novela
/noˈbela/feminine
The Spanish word for "novel" is novela. Wiktionary also lists romance.
Meaning: work of prose fiction (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| novela | /noˈbela/ | feminine |
| romance | /roˈmanθe/ /roˈmanse/ |
masculine |
The term refers to a work of prose fiction. It is important not to confuse it with the adjective used to describe something new or original.
Which one should you use?
novela is the standard term for a work of prose fiction. The word romance is also a masculine noun.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
novela is a feminine noun. This means it requires feminine articles and feminine adjectives to match it.
How do you pronounce it?
/noˈbela/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use novela as an adjective to mean "new" or "original." Instead, you should use the adjective novedoso.
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might use 'romance' to describe a love story, in Spanish, the word romance often refers specifically to a traditional form of rhymed verse or poetry.
- The word novela traces its roots back to the Italian word novella, which originally meant a 'short tale' or 'new thing' rather than a long book.
- In Spanish, a telenovela is a specific genre of televised melodrama, though the word literally translates to 'television novel'.
Examples in context
- Ya leí esa novela.I've already read that novel.This sentence is useful for saying you have already read a specific novela.Tatoeba #3389971 by marcelostockle, translation #2358901 by CK
- Me gusta tu novela.I like your novel.This sentence is useful for expressing that you like someone's novela.Tatoeba #5041135 by don_ramon, translation #9154012 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Esta novela me aburre.This novel bores me.This sentence is useful for stating that a novela is boring.Tatoeba #631152 by Leono, translation #58476 by CK
- He leído una novela muy interesante de Gabriel García Márquez.I have read a very interesting novel by Gabriel García Márquez.
- Muchos jóvenes escriben novelas esperando el éxito literario.Many young people write novels hoping for literary success.
- ¡Hola! ¿Me podrías recomendar un buen libro de suspense?Hi! Could you recommend me a good suspense novel?
- Compré un libro de ciencia ficción para leer durante las vacaciones.I bought a science fiction novel to read during vacation.
- Me encanta perderme en un buen novelón histórico los fines de semana.I love getting lost in a good historical novel on weekends.
- 172 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a bookstore.
- Sofía¿Buscas una novela nueva?Are you looking for a new novel?
- DanielSí, quiero una novela histórica.Yes, I want a historical novel.
- SofíaEsta novela es excelente.This novel is excellent.
- DanielGracias, la voy a comprar.Thanks, I am going to buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “novel” translations and entries novela, romance, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries novela, romance, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
