meilhac: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal / Historical / Specialized
Quick answer
What does “meilhac” mean?
A French surname, historically associated with notable figures like Henri Meilhac (French dramatist and librettist).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A French surname, historically associated with notable figures like Henri Meilhac (French dramatist and librettist).
Primarily used as a proper noun referring to individuals with that surname or locations named after them. In historical or cultural contexts, it often refers specifically to Henri Meilhac and his collaborative work with Ludovic Halévy on operettas for Jacques Offenbach.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage between UK and US English, as the term is a French proper name adopted into English contexts.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of 19th-century French theatre, opera, and literary history. Associated with sophistication and classic comedy.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage. Appears almost exclusively in historical, musical, or literary texts discussing French culture.
Grammar
How to Use “meilhac” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] + [Verb in past tense: collaborated, wrote][Play/Operetta] + [Preposition: by] + MeilhacVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in papers on 19th-century French literature, opera history, or theatre studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in musicology, librettology, and historical biography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meilhac”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meilhac”
- Mispronouncing the 'lh' as an English 'l' sound (it's a palatal glide /j/).
- Misspelling as 'Meilac' or 'Meilhack'.
- Using it as a common noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a French surname adopted into English when referring to that specific person or his work.
It is pronounced approximately 'may-YAK'. The 'lh' creates a /j/ sound (like 'y' in 'yes').
Henri Meilhac, with his collaborator Ludovic Halévy, wrote the libretti for many of Jacques Offenbach's most famous operettas, which are staples of the genre.
Only if referring to multiple people with that surname (e.g., 'the Meilhacs were a literary family'). It is not a countable common noun.
A French surname, historically associated with notable figures like Henri Meilhac (French dramatist and librettist).
Meilhac is usually formal / historical / specialized in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MAY-yak'. He MAY have YAKked (talked) a lot to write those comedies.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NAME IS A KEY: 'Meilhac' is the key to understanding a specific era of French theatrical collaboration.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Meilhac' primarily known as?