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Glite Dictionary
Karagiozis performance

Karagiozis performance

9.9
A traditional Greek shadow puppet show with a funny main character who tells stories that poke fun at people
  • noun
translation icon : representación de Karagiozis
  • Growing up in Athens, my grandparents often took me to see a Karagiozis performance in the summer.

Examples

  • The festival included a special Karagiozis performance that delighted both children and adults.

  • Many schools in Greece invite puppeteers to give a Karagiozis performance for cultural education.

  • I love watching a Karagiozis performance during the summer festival.

  • The Karagiozis performance was hilarious and full of wit.

  • Growing up in Athens, my grandparents often took me to see a Karagiozis performance that featured lively puppetry and humorous stories.

  • Many schools in Greece invite puppeteers to give a Karagiozis performance, showcasing traditional Greek culture through funny tales.

  • The festival included a special Karagiozis performance that entertained everyone with its colorful characters and satire.

Synonyms

puppet show
vsKaragiozis performance
17 1.8

A performance using puppets to tell a story to people

is a Greek shadow puppet tradition centered on a comic satirical hero
shadow play
vsKaragiozis performance
1 7.4

A show that uses hand or puppet shadows on a screen to tell a story

is a Greek tradition starring a comic satirical character
puppet play
vsKaragiozis performance
1 3.4

A show using puppets to tell a story

is a Greek shadow puppet tradition focused on comic satire
shadow show
vsKaragiozis performance
7.7

A performance that uses figures and light to make moving shadows on a screen

is a Greek shadow puppet tradition with comic satire focus
galanty show
vsKaragiozis performance
  • Archaic
9.9

A performance that shows moving shadow figures on a screen

is the Greek comedic puppet tradition featuring a central satirical figure

Surface Forms

Karagiozis performance singular
Karagiozis performances plural

Morphology

Karagiozis + performance

The term 'Karagiozis' is a culture-specific proper name referring to a particular Greek shadow-puppet character and tradition, so its specific meaning cannot be derived from the generic noun 'performance'. Even if a B1 learner knows both constituent words, they would not infer that this denotes a traditional Greek shadow-puppet show without cultural or background knowledge. Because the referent is language- and culture-specific rather than compositional, the expression is opaque to learners.

Etymology

Karagiozis performance is an old Greek shadow puppet show starring the funny, hunchbacked puppet Karagiozis. A puppeteer moves flat puppets behind a light to make shadows on a screen and tells stories with jokes and soft 'satire', so the phrase means a live puppet show that makes people laugh and think.