Spanish Conversation · Level 150
30 words
Spanish word
contracción
Pronunciation
IPA/kontɾakˈθjon/
Meaning
- feminine nouncontraction
Example
El músculo sufrió una contracción fuerte durante la carrera.
The muscle suffered a strong contraction during the race.
More examples
En español, la contracción de 'a el' forma la palabra 'al'.
In Spanish, the contraction of 'a el' forms the word 'al'.
Core concept
Two ends drawn together so something becomes shorter.
Common phrases
contracción de palabras
word contraction
contracción muscular
muscular contraction
Similar words
contractura: Sustained muscle tightening that becomes hard and remains shortened.
calambre: Sudden, intense muscle shortening that produces sharp, painful cramping.
espasmo: Brief, strong involuntary contraction that causes a sudden twitch or jerk.
Definition in Spanish
Acción o efecto de hacerse más pequeño o más corto; puede referirse tanto a la reducción de sonidos o palabras (p. ej. al, del) como a la contracción de músculos o del útero.
Word origin
From Latin contractio (from contrahere 'to draw together'), originally describing a physical drawing-together and now applied to muscle or uterine shortening and to reduction of sounds or words.
Usage tips
- In writing the only standard Spanish contractions are al and del; many other shortened pronunciations occur in speech but are not the correct spelled forms.