Standard Lemma guide

zarzuela

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /zɑɹˈzweɪlə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /zɑːˈzweɪlə/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A form of Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and usually a comic subject.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A Catalan fish soup or stew.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish zarzuela, probably from the Palace of Zarzuela, royal residence near Madrid where it was first performed.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: sarsuela — opera
  • Polish: zarzuela — opera
  • Spanish: zarzuela — opera
  • Catalan: sarsuela — fish soup
  • Catalan: sarsuela de peix — fish soup
  • Polish: zarzuela — fish soup
  • Spanish: zarzuela — fish soup
Real reading context

zarzuela in complete knowledge articles