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novelas

no-VE-lasnoˈβelas

novels

Also: stories
NounfA1
A stack of thick colorful hardcover books on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

Me gusta leer novelas de misterio antes de dormir.

A1

I like to read mystery novels before going to sleep.

Estas novelas son muy famosas en todo el mundo.

A2

These novels are very famous all over the world.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • novelas históricas – historical novels
  • escribir novelas – to write novels

soap operas

Also: dramas
NounfA2informal
Spain
A television screen showing two people in a dramatic emotional conversation in a living room.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela nunca se pierde sus novelas de la tarde.

A2

My grandmother never misses her afternoon soap operas.

¡No me vengas con tus novelas!

B1

Don't come to me with your dramas/stories!

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • telenovelas (TV soap operas)
  • culebrones (long, messy soap operas (slang in Spain))

Common Collocations

  • ver la novela – to watch the soap opera

Idioms & Expressions

  • montarse una novela – To imagine a complicated or dramatic situation that isn't real

you novelize

VerbC1regular arformal
A person writing in a large book while a real-life scene happens in a thought bubble above them.
gerundnovelando
past Participlenovelado
infinitivenovelar

📝 In Action

Si novelas tu vida, tendrías un éxito de ventas.

C1

If you novelize your life, you would have a bestseller.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ficcionalizar (to fictionalize)

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yonovelara
túnovelaras
él/ella/ustednovelara
nosotrosnoveláramos
vosotrosnovelarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesnovelaran

Present Subjunctive

yonovele
túnoveles
él/ella/ustednovele
nosotrosnovelemos
vosotrosnoveléis
ellos/ellas/ustedesnovelen

Indicative

Preterite

yonovelé
túnovelaste
él/ella/ustednoveló
nosotrosnovelamos
vosotrosnovelasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesnovelaron

Imperfect

yonovelaba
túnovelabas
él/ella/ustednovelaba
nosotrosnovelábamos
vosotrosnovelabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesnovelaban

Present

yonovelo
túnovelas
él/ella/ustednovela
nosotrosnovelamos
vosotrosnoveláis
ellos/ellas/ustedesnovelan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "novelas" in Spanish:

dramas→novels→soap operas→stories→you novelize→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: novelas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence refers to watching television?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
novela(novel) — Noun
novelista(novelist) — Noun
novelesco(novel-like / fictional) — Adjective
novelar(to novelize) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
escuelasabuelasvelasmuelas
📚 Etymology▼

From the Italian word 'novella,' which means 'a new story' or 'a piece of news.' This eventually came from the Latin word 'novellus' (new).

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: novelsFrench: nouvellesItalian: novelle

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a 'libro' and a 'novela'?

A 'libro' (book) is a general term for any bound set of pages, while a 'novela' (novel) specifically refers to a long, fictional story.

Does 'novelas' always mean books?

No! In casual conversation, it very often refers to 'telenovelas' (soap operas) on TV.