zarzuela

[ zahr-zwey-luh, -zwee-; Spanish thahr-thwe-lah, sahr-swe- ]

noun

, plural zar·zue·las [zahr-, zwey, -l, uh, z, -, zwee, -, thah, r, -, thwe, -lahs, sah, r, -, swe, -].

1. a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme.

zarzuela

/ zɑːˈzweɪlə /

noun

1. a type of Spanish vaudeville or operetta, usually satirical in nature
2. a seafood stew

Word History and Origins

Origin of zarzuela¹

1885–90; < Spanish, after La Zarzuela, palace near Madrid where first performance took place (1629)

Word History and Origins

Origin of zarzuela¹

from Spanish, from La Zarzuela, name of the palace near Madrid where such vaudeville was first performed (1629)

Example Sentences

The habanera’s strict dotted 3 + 1 pattern was handed down to the Spanish zarzuela, the Cuban danzon, the Brazilian maxixe and the Argentinian and Uruguayan tango.

From Literature