The word(s) "tale" appears 17 time(s) in 17 verse(s) in Quran in Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation.

(1) Of them there are some who (pretend to) listen to thee; but We have thrown veils on their hearts, So they understand it not, and deafness in their ears; if they saw every one of the signs, not they will believe in them; in so much that when they come to thee, they (but) dispute with thee; the Unbelievers say: "These are nothing but tales of the ancients."

(2) When Our Signs are rehearsed to them, they say: "We have heard this (before): if we wished, we could say (words) like these: these are nothing but tales of the ancients."

(3) They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is Allah (alone) Whose help can be sought"..

(4) He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me - from my (true) self." And one of her household saw (this) and bore witness, (thus):- "If it be that his shirt is rent from the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar!

(5) There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.

(6) When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "tales of the ancients!"

(7) Then sent We our messengers in succession: every time there came to a people their messenger, they accused him of falsehood: so We made them follow each other (in punishment): We made them as a tale (that is told): So away with a people that will not believe!

(8) "Such things have been promised to us and to our fathers before! they are nothing but tales of the ancients!"

(9) And they say: "tales of the ancients, which he has caused to be written: and they are dictated before him morning and evening."

(10) "It is true we were promised this,- we and our fathers before (us): these are nothing but tales of the ancients."