saga
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a long story about a series of events, often involving many people or a long time.
a long and complicated series of events or a detailed account of them, often used to describe family histories or dramatic situations.
Simple“The whole saga of moving house took six months and caused a lot of stress.”
In context“The family saga spans three generations, detailing their rise from poverty to becoming one of the most influential dynasties in the country.”
UsageOften used with 'the whole' or 'the entire' to emphasize how long or annoying a situation is.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a traditional story from the Middle Ages about heroes and history in Iceland or Norway.
a medieval Icelandic or Norse prose narrative involving historical or legendary figures and family histories.
Simple“In school, we read a famous saga about a Viking hero and his travels.”
In context“Scholars continue to debate the historical accuracy of the Icelandic sagas, weighing oral tradition against archaeological evidence.”
Teacher's tipWhen used in this historical sense, it is often capitalized as 'Saga'.