3 syllables: No, vel, la. Stress on vel.
noh-VEL-uh
/noʊˈvɛlə/
Novella is pronounced noh-VEL-uh (/noʊˈvɛlə/). It has three syllables (No-vel-la), with the stress on "vel". Novella is a short novel, typically longer than a short story but shorter than a full-length novel. It focuses on a concise narrative and a limited set of characters, allowing more depth than a story while maintaining brisk pacing and clarity. The term emphasizes literary brevity and focused storytelling rather than length or complexity of plot.
nounNovella is a short novel, typically longer than a short story but shorter than a full-length novel. It focuses on a concise narrative and a limited set of characters, allowing more depth than a story while maintaining brisk pacing and clarity. The term emphasizes literary brevity and focused storytelling rather than length or complexity of plot.
- You may stress the first or last syllable (NO-vel-la or no-vel-LA). Practice placing emphasis on the second syllable to match standard English pronunciation: no-VEL-la. - Vowel mispronunciations in the middle syllable: avoid lax or tense vowels; keep /vɛl/ with a short e as in bet, not /viːl/ or /veɪl/. - Final vowel length: avoid over-pronouncing the final /ə/; keep it light and quick. - Blend awareness: ensure /vl/ isn’t pronounced as distinct /v/ and /l/ with a heavy vowel before them; instead, transition crisply from /v/ to /l/ with a short preceding vowel. - Listen and imitate: rely on native speaker audio to hear the exact rhythm and mouth positions.
"She published a captivating novella that explored identity through a single character."
"The museum's exhibit included a novella-like leaflet that told a concise historical tale."
"During the festival, the author read an excerpt from her soon-to-be-published novella."
The standard pronunciation is no-ˈvɛl-ə in US and UK English; stress on the second syllable: no-VEL-la. Begin with the unstressed 'no' as /nə/ or /noʊ/, then 'VEL' as /vɛl/ with a short e as in 'bet,' and finish with 'la' as /ə/ (schwa). Australian pronunciation remains similar: /nəˈvɛl.ə/. Audio references include standard dictionaries and pronunciation tools; listen for the clear syllabic stress on the middle syllable and the light final syllable /ə/.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (no-VEL-la vs NO-vel-la), substituting /æ/ or a lax vowel in the middle (næ-VEL-ə) and over-pronouncing the final /a/ as /ɑː/. Correction: keep the middle syllable stressed: no-VEL-la with /vɛl/; use a short, relaxed final /ə/. Practice the transition from /nə/ to /vɛl/ to ensure crisp consonants and avoid an over-enunciated ending.
In US/UK/AU, the primary variation is vowel quality and rhoticity. US tends to have a slightly higher, tenser /ɛ/ in /vɛl/ and rhotic alignment on the preceding consonants; UK often maintains a crisper /ˈvɛl/ with non-rhotic tendencies in some dialects, and AU mirrors US vowel quality with similar rhotic articulation. The final /ə/ remains a schwa in all. Overall, the middle syllable vowel and the smooth transition from /n/ to /v/ are the most consistent anchors across accents.
The challenge lies in the two-consonant cluster /vl/ in the middle and the light final /ə/. Keeping the /v/ and /l/ distinct without creating a blended /vl/ sound requires precise tongue placement: tongue blade near the alveolar ridge for /v/ and the tip for /l/. Also ensure the middle vowel /ɛ/ is short and not reduced to /ə/ or /ɪ/. Finally, the final schwa /ə/ should be quick and unstressed, not a drawn-out vowel.
Yes. Novella is a three-syllable word with primary stress on the second syllable: no-VEL-la. This stress pattern helps create a natural rhythm in speech, ensuring the middle syllable stands out without elongating the entire word. Practicing with a slight pause before and after the stressed syllable can improve clarity in connected speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Novella"!
- US: rhotic, keep a relaxed /ɚ/ or /ər/ on the final syllable if you’re pronouncing with a slight vowel, but typically final /ə/ remains a schwa. - UK: crisper consonants, avoid overly open vowels in /ɛ/; ensure length and sharp onset for /v/ and /l/. - AU: similar to US, but with subtle vowel quality shifts; maintain non-rhotic feel in some dialects; keep final /ə/ light. - IPA references: /nəˈvɛlə/ or /nɒˈvɛlə/ depending on vowel shift; ensure accurate rounding of /v/ and soft /l/.
Novella comes from the Italian word novella meaning 'a short story' or 'new thing,' diminutive of nuovo 'new' and novella being a feminine diminutive form. The term entered English through literary Italian usage during the 17th century as a label for concise prose works. Historically, novellas gained prominence in 18th- and 19th-century European prose, where writers used brevity to experiment with narrative focus and character insight. The word’s meaning has repeatedly shifted with literary trends, but it consistently conveys a shorter, more focused narrative than a full-length novel. First known use in English literature appears in translations and critiques of Italian and continental European prose, signaling a recognized category distinct from both short stories and full novels by the 1700s–1800s period.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Novella" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Novella" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Novella" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Novella"
-lla sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
