Operas comiques, a genre of light-hearted operas with spoken dialogue, have their origins in the 18th century France. Synonyms for operas comiques include operettas, musical comedies, and light operas. The term operetta was coined in the 1850s to distinguish the genre from full-scale operas. Musicals comedies, on the other hand, are primarily associated with American productions, though the genre has gained popularity worldwide. Light operas are similar to operettas, featuring light-hearted themes and dialogue, and are also known as musical plays. Regardless of the term used, operas comiques and their synonyms entertain with their humorous and witty stories, catchy music, and colorful characters.