melodrama

/ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/

//ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"melodrama" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“melodrama” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #27,214. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#27,214
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.

Key facts for melodrama
PropertyValue
Headwordmelodrama
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/
Letters9
Frequency rank#27,214
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “melodrama” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). melodrama lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around melodrama (IPA /ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #27,214 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for melodrama, with forms such as "emlodrama", "meldorama", and "mellodrama". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French mélodrame, the second element refashioned by analogy with drama; ultimately from Ancient Greek μέλος (mélos, “limb”, “member”, “song”, “tune”, “melody”) + δρᾶμα (drâma, “deed”, “theatrical act”). Compare melodrame. Cognate to German Melodram and… The correct English form is melodrama, spelled M-E-L-O-D-R-A-M-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.
  2. 2
    A drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic.
  3. 3
    A passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks.
  4. 4
    Any situation or action which is blown out of proportion.

Etymology

From French mélodrame, the second element refashioned by analogy with drama; ultimately from Ancient Greek μέλος (mélos, “limb”, “member”, “song”, “tune”, “melody”) + δρᾶμα (drâma, “deed”, “theatrical act”). Compare melodrame. Cognate to German Melodram and Spanish melodrama.

This word in other languages

melodrama(Español)mélodrame(Français)Melodrama(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • emlodrama
  • meldorama
  • mellodrama
  • melodarma
  • meloddrama
  • melodraam
  • melodramma
  • melodrmaa
  • melodrrama
  • melordama
  • meoldrama
  • mleodrama
  • mmelodrama

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of melodrama - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

emlodrama2meldorama2mellodrama1melodarma2meloddrama1melodraam2melodramma1melodrmaa2
Edit distance from "melodrama"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "melodrama"?
"melodrama" is spelled M-E-L-O-D-R-A-M-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/.
What does "melodrama" mean?
As a noun, "melodrama" means: A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.
What are common misspellings of "melodrama"?
Common misspellings include "emlodrama", "meldorama", "mellodrama", "melodarma", "meloddrama". The correct spelling is "melodrama".
How do you pronounce "melodrama"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "melodrama" is /ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "melodrama"?
From French mélodrame, the second element refashioned by analogy with drama; ultimately from Ancient Greek μέλος (mélos, “limb”, “member”, “song”, “tune”, “melody”) + δρᾶμα (drâma, “deed”, “theatrical act”). Compare melodrame. Cognate to German Me... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “melodrama”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-E-L-O-D-R-A-M-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list