Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Te Kanawa

Te Kanawa

1 9.9
A New Zealand opera singer famous for her beautiful soprano voice and performances worldwide
  • proper noun
: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
  • Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performed at the Sydney Opera House.

Examples

  • Te Kanawa received international acclaim for her performance at the Royal Opera House.

  • The recordings of Te Kanawa remain popular among classical music enthusiasts.

  • Many young singers cite Te Kanawa as a source of inspiration in their careers.

  • Have you heard Te Kanawa sing live?

  • Dame Kiri Te Kanawa captivated audiences with her stunning performances around the world.

  • Many young opera singers aspire to reach the level of artistry exemplified by Te Kanawa.

  • Classical music lovers often discuss the impact of Te Kanawa on the art of singing.

Surface Forms

Te Kanawa main

Morphology

Te + Kanawa

This is a proper name referring to a specific person (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa), so its referential meaning cannot be derived from the constituent parts. The listed constituents have no dictionary meanings here (and any language-specific article 'Te' is not transparent to an average B1 learner), so learners who know the parts would not be able to infer the MWE's identity or expertise.

Etymology

Te Kanawa is the name of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, a famous New Zealand opera singer whose clear, elegant voice made her known around the world. Because of her fame, Te Kanawa now usually refers to that particular 'singer' and her performances.