How to pronounce contralto
Say it like kahn-TRAL-toh. Contralto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contralto. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kahn
- TRAL
- toh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contralto pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kahnKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- TRALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of contralto
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: kon-TRAL-toh.
What does contralto mean?
- 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
Where does contralto come from?
Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying contralto
How do you pronounce contralto?
Say kahn-TRAL-toh. The American pronunciation is /kɑnˈtræltoʊ/. In British English it is /kɒnˈtræltəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contralto?
Contralto has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAL). Broken into parts: kahn · TRAL · toh.
Is contralto pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /kɒnˈtræltəʊ/ (kon-TRAL-toh).