contralto means 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. It carries an Arena rating of 1644, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, contralto ranks #837 of 13,272 for Most Elegant Words, #1,237 of 13,272 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,724 of 13,272 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #1,777 of 13,272 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
contralto is pronounced /kɒnˈtɹæltəʊ/.
Why “contralto” is a great word
CONTRALTO — [Noun] The lowest female singing voice in classical music, occupying the rich, resonant register between mezzo-soprano and tenor. From the Italian contralto, a contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor ("counter tenor") and altus ("high"). Unlike "alto," which often serves as a generic choral designation, or "countertenor," which describes a man employing a cultivated falsetto, contralto is a fundamental, earthy classification for the female voice itself. It is the sound of crushed velvet in a shadowed room, the foundational hum of a cello’s lowest string, and the profound, almost tactile resonance felt in the chest when the note is true—a voice that speaks not of the sky, but of the earth from which it seems to rise.
Etymology
Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.
noun
- 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.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- countertenor 86% match — An adult male singer who uses head tone or falsetto to sing far higher than the typical male vocal range. vs contralto →
- tessitura 85% match — The most acceptable and comfortable vocal range for a singer or musical instrument; the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding timbre. vs contralto →
- castrato 84% match — Castrated; especially castrated prepubescently. vs contralto →
- cantatrice 84% match — A professional female singer. vs contralto →
- spinto 82% match — A soprano or tenor voice of a weight between lyric and dramatic, capable of handling large musical climaxes in opera at moderate intervals. vs contralto →
- falsetto 82% match — The "false" (singing) voice in any human, usually airy and lacking a purity of vowels; created by using the next highest vocal folds above those used for speech and normal range singing. It is commonly confused with the head voice register. vs contralto →
- heldentenor 81% match — A singer with a deep, strong voice that spans the range between baritone and tenor vs contralto →
- superius 81% match — The highest voice or part in early polyphony. vs contralto →