librettos

IPA/lɪˈbret.əʊ/
IPA/lɪˈbret̬.oʊ/

librettos — noun

  • librettossingular
  • librettosesplural

1. The written text of an opera, musical, or other sung stage work, containing all

1.名詞C1
釋義

The written text of an opera, musical, or other sung stage work, containing all the words that the performers sing or speak on stage.

例句

Before attending the opera, Defne read the libretto to follow the story more closely.

read the libretto before watching (preparation strategy)

The university library keeps dozens of librettos from famous Broadway musicals in its archive.

plural librettos with archive/storage collocation

同義詞
  • lyrics

    Refers only to the sung words of a song, not the spoken dialogue of an opera or musical

  • script

    Used for plays and films; a libretto is a script that is specifically set to music

  • text

    A more general term; 'libretto' specifies a text written for a musical stage work

文法句型

the + libretto + of + [work]

[person] + write/compose + a/the libretto

用法筆記

This word is almost always encountered in the singular form 'libretto'. The plural 'librettos' (and much less commonly 'libretti') is used when referring to multiple texts. A person who writes librettos is called a 'librettist'.

常見錯誤

❌I bought the librettos of La Traviata.' (when referring to one book)
✅I bought the libretto of La Traviata.
💡'libretto' is singular; 'librettos' is the plural form for multiple works.