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, falling between tenor and mezzo-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, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)

Related terms

• contratenor altus
• alto
• tenor

Translations

the lowest female voice

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 女低音 (zh) (nǚdīyīn)

• Finnish: kontra-altto (fi)
• French: contralto (fr) m
• Georgian: კონტრალტო (ḳonṭralṭo)
• German: Kontraalt m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: contralto (it) m
• Japanese: コントラルト (kontoraruto)
• Maori: reo taka, reo hakahaka
• Norman: s'gonde f
• Russian: контра́льто (ru) n (kontrálʹto) (indeclinable)
• Vietnamese: giọng nữ trầm

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Italian

Etymology

contra- +‎ alto.

Noun

contralto m (plural contralti)

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

Derived terms

• contraltile

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Portuguese

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -awtu

Noun

contralto m (plural contraltos)

1. (music) contralto (voice between tenor and mezzo-soprano)
2. (music) contralto (singer with this voice)