* Folk songs: This is the most common and general term for ballads, emphasizing their origins in oral tradition.
* Narrative songs: This highlights the storytelling aspect of ballads, where they recount a specific story or event.
* Traditional ballads: This emphasizes their connection to folk traditions and their long history.
* Lyric ballads: This term is used for ballads that focus more on emotion and atmosphere than a strict narrative.
* Romantic ballads: This term is used for ballads that emphasize love, loss, and romantic themes.
* Broadside ballads: This term refers to ballads printed on single sheets of paper and sold on the streets.
The specific term used often depends on the context and the specific characteristics of the ballad in question.