primadonna
Primadonna (noun) means a person who behaves as though they are more important than everyone else, demanding special treatment and sulking when they do not get it. Example: “He's a talented striker but a complete primadonna in the dressing room.”
How to Use Primadonna
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who acts like a star and expects everyone else to work around them.
The insult sense is the everyday one and is always negative. The two-word spelling prima donna is preferred in formal writing and for the opera sense.
The plural is prima donnas, not prime donne, in ordinary English.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's a talented striker but a complete _____ in the dressing room.
Etymology
From Italian prima donna, literally "first lady", the term for the leading female singer in an opera company.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for primadonna
See all rhymes for primadonna →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it primadonna or prima donna?
Prima donna, as two words, is the standard spelling in dictionaries and in formal writing. The closed-up primadonna is very common informally, especially in the insult sense.
What is the difference between a primadonna and a diva?
Both started as opera terms for the leading soprano and both now mean a demanding person. Diva has partly turned into a compliment about glamour and star quality, while primadonna stays firmly negative and points at the tantrums.
Can a man be a primadonna?
Yes. Despite the literal meaning "first lady", the insult sense is applied to men just as often as to women, particularly in sport and business.