Definition
Relating to or denoting literary works written in the form of letters, diary entries, or other documents. This narrative technique creates intimacy and authenticity by presenting the story through personal correspondence or private writings.
Etymology
From Latin 'epistolaris,' from 'epistola' meaning letter, derived from Greek 'epistole.' The epistolary novel emerged in the 18th century with works like Richardson's 'Pamela,' becoming a popular way to create realistic, intimate narratives.
Kelly Says
Epistolary novels were the social media of the 18th century—they felt so real and immediate that readers often believed they were reading actual private letters! Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' brilliantly uses this form, telling the vampire story through diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings that make the supernatural feel documentary-real.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ማህበራዊ
mah-heh-beh-rah-wee
BNবাংলা
পত্রাকার
poh-trah-kahr
CACatalà
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
CSČeština
epistolární
eh-pee-stoh-lahr-nee
DADansk
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
DEDeutsch
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
ELΕλληνικά
επιστολικός
eh-pee-stoh-lee-kohs
ESEspañol
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
FAفارسی
نامهای
nah-meh-ee
FISuomi
kirjallinen
keer-yah-leh-nee
FRFrançais
épistolaire
eh-pee-stoh-leh-reh
HEעברית
אפיסטולרי
e-pee-stoh-lah-ree
HIहिन्दी
पत्रात्मक
patraatmak
HUMagyar
levelezési
leh-veh-leh-zeh-see
IDBahasa Indonesia
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
IGIG
akwụkwọ
ah-kwoo-kwoh
ITItaliano
epistolare
eh-pee-stoh-lah-reh
MSBahasa Melayu
surat-menyurat
soo-rahht meh-nyoo-rahht
MYမြန်မာ
စာရေးသား
sah-yay thah
NLNederlands
epistolaar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
NONorsk
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
PLPolski
epistolarne
eh-pee-stoh-lahr-neh
PTPortuguês
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
RORomână
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
RUРусский
эпистолярный
eh-pee-stoh-lahr-nee
SVSvenska
epistolar
eh-pee-stoh-lahr
SWKiswahili
barua
bah-roo-ah
TAதமிழ்
கடித வடிவ
kah-dee-thah vah-dee-vah
TEతెలుగు
అక్షరాల
ahk-shah-rah-lah
TLTL
pang-epistola
pahng eh-pee-stoh-lah
TRTürkçe
mektup
mehk-toop
UKУкраїнська
епістолярний
eh-pee-stoh-lahr-nee
VITiếng Việt
thư từ
thoo thoo