comedia
“comedia” means “comedy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
comedy
Also: comic show
📝 In Action
Mi película favorita es una comedia romántica muy divertida.
A1My favorite movie is a very funny romantic comedy.
Prefiero ver una comedia antes que una película de terror.
A2I prefer watching a comedy over a horror movie.
¿Viste esa comedia de enredos? ¡No paré de reír!
B1Did you see that screwball comedy? I couldn't stop laughing!
mess, farce
Also: drama
📝 In Action
Llegamos tarde al aeropuerto y fue toda una comedia para encontrar el pasaporte.
B1We arrived late at the airport and it was a complete mess trying to find the passport.
La reunión fue una comedia; nadie sabía qué hacer.
B2The meeting was a farce; nobody knew what to do.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comedia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'comedia' in its informal sense, meaning 'a ridiculous situation'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'comoedia,' which itself came from the ancient Greek 'kōmōidía.' This Greek word is a combination of 'kōmos' (meaning 'revel' or 'village festival') and 'aoidē' (meaning 'song'). It literally meant 'a revelry song,' referring to the festive, humorous dramas performed during ancient Greek festivals.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'comedia' always related to humor?
Usually, yes. The primary modern meaning of 'comedia' is a humorous performance. However, historically, in classical Spanish literature (like the Spanish Golden Age), 'comedia' was sometimes used to describe *any* full-length dramatic play, regardless of whether it was funny or tragic.
How do you say 'comedian'?
The word for a person who performs comedy is 'comediante' (which can be used for both men and women) or sometimes 'cómico/cómica'.