Italian word
melodrama
melodrama; in Italian also refers specifically to opera
Looks like
melodrama
an exaggerated, emotional drama
⚠️ The trap
In Italian, 'melodramma' is the formal/historical term for opera as a genre. Calling something 'melodrammatico' means overly theatrical — just like English 'melodramatic'. But in historical contexts, 'melodramma' = opera, not a pejorative.
To say "an exaggerated, emotional drama" in Italian:
melodramma (the classical term for opera)
"melodrama" in English means:
melodrama; in Italian also refers specifically to opera
Example
"Il melodramma italiano ha raggiunto il suo apice con Verdi e Puccini."
"Italian melodrama (opera) reached its peak with Verdi and Puccini."
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