countertenor
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countertenor
Where it comes from
From Latin contrātenor. By surface analysis, counter- + tenor.
noun countertenors · counter-tenor · counter tenor
- An adult male singer who uses head tone or falsetto to sing far higher than the typical male vocal range.
- A male singing voice far higher than the typical male vocal range. The term countertenor first appeared in England during the mid 17th century. However, the style of singing originated in Elizabethan cathedral choirs, eventually falling out of favour during the Romantic period.
- A part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part.
Translations
Every language
noun adult male singer
| Español | contratenor |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 高男高音 gāonángāoyīn, 假聲男高音 /假声男高音 jiǎshēng nángāoyīn |
| Português | contratenor |
| Français | contreténor |
| Deutsch | Countertenor |
| Italiano | contraltista |
noun singing voice
| Español | contratenor |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Countertenor |
noun a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part
| 日本語 | カウンターテナー kauntātenā |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 假聲男高音 /假声男高音 jiǎshēng nángāoyīn |
| Français | contreténor |
| Deutsch | Countertenor |
| Русский | контрте́нор kontrténor |
Talk about this word "countertenor." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/countertenor. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. countertenor. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/countertenor "countertenor." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/countertenor.Cite this
@misc{countertenor_2026,
title = {countertenor},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/countertenor},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
