- Information or recommendations passed informally from person to person through conversation, rather than through written advertising or media.
Explanation
Origin
- A very literal phrase. Word refers to spoken language, and mouth is the source of speech.
- It emphasizes the organic, person-to-person spread of information, often seen as more trustworthy than formal advertising because it comes from known contacts.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Through the grapevine
- Heard it from a guy who knows a guy... (Humorous, emphasizes indirectness)
- People are talking about it.
Marketing Jargon:
- WOM (Acronym for Word Of Mouth)
- Organic reach (Social media term for non-paid spread)
- Earned media
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in virtually all contexts, from casual chat to formal business discussions (often hyphenated as word-of-mouth when used as an adjective, e.g., word-of-mouth publicity).
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Generally straightforward. Emphasize that it means *spoken* or informal person-to-person communication, contrasting with formal, mass communication channels.
Examples
- The restaurant became popular purely through word of mouth.
- I heard about that movie by word of mouth from a friend.
- Word-of-mouth marketing is often the most effective.
Dialogue
Person A: How did you find this great little cafe? I've never seen any ads for it.
Person B: Just word of mouth, really. My colleague mentioned it, said the coffee was amazing.
Person A: Nice! Those hidden gems are often the best. Word of mouth is powerful.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Best marketing is still word of mouth. Thanks to everyone recommending our little shop! ❤️ #SmallBusiness #SupportLocal
- Marketing Blog: Unlock the Power of Word-of-Mouth: Turn Customers into Advocates.
- Comment: How did this video get so many views? No promotion, must be pure word of mouth.
Response Patterns
- Oh, so someone recommended it?
- That's often the best way to find out about things.
- Yeah, I trust word-of-mouth recommendations more than ads.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing something spread by word of mouth:
- Who did you hear it from?
- What did they say about it?
- Sharing your own experience: Yeah, I heard about it that way too.
In a business context:
- Discussing strategies to encourage positive word of mouth.
Conversation Starter
- Can be used to initiate a conversation about how information spreads or how someone discovered something. How did you hear about this place? Was it word of mouth?
Intonation
- Neutral pronunciation, equal stress on word and mouth.
- WORD of MOUTH.
Generation Differences
- Universally understood. The concept is timeless, even if the mouth might now include digital DMs or texts.
Regional Variations
- Common term globally.