Savoyard

[ suh-voi-erd, sav-oi-ahrd; French sa-vwa-yar ]

noun

, plural Sa·voy·ards [s, uh, -, voi, -erdz, sav-oi-, ahrdz, s, a, -vw, a, -, yar].

1. a native or inhabitant of Savoy.
2. a person enthusiastic about or connected with Gilbert and Sullivan operas: so called from the Savoy Theater in London, where the operas were first presented.

adjective

1. of or relating to Savoy, its people, or their dialect.

Savoyard

¹

/ savwajar; səˈvɔɪɑːd /

noun

1. a native of Savoy
2. the dialect of French spoken in Savoy

adjective

1. of or relating to Savoy, its inhabitants, or their dialect

Savoyard

²

/ səˈvɔɪɑːd /

noun

1. a person keenly interested in the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan
2. a person who takes part in these operettas

Word History and Origins

Origin of Savoyard¹

From French, dating back to 1690–1700; Savoy, -ard

Word History and Origins

Origin of Savoyard¹

C20: from the Savoy Theatre, built in London in 1881 by Richard D'Oyly Carte for the presentation of operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan

Example Sentences

She was also a choreographer for the Washington Savoyards for 10 years and for other local amateur theater groups.

From Washington Post

The chef, who is never without his black Savoyard hat, had lambasted “incompetent” Michelin inspectors who he said claimed he had used English Cheddar cheese in a soufflé instead of French Reblochon.

From The Guardian

Think of this as a Club Med for Savoyards, the term for devotees of Gilbert & Sullivan’s effervescent art.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet while those cultists known as Savoyards may find fault, this “Pirates” turns out to be the most charmingly relaxed production of a Gilbert and Sullivan work that I’ve come across.

From New York Times

New recruits were initiated into la yape, pilfering in Savoyard slang, but those who refused were excluded.

From The Guardian