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melodrama

melodrama

noun meh-loh-DRAH-mah Rare

Origin: From Greek melos (song) + drama (action, play).

Usage Note

Melodrama is a masculine noun despite ending in -a — like drama, tema, and other Greek-origin words in -ma. It can refer literally to a stage genre combining music and drama, or figuratively to excessive emotional display (¡qué melodrama!, what a drama!). The adjective is melodramático.

Examples

"La telenovela es un puro melodrama."

Natural Translation

The soap opera is pure melodrama.

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