What is the Latin word for opera?

The usual Latin words for “opera” are melicus, edō, opus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“opera” in Latin

melicusmusical, tuneful, melodious; lyrical edōto eat opuswork, labor, accomplishment; workmanship, artwork, work (of art, literature, etc.); need, necessity

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

opera

*drama musicum, melicum: opera-house, *theatrum ubi dramata melica aguntur, eduntur: opera singer, *actor, cantor dramatis musici, melici; feminine, *cantrix dramatica.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for opera?: The usual Latin words for “opera” are melicus, edō, opus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.