farsa
“farsa” means “sham” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sham, mockery
Also: farce, charade
📝 In Action
La votación fue una farsa; los resultados ya estaban decididos de antemano.
B2The vote was a sham; the results were already decided beforehand.
No podemos permitir que este juicio se convierta en una farsa.
C1We cannot allow this trial to turn into a mockery.
Dejó la reunión porque dijo que todo era una farsa sin sentido.
B2She left the meeting because she said the whole thing was a senseless farce.
farce
Also: slapstick comedy
📝 In Action
El director eligió montar una farsa medieval para la temporada de verano.
C1The director chose to stage a medieval farce for the summer season.
La farsa se caracteriza por el humor exagerado y las situaciones inverosímiles.
C1The farce is characterized by exaggerated humor and implausible situations.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: farsa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'farsa' in its figurative meaning (sham/mockery)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'farsa' comes from the Old French word *farce*, which originally meant 'stuffing' or 'filling' (like stuffing a turkey). It was later applied to short, comical, and often improvised scenes that were 'stuffed' into longer, serious religious plays to entertain the audience. This theatrical meaning led to the modern sense of anything ridiculous or absurd.
First recorded: 15th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'farsa' una palabra formal o informal?
'Farsa' es una palabra neutra. Se usa en contextos serios (como noticias o política) para criticar una situación, pero también se puede usar en conversación diaria para describir algo ridículo.
If I want to say 'It was false,' should I use 'farsa'?
No. 'Farsa' is a noun describing a situation or event that is ridiculous or a pretense. To say 'It was false,' you should use the adjective 'falso' (Fue falso) or the noun 'mentira' (Fue una mentira).