# fable

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfeɪbəl/ · frequency rank #23,535

## Definitions
1. A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.
2. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
3. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
4. The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.

## Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French fable, from Latin fābula, from fārī (“to speak, say”) + -bula (“instrumental suffix”). See ban, and compare fabulous, fame. Doublet of fabula.

## Easily confused with
- **fae** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fae)
- **fal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fal)
- **face** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-face)
- **fall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fall)
- **file** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-file)
- **fake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fake)
- **fail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fail)
- **fate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fate)
- **fame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fame)
- **fare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fare)
- **fade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fade)
- **Faye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-faye)
- **fave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fave)
- **faze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-faze)
- **Falk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-falk)
- **fault** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fault)
- **falls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-falls)
- **false** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-false)
- **fails** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fails)
- **fibre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-fibre)

## Common misspellings (8)
`afble`, `fabble`, `fabel`, `fablle`, `falbe`, `fbale`, `ffable`, `fible`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fable