Spanish Conversation · Level 56
72 words
Spanish word
contrapunto
Pronunciation
IPA/kontɾaˈpunto/
Meaning
- masculine nouncounterpoint
Example
El estudiante practica el contrapunto en la clase de música.
The student practices counterpoint in music class.
More examples
En el concierto se apreció el contrapunto entre las voces y las cuerdas.
At the concert, the counterpoint between the voices and the strings was noticeable.
Core concept
Two independent melodies sounding together.
Similar words
polifonía: Overlapping independent melodic lines forming the overall polyphonic sound of a piece.
imitación: Deliberate replication of a melodic fragment by a different voice, creating echoing similarity.
Definition in Spanish
Técnica musical que combina dos o más voces o melodías independientes para crear contraste y al mismo tiempo armonía mediante su simultaneidad.
Word origin
The Spanish word comes from Italian contrappunto and ultimately from Latin contrapunctus, with contra 'against' and punctus 'point', originally describing overlapping melodic lines.
Usage tips
- Used both for the musical technique and metaphorically to mean a complementary contrast, often expressed as 'un contrapunto entre A y B' to highlight differences that also balance each other.
Other meanings
- contrastnoun