How to say "rumour" in Japanese

• 噂うわさJLPT N3approx.Common
  suru verb, no-adjectiveThe general, everyday word for a rumour: unverified talk circulating among people. It covers idle gossip as well as reports about current events, and is the default choice in most contexts.
  うわさは四方しほう八方はっぽうに広ひろがった。↗

  The rumor spread far and wide.
• 風評ふうひょうCommon
  nounTalk about a person or business circulating in the wider public, typically with an unfavourable shade; it suits rumours that spread through society and may affect someone's reputation or standing.
• 伝聞でんぶんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbInformation one knows only by hearing it from others, not at first hand; it stresses the secondhand path by which a report travels, matching the English 'hearsay'.
• 下馬評げばひょうCommon
  nounSpeculative talk before a contest, match, or election about how it is likely to turn out — the pre-event buzz over the favourites; not a general word for rumour.
• 余録よろくCommon
  nounReally an unofficial or supplementary record — extra material kept alongside an official account; for the sense 'rumour' it is marginal, and it is seldom the word you want.

Use 噂 for ordinary unverified talk, 風評 for unfavourable public talk, 伝聞 for information heard secondhand, 下馬評 for advance speculation about a contest or election, and 余録 chiefly for unofficial records rather than rumours.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 噂うわさrumour
• 風評ふうひょうrumor
• 伝聞でんぶんhearsay
• 下馬評げばひょうrumor
• 余録よろくunofficial record
• 浮き名うきなrumour (of a love affair)
• 風聞ふうぶんrumour
• 巷談こうだんrumour
• 評説ひょうせつrumour
• 風説ふうせつrumor
• 取りざたとりざたtalk (of the town)
• 余聞よぶんgossip
• 風の便りかぜのたよりhearsay
• 怪情報かいじょうほうgossip
• 言伝ことづて(oral) message
• 説せつrumour
• 評判ひょうばんrumour
• ささやくto rumor
• 伝言つてことrumour
• 聞きききrumour
• 物言いものいいrumor