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B1🎨 Art & Culture

Italian word

lirica

lyric poetry; also opera (short for 'opera lirica')

Looks like

lyric / lyrics

lyrics = the words of a song; lyric = a short poem expressing emotion

⚠️ The trap

'La lirica' in everyday Italian speech means 'opera' (as in opera lirica). If you say 'amo la lirica' to an Italian, they think you love opera — not lyrics. Song lyrics are 'il testo' or 'le parole della canzone'.

To say "lyrics = the words of a song; lyric = a short poem expressing emotion" in Italian:

lirica (poetry/opera genre); testo (for song lyrics)

"lirica" in English means:

lyric poetry; also opera (short for 'opera lirica')

Example

"Amo la lirica — vado all'opera almeno una volta al mese."

"I love opera — I go at least once a month."

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