Tales are stories that people tell or write, often involving magic, adventure, or interesting characters. They can be old traditional stories or new made-up ones. The word is the plural form of 'tale'.
Grandma told us amazing tales every night.
The book is full of fairy tales for children.
Tales can also mean true or personal stories about things that really happened. People often share tales of their own life experiences with friends and family. These are different from fictional tales because they are based on real events.
He told tales of his travels around the world.
She shared tales from her childhood with us.
In this meaning, tales refers to untrue or exaggerated stories meant to trick or mislead people. The phrase 'telling tales' often means reporting someone's wrongdoing unfairly or spreading gossip. This usage has a negative meaning.
Don't believe his tales — he always exaggerates.
She was caught telling tales to get her friend in trouble.
This is a well-known English proverb often used in adventure, crime, or pirate stories. It means that if someone is dead, they cannot tell others about secrets or wrongdoings. This phrase is very common in movies, books, and games with dark or mysterious themes.
Dead men tell no tales, as the pirates believed.
The villain said dead men tell no tales and laughed.
In folklore and cultural studies, tales are traditional stories passed down over many generations within a community. These stories often explain natural events, teach moral lessons, or celebrate cultural heroes. Examples include fairy tales, myths, and folk tales from around the world.
Folk tales teach children about their culture.
Old tales explain why the seasons change each year.
The word 'Tales' is very commonly used in the titles of books, movies, TV shows, and video games to suggest an exciting or story-driven experience. It signals to the audience that they will hear or read multiple stories or one big adventure. Famous examples include 'Canterbury Tales' and 'Tales of the Abyss'.
We played the video game called Tales of adventure.
The movie Tales of the Sea was very exciting.
This is a rare, technical legal term derived from Latin 'tales de circumstantibus,' meaning 'such of the bystanders.' It refers to people selected from bystanders to fill vacant spots on a jury. This usage is archaic and mostly found in historical legal documents or formal legal discussions.
The judge called tales to complete the jury panel.
Tales were summoned from the courthouse bystanders quickly.
In older forms of English, 'tale' could mean a count or number of items, especially in farming or trade contexts. This meaning survives today mainly in historical texts or poetry. The modern word 'tally' shares a similar meaning and is much more commonly used today.
The shepherd kept tales of his sheep each morning.
Merchants recorded tales of their goods at the market.
