teatro
/teh-AH-troh/
theater
The word teatro refers to the physical building where plays and performances are held.
📝 In Action
Esta noche vamos al teatro a ver una comedia.
A1Tonight we are going to the theater to see a comedy.
El teatro municipal es muy antiguo pero hermoso.
A2The municipal theater is very old but beautiful.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember that 'teatro' is always masculine, so we use 'el' or 'un' before it, like 'el teatro' or 'un teatro'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'La' instead of 'El'
Mistake: "La teatro"
Correction: El teatro. Even though the word ends in '-o,' it's always good practice to verify the gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Referring to the performance
While 'teatro' is the building, people often say 'Vamos al teatro' even when they mean 'let's go see the play.'
Teatro also describes the art form of drama and stage performance.
teatro(noun)
drama
?the art form
,the stage
?as a profession/field
playwriting
?the genre/literary form
📝 In Action
Estudió historia del teatro en la universidad.
B1He studied the history of drama/theatrical arts at the university.
El teatro clásico español es muy rico en personajes.
B2Classical Spanish drama is very rich in characters.
⭐ Usage Tips
Linking to the Arts
When referring to the academic or artistic discipline, you often use prepositions like 'de' or 'en' (e.g., 'clases de teatro,' 'trabajo en teatro').
Colloquially, teatro can mean unnecessary drama or exaggerated behavior, like making a huge fuss over a small issue.
teatro(noun)
drama
?exaggerated behavior/fuss
,show
?a scene or spectacle
fuss
?excessive display of emotion
📝 In Action
Deja el teatro y dime qué pasó de verdad.
B2Stop the drama/show and tell me what really happened.
Su reacción fue puro teatro, no estaba realmente enfadada.
C1Her reaction was pure theater/acting; she wasn't actually angry.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Criticism
This meaning is almost always used negatively to criticize someone who is being overly dramatic or pretending to feel something.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: teatro
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es el mejor significado para 'Deja el teatro y sé honesto'?
📚 More Resources
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.'