Conversational

/ˌkɒnvərˈseɪʃənəl/

adjectiveIntermediate🔥Very CommonGeneral
1 meaning2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

1

Relating to or suitable for conversation; informal and easy to understand.

/ˌkɒnvərˈseɪʃənəl/

adjectiveneutralIntermediate
General

Relating to or characteristic of conversation; informal.

The article was written in a conversational tone, making it easy to read.

💡 Simply: When something is 'conversational', it's like chatting with a friend! It's easy to understand and not too serious. Think of a casual talk with someone about your favorite movie - that's conversational!

👶 For kids: Being conversational is like talking to your friends! It's easy and fun, like sharing a secret.

More Examples

2

She used a conversational approach when teaching the new concept.

3

The interface is more conversational than previous versions, making it easier to use.

How It's Used

General English

"He has a conversational style, which makes him easy to talk to."

Language Learning

"Many language learning courses focus on developing conversational skills."

Technology

"The AI assistant is designed to provide a more conversational interface."

Idioms & expressions

Conversational AI

Artificial intelligence designed to interact with users in a natural, conversational way, often using natural language processing.

"Conversational AI is transforming customer service."

Conversational Skills

The abilities needed to engage effectively in conversations, including active listening, appropriate responses, and clear communication.

"Developing strong conversational skills is crucial for building relationships."

From the Latin *conversatio* meaning 'frequent association, living with' and from *conversari* meaning 'to keep company with, associate with'. It was first recorded in English in the 17th century.

The word 'conversational' began to be used more frequently in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with increased interest in and emphasis on effective communication methods in various fields.

Memory tip

Imagine a friendly chat. The word reminds you of talking.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to keep company with, associate with"

conversational styleconversational toneconversational approachconversational AIconversational skills

Common misspellings

conversationelconversasionelconversatinonal

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written