contralto

English

Etymology

Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æltəʊ

Noun

contralto (plural contraltos or contralti)

1. (music) The lowest female voice or voice part, higher than tenor and lower than soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor. Originally the contratenor altus was a high countermelody sung against the tenor or main melody.

Synonyms

• alto

Coordinate terms

• (voice types): soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)

Translations

the lowest female voice

• Finnish: kontra-altto
• Jèrriais: s'gonde f

• Russian: контральто (ru) (kontrál'to) n
• Vietnamese: giọng nữ trầm

Related terms

• contratenor altus
• alto
• tenor

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Italian

Etymology

contra- +‎ alto.

Noun

contralto m (plural contralti)

1. contralto (female)
2. counter-tenor (male)