The word "operet" is often misspelled as "operetta," but the correct spelling is without the extra "ta." The pronunciation is /ɒpəˈrɛt/. The stress is on the second syllable, which is pronounced "puh." The word "operet" is a shortened version of "operetta," which refers to a type of light opera that originated in 19th-century Paris. The word "operet" is commonly used in Russian, Romanian, and other Eastern European languages to refer to this same type of musical performance.