Buffa
/ˈbʊfə/noun
A comic opera, especially opera buffa, or the feminine form of the Italian adjective meaning “comic.”
Did you know?Opera buffa emerged in eighteenth-century Italy as a popular comic counterpart to aristocratic opera seria, often portraying servants who outsmart their social superiors.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Latin and Romance development
Latin/Italian
buffare
“To jest or play the fool; the precise deeper origin is uncertain and may involve comic gestures or puffing the cheeks.”
16th Century
Italian
buffo
“Comic, funny, or clownish; also a comic performer.”
16th–17th Century
Italian
buffa
“Feminine form of buffo, meaning comic or clownish.”
18th Century
Italian
opera buffa
“Comic opera, typically featuring everyday characters, lively plots, and spoken or humorous elements.”
18th–19th Century
English
opera buffa
“An Italian comic opera genre adopted as an English musical term.”
Modern English
English
buffa
“A shortened or specialized form referring to comic opera, particularly in discussions of opera history.”
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