convo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (common in informal and online contexts)Very informal, slang, predominantly used in speech, text messaging, and social media.
Quick answer
What does “convo” mean?
An informal, shortened form of 'conversation'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal, shortened form of 'conversation'.
Refers to any verbal or written exchange of ideas, opinions, or information, typically casual and implying a back-and-forth dialogue. Often implies a friendly or informal chat, though it can also refer to a planned discussion (e.g., 'a difficult convo').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more prevalent in American English, but well-understood and used in both. No significant meaning difference.
Connotations
Universally informal. In the UK, may be perceived as slightly more trendy or youth-oriented. In the US, it's broadly established in informal registers.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US media and casual speech. In the UK, 'chat' is a more traditional, equally informal alternative.
Grammar
How to Use “convo” in a Sentence
Have a [adj] convo with [sb]Get into a convo about [topic]We need to have a convo.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “convo” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not standard. Use 'chat' or 'converse'. (e.g., Let's chat later.)
American English
- Not standard. Use 'talk' or 'catch up'. (e.g., We should talk tomorrow.)
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not standard. (Possible informal derivative: 'convo-heavy' day.)
American English
- Not standard. (Possible informal derivative: 'convo-friendly' space.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Generally avoided in formal writing and official meetings. May appear in internal, casual Slack/Teams messages (e.g., 'Let's have a quick convo about the Q3 targets').
Academic
Almost never used in formal academic writing. Might appear in student-to-student informal discourse.
Everyday
The primary domain of use: texting, social media captions, casual spoken plans (e.g., 'We had a lovely convo').
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “convo”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “convo”
- Using it in formal writing. Incorrectly using it as a verb (e.g., 'Let's convo later'). Overusing it in contexts where 'discussion' or 'meeting' is more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a recognised informal noun, a clipping of 'conversation', found in many dictionaries as slang or informal usage.
No, it is too informal for academic writing. Use 'conversation', 'discussion', or 'dialogue' instead.
The plural is 'convos' (e.g., 'We had several convos about it').
Generally not in formal external emails. It might be acceptable in very casual internal communication with close colleagues, but 'chat', 'talk', or 'quick word' are often safer choices.
An informal, shortened form of 'conversation'.
Convo is usually very informal, slang, predominantly used in speech, text messaging, and social media. in register.
Convo: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒn.vəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːn.voʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not applicable for this word form]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of removing the '-ersation' from 'conversation' to save time in a fast 'convo'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVERSATION IS A JOURNEY ('We went off on a tangent during that convo'). CONVERSATION IS A CONTAINER ('That convo was full of surprises').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'convo' be LEAST appropriate?