lore
gb/lˈɔɹ/ us/lˈɔɹ/
B2
English
~ 9200
néphagyomány, mondavilág, szakmai folklór, világháttér, lore, kantár, kantártájék
NOUN
B2
1
néphagyomány
B2
mondavilág
C1
Usage pattern:
the lore of [a people/place/subject]
The villagers told us old mountain lore about spirits that live in the forest.
A falusiak régi hegyi mondákat és hiedelmeket meséltek nekünk az erdőben élő szellemekről.
Much of the region’s lore has been passed down through songs and stories.
A vidék néphagyományának nagy része dalok és történetek útján öröklődött tovább.
The book explores the lore surrounding the ancient temple and its supposed curse.
According to local lore, the lake never freezes, no matter how cold the winter is.
She grew up hearing Celtic lore from her grandparents every holiday.
Learner examples
Local lore says there is a monster in the lake.
A helyi hagyomány szerint egy szörny él a tóban.
Children in the village know many stories from village lore.
A falubeli gyerekek sok történetet ismernek a falu mondavilágából.
The film is based on Native American lore.
He studies the old lore of this island.
My grandmother loves to share family lore with us.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'lore' with 'law' because they look similar. 'Law' is a rule made by a government, while 'lore' is traditional stories and beliefs. Another mistake is using 'lore' in the plural (e.g., *lore(s)*); in modern English, 'lore' is almost always uncountable.
Meaning
traditional stories and beliefs
Collocations
ancient lore
|Norse lore
|Celtic lore
|folklore and lore
|myths and lore
|the lore of the land
Synonyms
folklore (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and clearly suggests traditional stories and customs of ordinary people.)
|
mythology (Focuses more on a system of myths about gods and origins; slightly more formal and often used for classic cultures.)
|
legend (Usually refers to a single famous story or hero, while 'lore' suggests a whole body of stories and beliefs.)
Antonyms
history (History is based on factual records and evidence, while lore often mixes fact, belief, and myth.)
|
fact (A fact is proven to be true, while lore may only be believed or imagined to be true.)
Themes
culture
|mythology
|history
|religion
|arts_entertainment
|education
|relationships
Definition
Old stories and ideas that people in a group pass from one generation to another, often about history, magic, or the past.
Traditional stories, beliefs, and information that are passed down within a culture, community, or group, especially when they are old, semi-mythical, or not formally recorded.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[subject] lore
He has absorbed years of fishing lore from older sailors.
Évek alatt rengeteg halászati hagyományt és tapasztalati tudást szívott magába az idősebb tengerészektől.
Office lore says that no one lasts more than two years in that position.
Az irodai folklór szerint ebben a pozícióban senki sem bír ki két évnél tovább.
Baseball lore is full of superstitions about lucky socks and cursed teams.
The company’s internal lore explains why certain strange rules still exist.
There’s a lot of Internet lore about how social media algorithms really work.
Learner examples
My uncle knows a lot of fishing lore.
A nagybátyám sokat tud a halászattal kapcsolatos hagyományos tudásról.
There is a lot of office lore about the first boss.
Sok irodai történet és mendemonda kering az első főnökről.
Cooking lore says you should never wash mushrooms.
She loves to read running lore on online forums.
In gamer lore, this move is the strongest.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'lore' must be about magic or legends. In modern English, it is also common for everyday areas like 'office lore' or 'cooking lore', meaning informal shared knowledge. Another mistake is using 'a lore'; this sense is normally uncountable, so we say 'a piece of lore' or simply 'lore'.
Meaning
traditional knowledge about a subject
Collocations
fishing lore
|baseball lore
|office lore
|company lore
|Internet lore
|marketing lore
Synonyms
know-how (More informal and practical; focuses on the ability to do something, while 'lore' includes beliefs and stories as well as skills.)
|
wisdom (Suggests deep understanding and good judgment; 'lore' can include odd tips and myths, not only wise advice.)
|
tradition (Refers to practices and customs; 'lore' emphasizes the knowledge and stories that go with those practices.)
Antonyms
ignorance (Ignorance is not knowing about a subject, while lore is the body of knowledge about it.)
|
science (Science is systematic, tested knowledge; lore is informal and based on habit, stories, or experience rather than strict testing.)
Themes
knowledge
|work
|hobbies
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Special knowledge and beliefs about one subject, learned over time from other people, not mainly from school or books.
The traditional, informal, and often experience-based knowledge or beliefs connected with a particular activity, profession, or subject.
NOUN
B2
3
világháttér
C1
lore
C1
Usage pattern:
the lore of [a game/story/world]
Fans love the series partly because the lore is so rich and detailed.
A rajongók részben azért szeretik ennyire a sorozatot, mert a világháttere nagyon gazdag és részletes.
The new expansion adds a lot of lore about the origins of the magic system.
Az új kiegészítő sok új háttérinformációt ad a mágiarendszer eredetéről.
He watches long videos explaining the deeper lore of the game universe.
Some players skip the lore and focus only on the mechanics.
The show’s writers often change the lore, which upsets long-time fans.
Learner examples
This game has a lot of lore about its world.
Ennek a játéknak nagyon részletes a világháttere.
She reads the lore on the fan website.
A rajongói weboldalon olvassa a háttértörténetet.
The movie’s lore is hard to understand at first.
He enjoys learning the lore of every new fantasy series.
They made a book that explains the lore of the game.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense only applies to fantasy, but it is widely used for many fictional universes, including science fiction and superhero stories. Another mistake is to confuse 'lore' with 'story'; the story is what happens now, while the lore is background information and world details.
Meaning
fictional world backstory and details
Collocations
game lore
|world lore
|deep lore
|lore dump
|expand the lore
|lore nerd
Synonyms
backstory (Often refers to the past of one character; 'lore' covers the whole world’s background, rules, and history.)
|
worldbuilding (Focuses on the creative process of making a world, while 'lore' is the resulting set of details and stories about it.)
|
canon (In fandom, 'canon' means the officially accepted material; 'lore' is broader and can include unofficial or fan-accepted details.)
Antonyms
spoiler (A spoiler reveals specific plot points, while lore is general background that enriches the world but may not reveal key twists.)
|
headcanon (Headcanon is a fan’s personal idea about a story; lore is the shared or official background of the fictional world.)
Themes
entertainment
|games
|fiction
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
The history, stories, and rules of an imaginary world in a game, film, or book.
All the background information, history, rules, and details that describe a fictional world, especially in games, fantasy novels, and fan communities.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
kantár
C2
kantártájék
C2
Usage pattern:
the lore of [a bird species]
The species can be identified by the bright red lore and yellow eye ring.
A fajt a feltűnő vörös kantár és a sárga szemgyűrű alapján lehet azonosítani.
In this heron, the lore turns green during the breeding season.
Ennél a gémnél a kantár a költési időszakban zöldre változik.
Field guides often mention the color of the lore as a key feature.
The bird’s bare blue lore contrasts with its white plumage.
Researchers measured the length of the lore in several specimens.
Learner examples
The bird has a yellow lore near its beak.
A madár csőre mellett sárga a kantár.
In this picture, the lore is bright blue.
Ezen a képen élénk kék a kantár.
The teacher showed us where the lore is on the bird’s head.
Some birds have feathers on the lore, and some do not.
We looked at the color of the lore to know the bird’s species.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical sense with the common meaning of 'lore' as stories or knowledge. In biology texts about birds, 'lore' almost always means the facial region, not myths or traditions.
Meaning
area between a bird’s eye and bill
Collocations
bare lore
|fleshy lore
|colored lore
|feathered lore
|yellow lore
|lore region
Synonyms
facial region (A broader scientific term; it refers to a larger area of the face, while 'lore' is a specific part between the eye and bill.)
Antonyms
nape (The nape is the back of the neck, an opposite side of the head compared to the front lore region.)
Themes
science
|biology
|animals
|body
Definition
In birds, the small area on the head between the eye and the beak.
In birds and some other animals, the region of the head between the eye and the bill or nostril.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lore
IPA
GB/lˈɔɹ/
US/lˈɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
lore (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lore)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lore
- Plural: lore
Word family
Core family
folklore
noun
Advanced or less common
folkloric
adjective
folklorist
noun
Expressions
ancient lore
1/ˈeɪnʃənt lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
very old traditional stories
Very old stories and knowledge from a long time ago.
Examples
- The wizard guards a library of ancient lore.
- Ancient lore warns against disturbing the stones on the hill.
company lore
1/kˈʌmpəni lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
informal stories and rules in a company
Old stories, jokes, and special knowledge that people in a company share with each other.
Examples
- It’s part of company lore that the founder once coded for three days without sleep.
- New hires slowly pick up the company lore over lunches and coffee breaks.
fishing lore
1/fˈɪʃɪŋ lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
traditional knowledge about fishing
Old tips and beliefs people share about how and when to catch fish.
Examples
- He learned most of his fishing lore from his grandfather.
- Fishing lore says the best time to cast is just before dawn.
game lore
1/ɡˈeɪm lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
background story of a game world
The history and details of the world inside a video game.
Examples
- She makes YouTube videos explaining the game lore to new players.
- The game lore is hidden in books and notes you find in each level.
local lore
1/lˈoʊkəl lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
traditional stories of a local area
Old stories and beliefs that people in one town or region share.
Examples
- According to local lore, the hill is haunted by a headless knight.
- The guide shared bits of local lore as we walked through the old streets.
office lore
1/ˈɔfɪs lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
informal stories in an office
Stories and beliefs that people in one office know and talk about, often about past bosses or funny events.
Examples
- Office lore says you should never microwave fish here.
- Over time, you learn the office lore about who really makes the decisions.
urban lore
1/ˈɚbən lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
modern informal stories and beliefs
Modern stories and beliefs, often scary or strange, that many people in a city or online know, but that may not be true.
Examples
- It’s just urban lore that this bridge is cursed.
- The story spread as part of the city’s urban lore.
world lore
1/wˈɚld lˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
background history of a fictional world
All the stories and rules that describe how a made-up world works.
Examples
- The author released a guidebook full of world lore for fans.
- Strong world lore makes the fantasy series feel real and deep.