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teatro

teh-AH-troh/teˈatɾo/

theater, theatre

NounmA1
A grand, ornate European theater building facade with large columns and a central entrance, lit brightly.

📝 In Action

Esta noche vamos al teatro a ver una comedia.

A1

Tonight we are going to the theater to see a comedy.

El teatro municipal es muy antiguo pero hermoso.

A2

The municipal theater is very old but beautiful.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coliseo (coliseum (large, historical theater))

Common Collocations

  • ir al teatro – to go to the theater
  • sala de teatro – theater hall/venue

drama, the stage

Also: playwriting
NounmB1
The two classic theatrical masks, one smiling (comedy) and one frowning (tragedy), overlapping slightly.

📝 In Action

Estudió historia del teatro en la universidad.

B1

He studied the history of drama/theatrical arts at the university.

El teatro clásico español es muy rico en personajes.

B2

Classical Spanish drama is very rich in characters.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dramaturgia (dramaturgy)
  • escena (the stage/scene)

Common Collocations

  • hacer teatro – to do acting/to practice drama

drama, show

Also: fuss
NounmB2informal
A cartoon character making an extremely exaggerated gesture of shock or distress, with arms flung wide and body bent dramatically.

📝 In Action

Deja el teatro y dime qué pasó de verdad.

B2

Stop the drama/show and tell me what really happened.

Su reacción fue puro teatro, no estaba realmente enfadada.

C1

Her reaction was pure theater/acting; she wasn't actually angry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • exageración (exaggeration)
  • escándalo (scandal/fuss)

Common Collocations

  • hacer teatro – to make a show/scene

Idioms & Expressions

  • puro teatro – completely fake or exaggerated behavior

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: teatro

Question 1 of 2

¿Cuál es el mejor significado para 'Deja el teatro y sé honesto'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
teatral(theatrical) — Adjective
teatrista(theater worker/dramatist) — Noun
actor(actor) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

This word comes from the Latin term *theatrum*, which itself came from the ancient Greek word *theatron*. The original Greek meaning was 'a place for viewing,' specifically referring to the semicircular seating area where spectators watched performances.

First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: theaterFrench: théâtrePortuguese: teatro

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'teatro' and 'obra de teatro'?

'Teatro' is the building (the physical place) or the art form (the general idea of drama). 'Obra de teatro' specifically means 'a play'—the individual performance or script you go to see.

How do I say 'movie theater'?

While 'teatro' strictly means live performance theater, the word for a movie theater is usually 'cine' (cinema) or 'sala de cine.'