Folklore: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to the beliefs, customs, and stories of a community passed through generations, especially in a more formal or academic context.

• The folklore of the region includes many tales about mythical creatures.
• He studied the folklore of the indigenous people for years.

Suitable in general contexts when referring to long-established stories that are part of the culture and heritage of a group.

• Traditional stories often explain the origins of rituals and customs.
• Students learned about traditional stories from different cultures.

Appropriate when focusing on the method of passing cultural information, stories, and history through spoken word rather than written texts.

• Oral tradition is crucial for preserving the history of non-literate societies.
• They rely on oral tradition to keep their customs alive.

Best used when talking about simple, traditional stories passed down orally among common people, often featuring moral lessons or cultural values.

• Grandma used to tell us folk tales about heroes and monsters.
• The book is a collection of folk tales from around the world.