noun
opera
B1
Oper (die Oper) means ‘opera’, referring to the musical-drama genre, a specific performance, or the opera house/venue. It’s a feminine noun (die Oper) with plural Opern. Declension follows standard patterns (nominative die Oper, genitive der Oper, dative den Opern). Context decides meaning.
Examples
Wir gehen heute Abend in die Oper.
We're going to the opera tonight.
Die Musiker probten die Ouvertüre aus der Oper, nachdem der Dirigent das Signal gegeben hatte.
The musicians rehearsed the overture from the opera after the conductor had given the signal.
Wir gehen heute Abend in die Oper und sehen uns 'Die Zauberflöte' an.
Tonight we're going to the opera to see 'The Magic Flute'.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a grand opera house with a sign that says 'Oper' in German.
Like English 'opera' — Oper sounds almost the same.
die — feminine: imagine the opera as a grand, dramatic lady on stage.
Notes
Refers to the art form or a specific opera performance; plural is 'Opern'.