What does contralto mean?
A contralto is the lowest of the standard female singing voice types, lying beneath the mezzo-soprano and overlapping with the tenor range at its lower end. Contralto voices are prized for their dark, warm, resonant timbre, and true contraltos are notably rare, which lends the word an air of distinction in operatic and choral circles. The term refers both to the voice itself and to the singer who possesses it. Historically, roles written for the contralto — often wise women, sorceresses, or boys played by female singers — have included some of opera's most striking characters, and celebrated contraltos such as Marian Anderson and Ewa Podleś have demonstrated the voice's extraordinary power. Outside classical music, the label is occasionally applied to popular singers with exceptionally deep registers. For anyone interested in vocal music, understanding what distinguishes a contralto from related categories is essential vocabulary.
The lowest adult female singing voice, between mezzo-soprano and tenor.
"The conductor cast her as the contralto soloist for the requiem."
Also used to denote a singer with this voice type.
A singer having a contralto voice.
"She is regarded as one of the finest contraltos of her generation."
In general English use the anglicized plural 'contraltos' is standard; the Italian-style plural 'contralti' appears mainly in classical-music writing.
"The festival featured two distinguished contraltos."
True contraltos are so rare that many opera companies go decades without casting one — some listeners can attend hundreds of performances and never hear a natural contralto live.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of contralto
Contralto derives from Italian, formed from the prefix 'contra-' ('against' or 'opposite') combined with 'alto' ('high'), originally describing a voice part sung against, or in relation to, the higher alto line. It entered English usage during the seventeenth century as Italian vocal terminology spread across Europe alongside opera. The word shares its roots with other musical terms built on the same Latin prefix, such as counterpoint and contrast, all tracing back to Latin 'contra'.
Usage notes
Used almost exclusively in musical contexts — vocal performance, choral writing, opera casting, and music criticism. The term carries connotations of rarity, richness, and depth of tone. In British choral tradition 'contralto' is sometimes shortened informally to 'alto', though technically an alto part may be sung by voices of several classifications.
Don't confuse with
A mezzo-soprano is a middle-range female voice sitting above the contralto, which is the lowest standard female voice classification.
A countertenor is a male singer using an elevated falsetto-like register to reach alto-range music, whereas a contralto is a naturally low female voice.