lírico
“lírico” means “lyrical” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
lyrical
Also: poetic
📝 In Action
El autor tiene un estilo lírico muy marcado.
B2The author has a very distinct lyrical style.
Escribió un poema lírico sobre la naturaleza.
B1He wrote a lyrical poem about nature.
Su discurso fue tan lírico que emocionó al público.
C1His speech was so poetic that it moved the audience.
lyric
Also: operatic
📝 In Action
Él es un tenor lírico con una voz potente.
B2He is a lyric tenor with a powerful voice.
La temporada lírica del teatro empieza en mayo.
C1The theater's operatic season begins in May.
Ella prefiere el arte lírico sobre el teatro moderno.
B2She prefers operatic art over modern theater.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lírico
Question 1 of 3
If you want to say a song has beautiful words, should you say 'el lírico de la canción'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'lyricus', which came from the Greek 'lyrikos'. It originally described songs that were meant to be played on a 'lyre' (a small harp-like instrument).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'lírico' only refer to opera?
No! While it's very common in the opera world to describe voices (like a 'lyric tenor'), it's also used in literature to describe any writing that is emotional and poetic.
What is the difference between 'poético' and 'lírico'?
They are very similar! 'Poético' is the general word for anything that feels like poetry. 'Lírico' is slightly more specific, focusing on the expression of the author's internal feelings and the musical rhythm of the words.
Is 'lírico' a common word in daily conversation?
It is more of a 'book word' or 'artsy word'. You likely won't hear it at the grocery store, but you will see it in newspapers, books, and when people discuss music or movies.