zarzuela

UK: /zɑːˈzweɪlə/

US: (zär zwā′lə, -zwē′-; Sp. thär thwe′lä, sär swe′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

zar•zue•la  (zär zwā′lə, -zwē′-; Sp. thär thwe′lä, sär swe′-), n., pl. -las (-ləz; Sp. -läs). 

1. Foreign Terms, Music and Dance a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme.

• Spanish, after La Zarzuela, palace near Madrid where first performance took place (1629)
• 1885–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

zarzuela / zɑːˈzweɪlə/ noun

1. a type of Spanish vaudeville or operetta, usually satirical in nature
2. a seafood stew

Etymology: from Spanish, from La Zarzuela, name of the palace near Madrid where such vaudeville was first performed (1629)