Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'rumor' depends on whether you are talking about hearsay, gossip, or a widely circulating story. The most common word is 噂 (うわさ), but other expressions like 風評 (ふうひょう) or デマ (でま) are used for specific nuances. This guide covers natural ways to talk about rumors in Japanese.
To talk about a rumor or piece of gossip that is circulating among people.
The most common and versatile word for 'rumor' or 'gossip'. Can be used in both casual and formal contexts.
彼が結婚するという噂を聞いた。
I heard a rumor that he's getting married.
その噂は本当ですか？
Is that rumor true?
A common pattern meaning 'there's a rumor that...'. Replace 〜 with the content of the rumor.
彼女は会社を辞めるという噂だ。
There's a rumor that she's quitting the company.
A more formal or literary term for 'rumor' or 'hearsay'. Often used in written language.
その風聞は事実無根だった。
The rumor was completely groundless.
To emphasize that a rumor is false, baseless, or malicious.
Short for デマゴギー (demagogy), meaning a false rumor or hoax, often spread with malicious intent. Common in news and social media.
それはただのデマだよ。
That's just a false rumor.
ネットでデマが広がっている。
False rumors are spreading online.
A formal term for a groundless rumor or false report. Often used in the compound 流言飛語 (りゅうげんひご) meaning 'wild rumors'.
A formal term for a false report or fake news. Used in journalism.
To talk about rumors that affect someone's or something's reputation, often in business or social contexts.
Refers to rumors or hearsay that influence public reputation or market perception. Common in phrases like 風評被害 (ふうひょうひがい) 'reputational damage from rumors'.
その会社は風評被害で株価が下がった。
The company's stock price fell due to reputational damage from rumors.
Means 'reputation' or 'rumor' about someone's character or quality. Often used in both positive and negative contexts.
To express the action of spreading or starting a rumor.
Literally 'to flow a rumor', meaning to spread a rumor. Can be intentional or unintentional.
誰かが変な噂を流した。
Someone spread a strange rumor.
Intransitive: 'a rumor spreads'. Used when the rumor is circulating on its own.
その噂はあっという間に広まった。
The rumor spread in no time.
Transitive: 'to spread a rumor'. Emphasizes the act of making it known to more people.
彼はその噂を広めた。
He spread the rumor.
To spread a false rumor or hoax, often online. Casual.
誰かがデマを飛ばしたらしい。
It seems someone spread a false rumor.
噂 (うわさ) is a neutral term for rumor or gossip, which may or may not be true. デマ specifically refers to a false rumor or hoax, often spread with malicious intent. Use デマ when you want to emphasize that the information is untrue.
あれは噂じゃなくてデマだ。
That's not a rumor; it's a hoax.
Avoid directly translating 'rumor' as 噂 in every context. For example, 'I heard a rumor' is naturally 噂を聞いた, but 'rumor has it' is often better expressed with 〜だそうだ or 〜らしい, which are hearsay markers rather than nouns.
彼は来月引っ越すらしい。
Rumor has it he's moving next month.
流言飛語に惑わされないでください。
Please don't be misled by wild rumors.
That article was a false report.
彼は正直者だという評判だ。
He has a reputation for being honest. (lit. There's a rumor that he's an honest person.)