novella
C1Formal, Literary, Academic
Definition
Meaning
A short novel or a long short story; a work of prose fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel.
In modern publishing, a work of fiction typically between 20,000 and 50,000 words; also used to describe a short novel within a broader literary context or series.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While 'novel' implies a full-length work and 'short story' a brief one, 'novella' occupies a distinct middle ground, often focusing on a single narrative arc or theme with more depth than a short story but less subplot than a novel. It is a recognized literary form.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. The term is used identically in literary contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Suggests literary merit and a specific, intentional form. It is not typically used for pulpy or genre fiction of short length.
Frequency
Equally common in UK and US literary, academic, and publishing circles. Rare in everyday casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
author + wrote/published + a novellathe novella + is set in + [place/time]a novella + about + [topic]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'novella']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in publishing contracts and marketing to classify a work's length and projected production costs.
Academic
Frequent in literary criticism, genre studies, and creative writing courses to analyse a specific prose form.
Everyday
Uncommon. A literate person might use it when discussing books: 'It's not a full novel, more of a novella.'
Technical
A precise category in publishing, writing competitions (e.g., 'novella length: 17,500 to 40,000 words'), and library cataloguing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjective form. Use 'novella-length' or 'in novella form']
American English
- [No standard adjective form. Use 'novella-length' or 'in novella form']
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This book is short. It is a novella.
- I read a good mystery novella last week; it was longer than a short story but a quick read.
- Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' is a seminal novella that explores themes of alienation and absurdity through its concise, focused narrative.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'novel-la'. A 'novel' is long, but 'la' sounds like 'little'. So, a 'novella' is a 'little novel'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LITERARY FORM IS A CONTAINER (of specific size/depth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'повесть' (povest'), which is a broader category. 'Novella' is a more specific, formal literary term. The direct translation 'новелла' (novella) exists but is less common than 'повесть' in Russian literary discourse.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'novella' to refer to any short story.
- Misspelling as 'novela' (which is Spanish for 'soap opera' or 'TV series').
- Pronouncing it /nɒˈvɛlə/ (with a hard 'o') instead of the correct /nə/ or /noʊ/.
Practice
Quiz
What is the typical word count range for a work to be classified as a novella?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Length and narrative scope. A novella is shorter (approx. 20k-50k words) and typically focuses on a single plot or character arc without the multiple subplots common in novels.
No, 'novella' is a term strictly for works of prose fiction. A non-fiction work of similar length would be called a 'monograph', 'essay', or simply a 'short book'.
They are very similar. 'Novelette' sometimes denotes a work even shorter than a novella (e.g., 7,500-20,000 words), but in general usage, they are often used interchangeably, with 'novella' being the more common term.
For conciseness and focus. The form allows for deeper exploration of a theme or character than a short story, while maintaining a tight, unified structure that can be more impactful than a longer, more diffuse novel.