A Greek noun meaning hearing, the sense of hearing, the ear, report, news, fame, rumor. From akouō (to hear). It refers both to the physical act of hearing and to what is heard — a report, a message, news. In theological usage, it becomes central to the question of how faith originates.
Paul's declaration 'Faith comes from hearing (akoē), and hearing through the word of Christ' (Romans 10:17) makes this word foundational to the theology of proclamation. Faith is not self-generated — it comes from outside, through hearing the gospel proclaimed. This means the church's primary task is proclamation: people cannot believe what they have not heard. Isaiah's lament, 'Lord, who has believed our report (akoē)?' (Isaiah 53:1 / Romans 10:16) acknowledges that hearing does not guarantee believing — but without hearing, there is no possibility of faith. The Galatians received the Spirit 'by hearing with faith' (Galatians 3:2), not by works. Christianity is fundamentally an aural religion: it begins not with seeing but with hearing the Word.