What does diva mean?
A diva is a woman of outstanding talent and celebrity as a singer, originally used specifically for star performers of grand opera. The word comes from Italian, where it means 'goddess', itself derived from the Latin diva, the feminine of divus ('divine'). Over time its use broadened from opera to embrace celebrated female vocalists in jazz, pop, and other genres, so that figures such as Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé are routinely described as divas. In everyday informal usage, diva has acquired a second, less flattering meaning: a person who behaves in a vain, capricious, or overly demanding manner, as in 'she turned into a real diva backstage'. This figurative sense is common in journalism and casual speech and may be teasing or mildly critical depending on tone. The word thus spans admiration and admonition: at its best it signals glamour, artistry, and commanding presence; at its worst, petulance and self-importance.
A celebrated female opera singer; more broadly, a distinguished female singer or performer.
"The young mezzo-soprano was acclaimed as the newest diva of La Scala."
Informal: a person who is temperamental, demanding, or self-important.
"He refused to rehearse after lunch, behaving like an absolute diva."
English normally uses the anglicized plural 'divas'; the Italian plural 'dive' appears only in specialist writing about opera.
"The gala brought together three legendary divas on one stage."
Diva is simply Latin for 'goddess' — so every time you call someone a diva, you're calling them divine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of diva
Diva entered English from Italian in the 19th century, where it means 'goddess' and was first applied to distinguished female opera singers. The Italian word descends directly from Latin diva ('goddess'), the feminine form of divus ('divine, god'), which also underlies English words such as divine, deity, and deify. Its extension to temperamental or demanding people developed later, in the 20th century, alongside the similar drift of 'prima donna'.
How diva is actually used
The figurative sense — a demanding or temperamental person — is informal and can be mildly derogatory, though it is often used playfully. The word is applied to men occasionally, but it retains a strongly feminine connotation.
Easily confused with diva
Prima donna literally denotes the leading female singer in an opera company, while diva is the broader term for any celebrated female singer and has also come to mean a demanding or temperamental person.