prima donna

/ˈprimə ˈdɑnə/

/ˈprimə ˈdɒnə/

Other forms: prima donnas

A prima donna is a diva: someone who acts like they are the star of the show. If you tirelessly dominate the conversation and always interrupt when other people are talking, people will think you're a prima donna.

Prima donna is a term that comes from the Opera, and literally means first woman, in Italian. Because the ladies that starred in operas were often egotistical, demanding, and flamboyant, the term prima donna came to mean anyone who acted as if they were a world-famous talent. The term is not an insult if you're talking about an actual opera star, but if anyone else is called a prima donna, it means they're terribly vain.

Definitions of prima donna

1. noun

   a vain and temperamental person
   type of:

   disagreeable person, unpleasant person

   a person who is not pleasant or agreeable
2. noun

   a distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star
   synonyms: diva

   type of:

   opera star, operatic star

   singer of lead role in an opera