tale
TEHL
Tale (noun) means a story, especially one that is told aloud and may be fictional or exaggerated. Example: “The old sailor had a tale about a ship that sailed itself.”
noun
1
A story, especially one that is told aloud and may be fictional or exaggerated.
"The old sailor had a tale about a ship that sailed itself."
"Grandfather told us a tale about ghosts in the old mill."
"The whole thing sounded like a tall tale to me."
2
A piece of gossip or a report, sometimes untrue or exaggerated.
"Do not believe every tale you hear about the new teacher."
"Tales about the shop closing turned out to be completely false."
"She spread tales about her neighbors all over town."
How to use tale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA story told out loud, or a bit of gossip that may stretch the truth.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "tail" (the back part of an animal) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tell a tale
a tall tale
fairy tale
tales of adventure
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Word forms
- Plural
- tales
- Third person singular
- tales
- Past tense
- taled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old sailor had a _____ about a ship that sailed itself.
Etymology
From Old English talu, meaning "story, series, or reckoning," related to "tell" and "talk."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tale
See all rhymes for tale →Frequently asked questions
What does “tale” mean?
The word “tale” means a story, especially one that is told aloud and may be fictional or exaggerated. In plain terms, a story told out loud, or a bit of gossip that may stretch the truth.
How do you pronounce “tale”?
“Tale” is pronounced TEHL (/ˈteːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tale” in a sentence?
Here is “tale” used in a sentence: “Grandfather told us a tale about ghosts in the old mill.”
What part of speech is “tale”?
“Tale” is a noun.
Where does the word “tale” come from?
The word “tale” comes from Old English. From Old English talu, meaning "story, series, or reckoning," related to "tell" and "talk.".
Is “tale” a common word?
“Tale” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tale” have?
“Tale” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a story, especially one that is told aloud and may be fictional or exaggerated.
What is the difference between a "tale" and a "story"?
A "tale" is a kind of story, but it usually suggests something told aloud and often fictional, exaggerated, or set in the past, as in "fairy tale" or "folk tale." "Story" is the broader, more neutral word and can cover factual accounts as well as fiction.
What is the difference between "tale" and "tail"?
"Tale" and "tail" are homophones pronounced the same but with different meanings. A "tale" is a story or report, while a "tail" is the rear appendage of an animal.
What is a "tall tale"?
A "tall tale" is a story that is greatly exaggerated or hard to believe, drawing on the sense of "tale" as something that may be fictional or overstated. The adjective "tall" here means extravagant or improbable.
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