This is the 7387th most frequent German word.
gerücht
Rumor.
In this sentence, 'Gerücht' is used as a noun meaning 'rumor' in a context of general information dissemination.
Ein Gerücht verbreitete sich schnell in der kleinen Stadt.
A rumor spread quickly in the small town.
Here, 'Gerücht' signifies an unverified piece of information, emphasizing its speculative nature.
Es ist nur ein Gerücht, dass die Firma bald schließen wird.
It is just a rumor that the company will close soon.
In this example, 'Gerüchte' (plural form of 'Gerücht') refers to unverified statements or stories and discusses their impact.