Informal English is the relaxed, everyday language we use when communicating with friends, family members, classmates, and people we know well. It often includes common expressions, contractions, phrasal verbs, slang, and conversational vocabulary that may not be appropriate in formal situations.
For example, instead of saying “I would like to inform you”, you might simply say “I just wanted to let you know.” Both communicate a similar idea, but the second sounds more natural and informal.
In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of informal English, when to use it, and common informal words, phrases, and expressions with practical examples. You’ll also see how informal English differs from formal English so you can choose the right language for different situations.
Table of Contents
What Is Informal English?
Informal English is a relaxed and conversational style of English commonly used in everyday communication. It is most appropriate when speaking or writing to friends, family members, classmates, coworkers you know well, and other people in casual situations.
Informal English often sounds more natural and personal than formal English. Speakers may use contractions, phrasal verbs, abbreviations, idioms, slang, and shorter sentence structures.
For example:
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Formal: I apologize for being late.
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Informal: Sorry I’m late.
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Formal: Could you please assist me?
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Informal: Can you help me?
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Formal: I will contact you tomorrow.
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Informal: I’ll get in touch tomorrow.
Neither style is inherently better. The appropriate choice depends on the situation, audience, purpose, and relationship between the people communicating.
In general, informal English is suitable for everyday conversations, personal messages, casual emails, social media, and relaxed workplace communication. Formal English is usually more appropriate for academic writing, official documents, professional correspondence, and other situations that require a more professional tone.
Characteristics of Informal English
Informal English has several features that make it sound natural, relaxed, and conversational. These features are common in everyday speech, text messages, personal emails, and casual conversations.
1. Contractions
Contractions are extremely common in informal communication.
| More Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| I am | I’m |
| cannot | can’t |
| do not | don’t |
| we will | we’ll |
| they are | they’re |
| I would | I’d |
Example:
I cannot attend tonight. → I can’t make it tonight.
2. Phrasal Verbs
Informal English frequently uses phrasal verbs instead of more formal single-word verbs.
| More Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| discover | find out |
| continue | carry on |
| postpone | put off |
| tolerate | put up with |
| encounter | run into |
| investigate | look into |
Example:
We need to investigate the problem. → We need to look into the problem.
3. Everyday Words
Simple, conversational words are often preferred in informal situations.
Examples: help, ask, buy, get, tell, need, start, and end.
4. Idioms and Conversational Expressions
Informal conversations often include expressions such as:
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What’s up?
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No worries.
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Hang on.
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Sounds good.
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Give me a hand.
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It’s no big deal.
5. Slang
Slang is especially common among friends and in very casual communication. Examples include awesome, cool, dude, chill, and gonna.
Slang should be used carefully because some expressions are associated with particular age groups, regions, or communities and may quickly become outdated.
6. Shorter and Simpler Sentences
Informal communication often uses shorter sentences and a more conversational structure.
More formal: I would appreciate it if you could send me the information as soon as possible.
Informal: Can you send me the info when you get a chance?
These characteristics help make informal English sound more like natural everyday conversation than formal or academic writing.
Formal vs Informal English
The main difference between formal and informal English is the situation in which each style is used. Formal English is generally more structured, professional, and precise, while informal English is more relaxed and conversational.
Here are some common examples:
| Formal English | Informal English |
|---|---|
| I apologize. | I’m sorry. |
| Thank you very much. | Thanks a lot. |
| I would appreciate your assistance. | I’d appreciate your help. |
| Please contact me. | Get in touch with me. |
| I do not understand. | I don’t get it. |
| I am unable to attend. | I can’t make it. |
| Could you please wait? | Hang on a second. |
| I will investigate the matter. | I’ll look into it. |
| We should postpone the meeting. | We should put off the meeting. |
| Please inform me. | Let me know. |
| I agree with your suggestion. | Sounds good to me. |
| I am very tired. | I’m exhausted. |
When Should You Use Each Style?
Use formal English for situations such as academic writing, business reports, job applications, official correspondence, presentations, and communication with people you do not know well.
Use informal English for conversations with friends and family, personal messages, casual emails, social media, and relaxed conversations with familiar coworkers.
The appropriate level of formality can also fall somewhere between these two styles. For example, a workplace conversation may be friendly and conversational without using slang or extremely casual expressions.
Related: Read our complete guide to Formal vs Informal English for more examples and detailed comparisons.
Common Informal English Words
Many words used in everyday conversation have more formal alternatives. Learning these informal English words can help you understand natural conversations and choose vocabulary that matches the situation.
| Informal Word | More Formal Alternative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ask | inquire | I’ll ask about the schedule. |
| buy | purchase | I need to buy a new laptop. |
| help | assist | Can you help me with this? |
| get | obtain | Where can I get a copy? |
| tell | inform | Tell me when you’re ready. |
| need | require | We need more time. |
| start | commence | Let’s start the meeting. |
| end | conclude | Let’s end the discussion here. |
| check | verify | I’ll check the details. |
| fix | repair | Can you fix this computer? |
| show | demonstrate | I’ll show you how it works. |
| use | utilize | You can use my phone. |
| enough | sufficient | We have enough chairs. |
| wrong | incorrect | That answer is wrong. |
| cheap | inexpensive | We found a cheap hotel. |
| about | approximately | It’ll take about an hour. |
| so | therefore | I was tired, so I went home. |
| but | however | I wanted to go, but I was busy. |
| lots of | numerous | We have lots of options. |
| maybe | perhaps | Maybe we can meet tomorrow. |
A Note About Formal Alternatives
A formal word is not automatically better than an informal one. For example, use is often clearer and more natural than utilize, even in professional writing.
The goal is not to replace everyday vocabulary with complicated words. Instead, learn to choose words that sound appropriate for your audience, purpose, and situation.
When to Use Informal English
Informal English is commonly used in relaxed, friendly, and everyday situations. It is appropriate when communicating with people you know well or when the situation does not require a highly professional or formal tone.
Choosing informal language depends on your audience, relationship, purpose, and communication setting. Understanding when to use it helps you sound natural without being too casual or disrespectful.
1. Everyday Conversations
Informal English is most common in daily conversations with friends, family members, neighbors, and classmates.
Examples:
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Hey! How’s your day going?
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I’m heading home now.
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Wanna grab some coffee?
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That sounds great!
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I’ll call you later.
These expressions sound friendly and natural in casual conversations.
2. Text Messages and Online Chats
People frequently use informal English when sending personal text messages or chatting online.
Messages are often short and may include contractions, abbreviations, emojis, and conversational expressions.
Examples:
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Hey, are you free tonight?
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I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
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Thanks! See you soon.
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No worries. Take your time.
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LOL! That’s hilarious.
Very informal abbreviations such as LOL are generally better suited to personal communication than professional messages.
3. Casual Emails
Informal English is suitable for emails to friends, family members, and familiar colleagues when a relaxed tone is appropriate.
Example of an informal email:
Subject: Weekend Plans
Hey Sarah,
How’s it going? Just wanted to check if you’re free this Saturday. We’re planning to get together for lunch.
Let me know if you can make it!
See you soon,
Emma
This email uses a friendly greeting, contractions, and conversational phrases.
For a detailed comparison, read our guide to Formal vs Informal Emails: Differences and Examples.
4. Social Media Communication
Informal English is widely used in social media posts, comments, captions, and personal messages.
Examples:
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Had an awesome day!
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Can’t wait for the weekend!
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Check out these pictures!
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Thanks for all the support!
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What do you guys think?
However, businesses and professional organizations may use a more polished tone depending on their audience and brand.
5. Informal Workplace Conversations
Informal English is also common in workplaces, especially during friendly conversations with familiar coworkers.
Examples:
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Hey, got a minute?
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I’ll get back to you soon.
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Let’s catch up after lunch.
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Can you give me a hand with this?
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Sounds good. Let’s do it!
Although these expressions may be appropriate in casual workplace conversations, communication with clients, senior managers, or unfamiliar colleagues may require a more professional tone.
6. Personal Phone Calls and Video Chats
Informal English is frequently used during phone calls and video conversations with friends and family.
Examples:
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Hey! Can you hear me?
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What’s going on?
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Hang on a second.
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I’ll call you back.
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Talk to you later!
These expressions help conversations feel relaxed and spontaneous.
When Should You Avoid Informal English?
Informal English is not always suitable. Avoid overly casual expressions, slang, and unfamiliar abbreviations in situations that require a formal or professional tone.
These situations may include:
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Academic essays and research papers
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Formal business reports
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Official letters and applications
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Legal and government documents
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Formal presentations
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Professional communication with unfamiliar recipients
For example:
Too informal for a formal request: Hey, can you send me that report ASAP?
More professional: Could you please send me the report as soon as possible?
Both sentences communicate the same request, but the second is more appropriate in a formal professional context.
Quick Summary: Where Is Informal English Appropriate?
| Situation | Is Informal English Appropriate? |
|---|---|
| Talking with friends | Yes |
| Family conversations | Yes |
| Personal text messages | Yes |
| Casual emails | Yes |
| Social media comments | Usually |
| Friendly workplace chats | Often |
| Job applications | Generally no |
| Academic essays | Generally no |
| Official documents | Generally no |
| Formal business correspondence | Use a professional tone |
Remember: Informal English is not incorrect English. It is a communication style that works best when the situation allows a relaxed and conversational tone. Good communication means knowing when to use informal language and when a more formal style is appropriate.
Informal English in Speaking vs Writing
Informal English is used in both speaking and writing, but its features can differ depending on how people communicate. Spoken informal English often includes contractions, shortened expressions, and spontaneous responses. Written informal English may include conversational vocabulary, abbreviations, and relaxed sentence structures.
The main difference is that spoken informal English focuses on natural conversation, while written informal English uses a friendly, conversational tone to communicate through text.
Informal English in Speaking
Informal spoken English is common in everyday conversations. Speakers often use contractions, conversational expressions, fillers, and shortened forms to communicate naturally.
Examples:
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I’m gonna head home.
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What are you up to?
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Hang on a minute.
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Yeah, that sounds good.
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You know what I mean?
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I’ve gotta get going.
Some expressions, such as gonna and gotta, represent informal pronunciations of going to and got to. They are common in casual speech but are generally avoided in formal writing.
Informal English in Writing
Informal written English is commonly found in personal messages, friendly emails, online chats, and social media conversations.
Writers may use contractions, simple vocabulary, conversational questions, and occasional abbreviations.
Examples:
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Hey, just checking in!
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Can’t wait to see you.
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Thanks for your help!
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Let me know what you think.
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I’ll send it over tomorrow.
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BTW, are you coming tonight?
Abbreviations such as BTW (by the way) are common in digital communication, but they may be unfamiliar to some readers.
Differences Between Spoken and Written Informal English
| Feature | Informal Speaking | Informal Writing |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Spoken conversations | Personal messages and casual writing |
| Contractions | Very common | Common |
| Shortened pronunciations | Gonna, wanna, gotta | Sometimes represented in casual writing |
| Fillers | Well, um, you know | Less common |
| Abbreviations | Usually spoken as full words | LOL, BTW, IDK |
| Sentence structure | Often spontaneous or incomplete | Usually more organized |
| Tone | Expressed through voice and intonation | Expressed through word choice and punctuation |
Example: The Same Message in Speaking and Writing
Imagine you want to tell a friend that you cannot attend a gathering.
Informal speaking:
“Hey, sorry, I can’t make it tonight. Something came up.”
Informal writing:
“Hey! Sorry, I can’t make it tonight. Something came up. Hope you have fun!”
Both examples are informal. However, the written message includes an additional friendly expression because the reader cannot hear the speaker’s tone.
Tips for Using Informal English in Speaking and Writing
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Use natural contractions: Expressions such as I’m, don’t, and we’ll work well in most informal situations.
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Choose familiar vocabulary: Prefer words and expressions your audience can easily understand.
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Be careful with slang: Slang may be common in speaking but can confuse readers unfamiliar with it.
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Consider your audience: A casual message to a friend may be more relaxed than an email to a coworker.
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Keep your message clear: Informal communication should still be understandable and grammatically appropriate.
Informal English helps people communicate in a friendly and natural way. Understanding the differences between speaking and writing allows you to choose expressions that fit each situation.
Conclusion
Informal English is an important part of everyday communication. It helps people express ideas naturally when speaking with friends, family members, classmates, and familiar coworkers. Understanding common informal words, phrases, contractions, and expressions can make conversations easier and more comfortable.
Learning when and how to use informal English is just as important as learning the expressions themselves. Practice using everyday vocabulary, listening to natural conversations, and choosing language that suits your audience and situation. Remember that informal English is not incorrect English; it is simply a more relaxed communication style.
To improve your communication skills further, explore our guide to Formal English: Meaning, Examples, Words, and Phrases. Understanding both formal and informal English will help you choose the appropriate words and expressions for different situations.