fable
Fable (noun) means a short story, often with animal characters, written to teach a moral lesson. Example: “Aesop's fable of the tortoise and the hare teaches that patience beats speed.”
How to use fable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short teaching-story (often with talking animals) or, more loosely, any made-up tale.
A fable teaches a moral lesson; a myth explains the origins of the world or gods; a legend is presented as historical fact. Don't use them interchangeably.
Word forms
fabled past tense, fables plural, fables singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Aesop's _____ of the tortoise and the hare teaches that patience beats speed.
Etymology
From Old French fable, from Latin fabula ("story"), rooted in fari, "to speak" — the same root gives us "fame" and "affable".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fable
See all rhymes for fable →Frequently asked questions
What does “fable” mean?
The word “fable” means a short story, often with animal characters, written to teach a moral lesson. In plain terms, a short teaching-story (often with talking animals) or, more loosely, any made-up tale.
How do you pronounce “fable”?
“Fable” is pronounced FAY-buhl (/ˈfeɪbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “fable” in a sentence?
Here is “fable” used in a sentence: “Aesop's fable of the tortoise and the hare teaches that patience beats speed.”
What part of speech is “fable”?
Depending on how it is used, “fable” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fable” come from?
The word “fable” comes from Latin. From Old French fable, from Latin fabula ("story"), rooted in fari, "to speak" — the same root gives us "fame" and "affable".
Is “fable” a common word?
“Fable” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fable” have?
“Fable” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short story, often with animal characters, written to teach a moral lesson.