging to the country of one's birth; one's own by birth or nature.

(architecture) Of or related to local building materials and styles; not imported.

(art) Connected to a collective memory; not imported.

Belonging to the country of one's birth; one's own by birth or nature; native; indigenous; - now used chiefly of language; as, English is our vernacular language.

The vernacular language; one's mother tongue; often, the common forms of expression in a particular locality, opposed to literary or learned forms.

A characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves);

The everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language)

Being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language;