contralto

American  

[kuhn-tral-toh] / kənˈtræl toʊ /

noun

• contraltos
  plural

1. the lowest female voice or voice part, intermediate between soprano and tenor.

2. the alto, or highest male voice or voice part.

3. a singer with a contralto voice.

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adjective

1. pertaining to the contralto voice or its compass.

contralto British  

/ kənˈtræltəʊ, -ˈtrɑːl- /

noun

1. In the context of a choir often shortened to: alto.  the lowest female voice, usually having a range of approximately from F a fifth below middle C to D a ninth above it

2. a singer with such a voice

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adjective

1. of or denoting a contralto

   the contralto part

contralto Cultural  

1. The lowest range of the female singing voice; alto.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• contraltos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of contralto

1720–30; < Italian, equivalent to contr(a) contra- ² ( def. ) + alto alto

Explanation

A contralto is the very deepest female voice in opera. A contralto generally sings the harmony when she's singing with another woman. While it's mainly classical music that uses the term contralto, it's also occasionally used in jazz to describe a very low female singing voice. If a man is singing the same notes and range as a contralto, he's called a countertenor. Like most musical terms, contralto is an Italian word. Its roots are contra-, "against or opposite," and alto, a slightly higher voice — in other words, "the next voice after alto."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contralto contraltos

"Howl like the wind, roar like the river / Wail like the rain, cry, shout, and shiver," she advises, her tawny, contralto voice instantly recognisable.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The cliché applied to contralto voices is “plummy” and Heynis offers its reverse, a sort of lean, emotional essentialism in a deep and beautiful voice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

Yarrow was the tenor in Peter, Paul and Mary, his tender and attentive vocals sandwiched between the soothing baritone of Noel Paul Stookey and the airy contralto of Mary Travers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2025

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s home is being renamed Marian Anderson Hall in honor of the pioneering Black American contralto, a rare case of an artist’s name replacing a corporation.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2024

While her voice had the rich, dark timbre of contralto, the lowest female voice, she had no trouble with the ringing tones of soprano, the highest.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman

Stutzmann, who for three decades was among the world’s leading contraltos before she turned fully to conducting, said during an interview the next day.

From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2022

She became one of the industry’s best-known contraltos — the female singers with the lowest vocal range — touring widely and making more than 80 recordings.

From New York Times ● Oct. 13, 2021

Her voice was not as powerful as that of some of the other famous Italian contraltos and mezzos, but it was immediately recognisable.

From The Guardian ● May 7, 2010

One of the century's finest contraltos, Marian Anderson, did not break into opera until 1955, when she was 52.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was easier for Chester to play the ones written for tenors than the ones for sopranos, contraltos, and basses, but he did them all beautifully.

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden