soubrette

showgirl

noun soo-BRET-teh Rare

Origin: French 'soubrette', from Provençal 'soubret' (coquettish).

Usage Note

Soubrette is a French loanword fully integrated into Italian, referring to a female entertainer on variety television shows — a role blending dancing, singing, and banter with a male host. The word is invariable in Italian (la soubrette, le soubrette). It carries a somewhat dated flavour tied to mid-twentieth-century RAI variety shows.

Examples

"La soubrette ha ballato sul palco."

Natural Translation

The showgirl danced on stage.

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