prima donna: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal & Informal (pejorative in extended sense)
Quick answer
What does “prima donna” mean?
A leading female opera singer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A leading female opera singer.
A person who is very temperamental, demanding, and difficult to work with, especially one who is conceited or overly sensitive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use the original Italian term and its extended meaning.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in the extended sense in both dialects. The original operatic meaning is neutral and technical.
Frequency
Slightly more common in cultural/literary contexts in British English, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “prima donna” in a Sentence
She is a prima donna.He's behaving like a prima donna.He's being a prima donna about the schedule.The director couldn't stand her prima donna antics.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prima donna” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He started to prima donna his way through the rehearsals, demanding special treatment.
American English
- She primadonna'd her way out of the project when she didn't get the lead role.
adjective
British English
- His prima donna behaviour was unacceptable for a team project.
American English
- She has a very prima-donna attitude about her office space.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe a difficult, self-important colleague or executive.
Academic
Rare. Might be used in critiques of historical figures or in performance studies discussing the original operatic role.
Everyday
Common in describing someone perceived as overly demanding or sensitive in work, family, or social settings.
Technical
Standard term in opera and classical music for the leading female singer.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prima donna”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “prima donna”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prima donna”
- Misspelling as 'prema donna' or 'prima dona'.
- Using it as a compliment (it is almost always a criticism in modern extended use).
- Applying it only to women (it can be used for any gender, though the original is feminine).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While its origin is feminine (Italian for 'first lady'), the extended, pejorative meaning is commonly applied to anyone, regardless of gender, who displays the associated temperamental behaviour.
In its extended meaning, yes, it is a criticism. It labels someone as self-important, difficult, and overly sensitive. The original operatic meaning is a neutral job description.
They are very similar. 'Diva' also originates from opera ('goddess') and carries the same dual meaning. In modern usage, 'diva' can sometimes have a slightly more positive connotation in pop culture (e.g., 'pop diva'), whereas 'prima donna' is almost exclusively negative outside of opera.
It is now a fully naturalised English term (a loanword). It should be written in regular roman font, not italics, and does not need quotation marks.
A leading female opera singer.
Prima donna is usually formal & informal (pejorative in extended sense) in register.
Prima donna: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpriːmə ˈdɒnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌprimə ˈdɑːnə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No direct idioms, but the term itself is idiomatic in its extended use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PRIMAry DONNA' - she wants to be the primary (first) lady in every situation, demanding centre stage.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSON IS A PERFORMER (specifically, a difficult star performer).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'prima donna' used neutrally or positively?