by word of mouth — through spoken communication from person to person, not through written media or formal advertising

a woman leans forward excitedly while speaking to two friends at a small round table. She gestures enthusiastically as she shares news, her mouth open mid-sentence with an expression of excitement. One friend immediately turns to whisper the same information to a person at the neighboring table. That person then stands up and walks toward another group, clearly eager to share what they just heard. Other customers throughout the coffee shop are engaged in similar animated conversations, creating a chain of spoken communication. information being passed through spoken communication from person to person, not through written media or formal advertising