operetta

/ˌɒpəˈretə/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɑːpəˈretə/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌä-pə-ˈre-tə/ (ame, mw)

operetta — noun

  • operettasingular
  • operettasplural

1. a shorter kind of opera with a light or playful story, often mixing songs with s

1.名詞C2
釋義

a shorter kind of opera with a light or playful story, often mixing songs with spoken parts and sometimes dance

例句

Yael wrote a cheerful operetta for the school festival.

pattern: write an operetta

The theater is staging a Viennese operetta this weekend.

collocation: stage an operetta

同義詞
  • comic opera

    the closest formal term; often overlaps, though it sounds more classification-like

  • opera

    the broader category; usually longer or more serious in tone

  • musical

    usually has more spoken dialogue and a more modern song style

文法句型

write an operetta

perform an operetta

star in an operetta

用法筆記

Usually countable when you mean one show or written work. It is often contrasted with opera to suggest a lighter mood, a smaller scale, and more spoken dialogue.

常見錯誤

❌We saw a grand operetta by Verdi.
✅We saw a grand opera by Verdi.
💡'operetta' usually suggests a lighter, smaller work than a full opera.
❌The band played an operetta during dinner.
✅The company performed an operetta at the theater.
💡an operetta is a staged dramatic work, not just background music.