🇬🇧🇪🇸 backdrop - telón de fondo : English Lesson

Meaning of "backdrop" ("telón de fondo"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A backdrop is a huge piece of cloth that hangs behind the actors on a stage. It usually has a picture painted on it, like a city, a forest, a castle, or even outer space. The backdrop helps the audience see where the story is supposed to be taking place, kind of like a background in a picture or in a cartoon.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

We painted a farm backdrop, but my cow looked like a confused blob with legs.

The backdrop of the fancy mansion ripped, revealing the very unfancy basketball gym behind it.

Our jungle backdrop had a hidden monkey drawing that looked suspiciously like our math teacher.

The pirate ship backdrop was so realistic that one kid asked where the bathroom was on deck.

Backdrops have been used in theaters for hundreds of years to show places like castles, forests, and cities—before that, actors often just had plain walls behind them!

In the small school hall, a tired crew lifts the heavy blue backdrop. The backdrop shows a calm sea. On stage, a girl steps forward; the backdrop turns to a painted storm when she pulls a rope. The backdrop falls aside to reveal her smile. The audience laughs; the backdrop saved the play.

This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.