noun
legend; tradition; handed-down story
Refers to something passed down orally or through generations, such as a legend, tradition, or lore. Often used in compound nouns like 言い伝え (oral tradition) or 昔からの伝え (ancient lore).
この村には古い伝えが残っている。
An old legend remains in this village.
それは祖母から聞いた伝えだ。
That is a tradition I heard from my grandmother.
伝説 is a more common word for 'legend' or 'myth', often referring to a specific well-known story. 伝え is broader and can refer to any orally transmitted lore or tradition, and is often used in compound words.
言い伝え specifically means 'oral tradition' or 'saying passed down', while 伝え alone is more general.
The noun form of the verb 伝える (to convey, to transmit). The kanji 伝 means 'transmit' or 'pass along', and the reading つたえ is the nominalized stem of the verb.