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Glite Dictionary
🎤 A low female voice 🎶 Low female range
contralto

contralto

1 7.8
Having the lowest range of the female singing voice
  • adjective
  • /kənˈtræltoʊ/
  • Specialized
: contralto
  • The choir included a stunning contralto whose low notes resonated beautifully.

Examples

  • Her voice has a rich and deep contralto quality that captivates the audience.

  • Contralto, soothing, very pleasant to listen to.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "He could just give him last rites instead." "What good would that do?" asked the second voice, which had a huskier, more contralto quality.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • As she sang the aria, her voice transitioned into a powerful contralto range, filling the hall with warmth.

Synonyms

alto
vscontralto
1 5.4

Relating to the low female singing voice or the high male voice above tenor

is limited to the lowest female singing range and not used for male voices

How Low

contralto
  • Specialized
1 7.8
mezzo-soprano
  • Specialized
2 6.9
soprano
6 5.3

Surface Forms

contralto positive

Morphology

contralto = alto (semi-transparent) = contra + alto

Formed by the prefix 'contra-' + 'alto'; the components are recognizable but the precise technical meaning (pertaining to the lowest female vocal range) is specialized and not fully predictable by all learners.

Etymology

Contralto comes from Italian parts contra- 'against' and alto 'high voice'. So a contralto voice or singer is one that has the lowest range of the female voice.