Definition
Plural of contralto; multiple singers with low female vocal ranges, or instances of this voice type.
Etymology
Standard English pluralization of the Italian 'contralto,' reflecting how musical terminology entered English through Italian opera culture.
Kelly Says
In classical vocal ensembles, having even one strong contralto is valuable because this rich, warm voice adds depth. Too many contraltos, though, and the group sounds bottom-heavy.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ኮንትራልቶ
kon-traal-toh
ARالعربية
كونتراباسات
kun-tra-baas-aat
BNবাংলা
কন্ট্রাল্টো
kon-traal-toh
CACatalà
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
CSČeština
kontrabasy
kon-tra-bas-y
DADansk
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
DEDeutsch
Contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
ELΕλληνικά
κοντραλτά
kon-trahl-ta
ESEspañol
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
FISuomi
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
FRFrançais
contraltos
kɔ̃.tʁa.ltoz
GUGU
કંટ્રાલ્ટો
kon-traal-toh
HAHA
kontrabas
kon-tra-bas
HEעברית
קונטראלטות
kon-tra-al-tot
HIहिन्दी
कॉन्ट्राल्टो
kon-traal-toh
HUMagyar
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
IDBahasa Indonesia
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
IGIG
kontrabas
kon-tra-bas
ITItaliano
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
JA日本語
コントラルト
kontora-ru-to
KKKK
контрабас
kon-tra-bas
MRMR
कॉन्ट्राल्टो
kon-traal-toh
MSBahasa Melayu
kontra-alto
kon-tra-al-toh
MYမြန်မာ
ကွန်တြာလ်တို
kon-traal-toh
NLNederlands
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
NONorsk
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
PAPA
ਕਾਂਟ੍ਰਾਲਟੋ
kaan-traal-toh
PLPolski
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
PTPortuguês
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
RORomână
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
RUРусский
контральто
kontra-lto
SVSvenska
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
SWKiswahili
kontrabas
kon-tra-bas
TAதமிழ்
கான்ட்ரால்டோ
kan-traal-toh
TEతెలుగు
కంటిరాల్టో
kon-tiraal-toh
THไทย
คอนทรัลโต
kon-tra-lo
TLTL
kontrabas
kon-tra-bas
TRTürkçe
kontrabaslar
kon-tra-bas-lar
UKУкраїнська
контральто
kontra-lto
URاردو
کنٹراباس
kon-tra-baas
VITiếng Việt
contraltos
kon-trahl-toh-s
YOYO
kontrabas
kon-tra-bas
ZUZU
kontrabas
kon-tra-bas
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Plural of contralto; inherits the gendered history of voice classification that assumed female singers would occupy lower ranges.
Inclusive Usage
Use to describe the voice part or group of singers in that range without assuming gender. Explicitly acknowledge diverse genders in contralto sections when relevant.
Inclusive Alternatives
["singers in the contralto range","lower voice range performers"]
Empowerment Note
Historical contralto singers broke gender and racial barriers; Marian Anderson's 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert challenged segregation and soprano-dominated hierarchies.