'folklore' originates from the English words 'folk' and 'lore', where 'folk' meant 'people' and 'lore' meant 'knowledge or tradition'.

'folklore' was coined in the 19th century by combining 'folk' and 'lore' to describe the traditional beliefs and stories of a community.

Initially, it meant 'the knowledge of the people', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'traditional beliefs and stories'.