This week I'm looking at the term Prima donna

What is a prima donna?

Once again we are looking at a term straight out of the musical mater of Italy.

Translating as 'First Lady' the term originally means the principle female singer in a cast or an opera company.

This phrase entered common cultural usage in the 18th century when women became more commonly accepted as theatre personnel. Previously had been the era of the castrato when all roles had to be sung by men including the very highest.

Syntactic Development

Although prima donna is sometimes still used in the profession today the original phrase for such a position was even grander with the chief female singer alluded to as the 'prima donna assoluta' or absolute first Lady.

Such a term also exists in ballet today too with the 'prima ballerina assoluta’.

These terms have also become synonymous with another another Italian word 'diva' or goddess.

Unfortunately today in wider spoken dialogue 'prima donna' or 'diva' is more commonly used to describe anyone who behaves with a sense of conceit and undeserved self-righteousness.

 Yes a prima donna is more likely to be used to refer to a drama queen than to an operatic legend apart from the scarce occasion when the two overlap...

That's this week's Secco60 see you next week!