“Aural” vs. “Oral”: What’s the Difference?

A line illustration of two people with their mouth open, and a giant question mark between them.

The difference between “aural” and “oral”

  • Aural relates to anything that is heard, while oral relates to anything spoken through the mouth.
  • Aural is a nonverbal communication method, while oral is a verbal communication method.
  • Aural mostly refers to auditory senses, while oral can be used to describe anything involving the mouth.
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What is the definition of “aural” and “oral”?

Aural
  • Aural refers to the sense of hearing and pertains to sound or something that is heard.
  • It is often described as a nonverbal communication method that involves the use of sounds and voices.
  • Aural learning is a popular technique used in education for students who learn better through audio input.
Oral
  • Oral refers to the mouth or verbal communication using spoken words.
  • It involves the articulation of sounds and words in spoken language.
  • Oral hygiene is an important practice for maintaining the health and cleanliness of the mouth.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Oral” is the more popular variant on the web.
Aural
16,500,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The aural experience of listening to live music is completely different from listening to a recording.
  2. The aural hallucinations experienced by people with schizophrenia can be devastating.
  3. The aural landscape of the city is constantly changing as new buildings and traffic patterns emerge.
More popular
Oral
1,760,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The oral presentation was well-researched and engaging, holding the audience's attention throughout.
  2. The oral exam was very nerve-wracking, but I managed to answer all the questions correctly.
  3. The oral tradition of passing down stories from generation to generation is an important part of many cultures.
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