French word

opéra

Pronunciation

IPA/opeʁa/

Meaning

  • masculine nounopera

Example

Je vais à l'opéra ce soir.

I am going to the opera tonight.

Illustration for opéra (opera)

More examples

Elle travaille à l'opéra comme costumière.

She works at the opera as a costume designer.

Core concept

A large theatrical work where characters reveal the plot through sustained singing.

Common phrases

  • aller voir un opéra

    go see an opera

  • des billets pour l'opéra

    tickets for the opera

  • salle d'opéra

    opera house

Similar words

théâtre: Storytelling on stage through actors' spoken lines and dramatic performance.
concert: A live event centered on music performed by instruments or voices for listeners.

Definition in French

Genre musical et théâtral où l'intrigue et les émotions sont principalement exprimées par le chant.

Word origin

Italian opera supplied French opéra, ultimately from Latin opus 'work'; the sense narrowed from a work in general to a work of musical theatre.

Usage tips

  • The phrase à l'opéra uses the elided article l' after à, as in Je vais à l'opéra ce soir.

Other meanings

  • opera housenoun

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