Monogatari
/ˌmoʊnoʊɡəˈtɑːri/noun
A Japanese narrative, tale, or literary work, especially one associated with classical Japanese storytelling.
Did you know?In classical Japan, monogatari could include supernatural beings, courtly desire, poetry, and psychological realism—most famously in The Tale of Genji.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Japanese
Proto-Japanese
*mono
“A thing, object, or being; later also something uncanny or spiritually significant in compounds.”
Old Japanese
Old Japanese
mono
“Thing, object, person, or mysterious presence.”
Old Japanese
Old Japanese
kataru
“To tell, speak, or recount.”
8th Century
Old Japanese
katari
“A telling, recitation, or narrative formed from kataru.”
10th–11th Century
Classical Japanese
monogatari
“A tale or narrative; a major literary genre of the Heian court.”
Modern Japanese
Japanese
物語
“Story, tale, narrative, or literary fiction; literally, “thing-telling.””
Explore more surprising origins