contralto en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.
Meanings
-
The lowest female voice or voice part, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to the same musical pitch range, 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.
As for her dress, it was invariably rich, effective, and chic, yet in good taste. Lastly, her feet and hands were astonishing, and her voice a deep contralto.
1867, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, chapter III, in The Gambler, translated by C. J. Hogarth^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Gambler_(1867)/III):Out in the yard a womanʼs hoarse contralto intoned a hymn.
1952, Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, Penguin Books (2014), page 68:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| contralti | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| contraltos | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
bass (voice types) · tenor (voice types) · mezzo-soprano (voice types) · baritone (voice types) · soprano (voice types) · countertenor (voice types)
Relateds
alto · tenor · contratenor altus
Synonyms
Translations (17)
ka კონტრალტო (the lowest female voice) · vi giọng nữ trầm (the lowest female voice) · fr contralto (the lowest female voice) · it contralto (the lowest female voice) · bg контраалт (the lowest female voice) · hu alt (the lowest female voice) · ja コントラルト (the lowest female voice) · pt contralto (the lowest female voice) · nrf s'gonde (the lowest female voice) · fi kontra-altto (the lowest female voice) · de Kontraalt (the lowest female voice) · mi reo taka (the lowest female voice) · cmn 女低音 (the lowest female voice) · sv kontraalt (the lowest female voice) · mi reo hakahaka (the lowest female voice) · ru контра́льто (the lowest female voice) · ca contralt (the lowest female voice)