Pronunciation: [tˈe͡ɪlz] (IPA) 
The word "tales" is spelled with the letters T-A-L-E-S. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /teɪlz/. The "t" is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar plosive sound, followed by the diphthong "ay" which is an open front unrounded vowel followed by a glide. The final "s" is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar fricative sound. This word is commonly used to refer to fictional or true stories that are passed down through generations.
Tales, as a noun, refers to a collection or narrative work of individual stories, often involving fictional or imagined events or characters. These stories usually focus on adventures, legends, or anecdotes that are passed down orally or through written texts. Tales often carry cultural or historical significance, portraying different aspects of human experience such as love, bravery, morality, or specific cultural traditions.
The term "tales" can also indicate a specific genre of storytelling that includes folktales, fairy tales, fables, or myths. Folktales are anonymous stories that have been orally transmitted within a particular culture, reflecting the beliefs, traditions, and values of that community. Fairy tales frequently include mythical creatures, magic, and enchantment, often intended for children's entertainment or moral instruction. Fables are short narrative texts, often involving talking animals, that convey a specific moral or lesson. Myths, on the other hand, are traditional stories that explain natural phenomena, the origin of the world, or the deeds and adventures of gods, goddesses, or supernatural beings.
Overall, the term "tales" encompasses a wide range of narrative forms and storytelling practices from various cultures throughout history. These stories offer entertainment, education, and insight into the human condition, while also preserving cultural heritage and passing down moral values from one generation to another.
In law, at a trial, qualified men who happen to be present taken, by permission of the judge, to make up the insufficiency in the number of the jurors, occasioned by challenges or other causes.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "tales" originated from Middle English, which derived from Old English "talas" or "talu". The Old English term "talas" meant "story" or "telling", but its roots can be traced back to the Old Norse word "tala", meaning "speech" or "number". Ultimately, both the Old English and Old Norse words can be linked to the Proto-Germanic word "talō", which meant "counting" or "reckoning". Over time, the term "tales" came to refer to narratives, stories, or accounts of events.
