parable
C1Formal, Literary, Religious
Definition
Meaning
A short, simple story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson, often featuring human characters in everyday situations.
An allegorical narrative used to illustrate a principle or truth; sometimes extended to any concise, instructive story or analogy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Parables are distinct from fables (which often feature animals with human traits) and allegories (which are more sustained and systematic in their symbolism). A parable typically presents a single, clear moral lesson from a realistic scenario.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties, primarily in religious, literary, and academic contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Can also carry a slightly archaic or elevated tone when used outside religious contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general use for both varieties, with slightly higher frequency in culturally Christian communities or theological discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (of N)V N as a parableN serves as a parable for NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A living parable”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The company's rise and fall is a modern parable about unsustainable growth.'
Academic
Common in theology, literature, and religious studies departments. Used to analyse narrative techniques and moral philosophy.
Everyday
Uncommon. Understood by most educated speakers but seldom used in casual conversation outside specific references.
Technical
Specific term in narratology and hermeneutics for a short, realistic story with a didactic purpose.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Jesus told a parable about a good neighbour.
- The teacher read us a short parable.
- The parable of the prodigal son is very famous.
- He explained the idea using a simple parable.
- The film functions as a modern parable about corporate greed.
- Many of her sermons are built around a central parable from scripture.
- The novelist's work is replete with parables that critique social inequality.
- Philosophers have long debated the hermeneutic complexities within this deceptively simple parable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A PARABLE is a story told to be a PARALLEL to a moral truth.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (e.g., 'to see the meaning of the parable'), TEACHING IS STORYTELLING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'притча' (prɪtʃa) – это прямой эквивалент. Избегайте перевода как 'парабола' (geometric curve), 'басня' (fable with animals), или 'аллегория' (broader allegory).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'parable' to refer to any short story without a clear moral lesson.
- Confusing it with 'fable' (which uses anthropomorphised animals).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He parabled the idea' is non-standard).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most defining characteristic of a parable?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A parable uses human characters in plausible, everyday situations to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. A fable often uses animals, plants, or mythical creatures with human traits and typically concludes with an explicit moral.
No, 'parable' is exclusively a noun in modern English. While 'to parable' existed in Middle English, it is now obsolete.
No. While its most famous examples are from the Christian Bible, the narrative form exists in many religious and philosophical traditions (e.g., Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic). The term can be applied to similar instructive stories from any source.
It is pronounced /ˈpærəb(ə)l/ (PA-ruh-buhl), with stress on the first syllable, in both British and American English.
Collections
Part of a collection
Advanced Literary Vocabulary
C2 · 50 words · Technical terms for advanced literary analysis.