spoken word

[/ˈspoʊkən wɜːrd/]
nounpl: spoken words
palavra falada / poesia falada
1. Words that are uttered or expressed orally rather than written
The power of the spoken word can move an audience in ways that written text cannot.
O poder da palavra falada pode comover uma audiência de formas que o texto escrito não consegue.
2. A form of artistic performance involving the recitation of poetry or literary works, often with rhythm, emotion, and theatrical elements
She performed at the spoken word poetry slam last night.
Ela se apresentou na competição de poesia falada na noite passada.
3. Oral communication or discourse as opposed to written communication
In many cultures, the spoken word holds more authority than written documents.
Em muitas culturas, a palavra falada tem mais autoridade do que documentos escritos.
In the United States, 'spoken word' has become strongly associated with performance poetry, slam poetry, and hip-hop culture, particularly within African American communities and urban artistic scenes since the 1980s. In Brazil, the term 'poesia falada' and spoken word poetry slams have grown increasingly popular in urban centers as a form of social and artistic expression. It emphasizes oral storytelling traditions and contemporary social commentary.
NYC Slang
flow / spittin' bars (when referring to rap/poetry performance)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
oral expressionverbal communicationutterancerecitationdiscourse
Antonyms / Antônimos
written wordsilencewritten text

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
palavra falada / poesia falada
Most common usage in contemporary Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
palavra dita / slam de poesia
Slam culture is particularly strong in Rio's urban communities
São Paulo
poesia falada / performance oral
São Paulo has a robust spoken word and slam poetry scene
Portugal
palavra dita / poesia recitada
Less commonly used; traditional recitation terminology preferred

Related Words

poetry slamperformance artrhetoricoral traditionmonologuerecitation

Related Idioms & Phrases

the spoken word is golden
actions speak louder than words
word to the wise
mark my words
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