German word

Operette

Pronunciation

IPA/opəˈʁɛtə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounoperetta

Example

Wir sehen heute eine Operette.

We're seeing an operetta today.

Illustration for Operette (operetta)

More examples

In Wien ist die Operette ein beliebtes Genre für leichte Unterhaltung.

In Vienna, operetta is a popular genre for light entertainment.

Core concept

A stage show where catchy songs and spoken scenes carry a lighter, often comic story than a traditional opera.

Common phrases

  • eine Operette sehen

    see an operetta

  • eine Operette besuchen

    attend an operetta

  • eine Operette aufführen

    perform an operetta

Similar words

Musical: A commercial music-theater production combining songs, dialogue, dance, and elaborate staging.
Oper: A vocal-centered stage work with little dialogue and demanding singing and instrumental performance.
Singspiel: A German stage form mixing spoken dialogue and songs, often based on folk tales or comedy.

Definition in German

Operette ist ein Musiktheatergenre, das gegenüber der Oper leichteres musikalisches Material und mehr gesprochenen Text aufweist und meist der Unterhaltung dient.

Word origin

German Operette came through French opérette, the diminutive of opéra, and entered German as a name for this smaller-scale musical form.

Usage tips

  • Operette is feminine, so the standard forms are die Operette, eine Operette, and die Operetten in the plural.

Opposites

Related words

  • Operettensängeroperetta singernoun
  • Operettenmusikoperetta musicnoun
  • operettenhaftoperetta-likeadjective

Word lists with this word