Definition

A type of singing voice that is the lowest range for women, sitting between soprano and tenor.

Example

She has a beautiful contralto voice that captivates the audience.

Conversation

I heard a singer with a beautiful contralto voice last night.

Oh really? I love it when a voice has that rich, deep quality.

Me too! It was so soothing to listen to during dinner.

Definitely! A good contralto can really set the mood.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Contralto → It is formed from "contra-" (meaning against or opposite) and "alto" (from Italian, meaning high). The term refers to a voice type that is lower than a soprano but higher than a tenor, thus being 'against' or 'opposite' to the higher voice types.

Memory Tip

Think of 'contra-' meaning 'against' and 'alto' meaning 'high' — this helps you remember that a contralto is a voice type that is lower than the high voices.

Visually Confused Words