Words / A2

TAYL/teɪl/

A tale is a story, often exciting or not strictly true: a fairy tale, a traveller’s tale, tell a tale. Story is the everyday cousin. Tail is the animal part — same sound. Tall describes height. Do not write tale when you mean tail, or tall.

Meaning

A story, often exciting or not completely true.

Examples

• “Grandad told a long tale about his first trip abroad.”
• “The guide told a tale about smugglers on this coast.”
• “Read the children a short tale before lights out.”

Good to know

a fairy tale / tell a tale. Everyday: story. Mix-up: tail (animal) — same sound.

Near in meaning

story

New