Qissah
/ˈkɪs.ə/noun
A traditional tale, narrative, or story, especially in South Asian literary traditions.
Did you know?The Arabic root behind qissah is connected not only with storytelling but also with following tracks, as though a narrative were a path revealing what happened.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*qṣṣ
“To cut off, follow a track, or trace a sequence; the reconstructed root underlying later Arabic narrative meanings.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
qiṣṣah (قِصَّة)
“A story, tale, or narrative; literally associated with tracing or recounting events in sequence.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
qiṣaṣ (قِصَص)
“Stories or narratives, including the religious and moral stories of the Qur’an.”
Medieval Persian and Urdu
Persian/Urdu
qissa / qissah
“A tale, romance, or extended narrative, especially a performed or literary story.”
Modern English
English
qissa / qissah
“A traditional tale or story, particularly one associated with South Asian storytelling.”