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folklorethe traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfoʊklɔːr/

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother's folklore about ghosts always made me afraid to go to the bathroom at night.
  • According to folklore, eating too much garlic will keep vampires away but also your friends.
  • The museum displays artifacts that represent the folklore of indigenous peoples.

folklore

NOUN

[/ˈfoʊklɔːr/]

the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth

Village elders share folklore around the fire as children listen in wonder.
💡 Concept

Village elders share folklore around the fire as children listen in wonder.

Behind every door lies folklore and more
🎵 Rhyme

Behind every door lies folklore and more

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈfoʊklɔːr/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈfəʊklɔː(r)/

🌳Etymology

Rootfolk
Suffix-lore

Origin

Coined in 1846 by British archaeologist William Thoms as an English translation of the German term 'Volkskunde'. The word was created to establish folklore as a formal field of study dedicated to systematically examining the wisdom, customs, and traditions of common people.

Breakdown

folk (people, common folk) + lore (knowledge, learning, traditional wisdom). The compound merges Old English 'folc' (people) with 'lore' (from Old English 'lar', meaning instruction or tradition).

🎵Rhyme

morestoredoorfloor
more
store
door
floor

🔗Collocations

local folklore
folklore tradition
collect folklore
oral folklore
folklore studies
rich folklore

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My grandmother's folklore about ghosts always made me afraid to go to the bathroom at night.

😄 Fun example

According to folklore, eating too much garlic will keep vampires away but also your friends.

The museum displays artifacts that represent the folklore of indigenous peoples.

Many Disney movies are based on European folklore and fairy tales.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

legendtraditionmythologyheritagecustoms

Antonyms

modernityinnovationcontemporary

Related

cultureanthropologyethnologyfolktaleballad

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