telenovela

[tel-uh-noh-vel-uh]

noun

1. (in Latin America and Hispanic communities) a television soap opera, usually having a limited number of episodes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of telenovela¹

First recorded in 1960–65; from Spanish, equivalent to tele- tele- ¹ ( def. ) + novela “novel, serial drama”; novel ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

That may sound like a telenovela.

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I just was like, I want to make the telenovela and set it to disco music … something electronic, glamorous.

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What was your first memory of watching a telenovela?

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It shows in “Inebria me,” where she employs the classic narrative structure of the telenovela, but with a queer twist.

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I wanted to make a telenovela set to music.

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