soap opera
die Seifenoper, die Seifenopern
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soap opera
A television series, usually broadcast daily, with an ongoing storyline that focuses mainly on the characters’ personal relationships and problems.
Meine Großmutter schaut jeden Nachmittag eine Seifenoper im Fernsehen.
My grandmother watches a soap opera on television every afternoon.
soap opera
A clichéd or melodramatic story or situation involving many emotional conflicts and complications.
Der Streit in der Familie entwickelte sich zu einer echten Seifenoper.
The dispute in the family turned into a real soap opera.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Seifenopern |
| genitive | der Seifenoper |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Seifenoper | die Seifenopern |
| accusative | die Seifenoper | die Seifenopern |
| dative | der Seifenoper | den Seifenopern |
| genitive | der Seifenoper | der Seifenopern |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Seifenoper' (soap opera) is made up of 'Seifen' (soap) and 'Oper' (opera), but it is not meant literally. The element 'Seifen' (soap) is a reminder that early radio series in the United States were financed by soap manufacturers.
In dieser Seifenoper wird viel gestritten, aber keine Oper gesungen.
There is a lot of arguing in this soap opera, but nobody sings an opera.
Typical collocations include 'eine Seifenoper verfolgen' (to follow a soap opera) and 'eine Seifenoper läuft im Fernsehen' (a soap opera is on television). With 'verfolgen' (to follow), you emphasize that you watch the storyline regularly.
Ich verfolge diese Seifenoper schon seit meinem Studium.
I've been following this soap opera since I was a student.
When referring to real people and their conflicts, a comparison with 'wie eine Seifenoper' (like a soap opera) often signals the figurative meaning. This use is usually mocking or derogatory and can portray the problems of the people involved as excessively dramatic.
Die ständigen Trennungen und Versöhnungen der beiden wirken auf mich wie eine Seifenoper.
The couple's constant breakups and reconciliations seem like a soap opera to me.
