Definition
A person who writes novels; an author of fictional narrative works.
Etymology
Derived from 'novel' plus the suffix '-ist.' The word 'novel' comes from Italian novella, meaning 'new story,' from Latin novus (new). The term 'novelist' emerged in the 18th century as the novel became recognized as a distinct literary form.
Kelly Says
The word 'novelist' is relatively young compared to 'poet' - it only became common when novels gained respectability as an art form in the 1700s. Before then, fiction writers were often dismissed as mere entertainers rather than serious artists.
Translations
BNবাংলা
ঔপন্যাসিক
oup-nyaas-ik
CACatalà
escriptor
eh-skree-ptohr
CSČeština
románový spisovatel
roh-mah-noh-vee spih-soh-vah-tel
DADansk
forfatter
fohr-fah-tah
DEDeutsch
Romanautor
roh-mahn-ow-tohr
ELΕλληνικά
μυθιστοριογράφος
mithistoree-yoh-grah-fos
ESEspañol
novelista
noh-veh-LEE-stah
FAفارسی
رماننویس
romaan-nevis
FISuomi
kirjailija
keer-yah-ee-lah
FRFrançais
romancier
roh-mahhn-see-eh
GUGU
નવલકથાકાર
na-va-la-kah-tha-kaar
HAHA
marubuci
mah-roo-boo-chee
HIहिन्दी
उपन्यासकार
oop-nyaas-kaar
HUMagyar
regényíró
reh-gehn-yee-roh
IDBahasa Indonesia
penulis
peh-NOO-lis
IGIG
onye edemede
oh-nyeh eh-deh-meh-deh
ITItaliano
scrittore
skree-TTOH-reh
KKKK
романшы
roh-mahn-shy
KMKM
អ្នកនិពន្ធ
nek ni-bun
MRMR
कादंबरीकार
kaa-dam-ba-ree-kaar
MSBahasa Melayu
penulis
peh-NOO-lis
MYမြန်မာ
ဝတ္ထုရေးသူ
wut-thu-yay-thu
NLNederlands
romanschrijver
roh-mahns-khree-y-ver
NONorsk
forfatter
fohr-fah-tah
PAPA
ਨਾਵਲਕਾਰ
naa-va-la-kaar
PLPolski
powieściopisarz
poh-vee-eh-stsee-pah-sarsh
PTPortuguês
romancista
hoh-mahhn-SEE-stah
RORomână
romancier
roh-mahn-see-eh
RUРусский
романист
roh-mah-NEEST
SVSvenska
författare
fohr-fah-tah-reh
SWKiswahili
mwandishi wa riwaya
m-wah-n-dee-shee wah ree-wah-yah
TAதமிழ்
நாவலாசிரியர்
naa-va-laas-iriyar
TEతెలుగు
నవలా రచయిత
na-va-la ra-chay-ta
THไทย
นักเขียนนวนิยาย
nak kian nuan yiay
TLTL
manggagawa ng nobela
mahng-gah-gah-wah ng noh-beh-lah
TRTürkçe
romancı
roh-mahn-jee
UKУкраїнська
романіст
roh-mah-NEEST
URاردو
ناول نگار
naa-ool nagaar
VITiếng Việt
nhà văn
nya vun
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically, 'novelist' was coded male; women writers were often called 'lady novelists' or faced diminishment. This gender marker persists in residual cultural assumptions about literary authority and whose work 'counts' as serious fiction.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'novelist' neutrally for all writers regardless of gender. The term itself is gender-neutral but awareness of its historical usage can prevent unconscious diminishment of women writers.
Empowerment Note
Women like Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and George Eliot fought for recognition as serious novelists on equal footing with male contemporaries, reshaping the literary canon.