Spanish Conversation · Level 10
88 words
Spanish word
contrariamente
Pronunciation
IPA/kontɾaɾjaˈmente/
Meaning
- adverbon the contrary
Example
Dijo que no vendría; contrariamente, vino conmigo.
He said he wouldn't come; on the contrary, he came with me.
More examples
Contrariamente a mis expectativas, la película fue mejor de lo esperado.
Contrary to my expectations, the movie was better than expected.
Core concept
A result that goes opposite to what was expected.
Common phrases
contrariamente a lo que creía
contrary to what I thought
contrariamente a mis expectativas
contrary to my expectations
contrariamente a lo que dijo
contrary to what was said
Similar words
al contrario: Expresses that something is the reverse of a previous statement, casual and direct.
por el contrario: Frames an opposing result or viewpoint as a contrast within an argument.
en cambio: Highlights a different condition or alternative course of action.
sin embargo: Contrasts a subsequent fact or opinion with what preceded it, often in writing.
Definition in Spanish
Se emplea para expresar contraste con una idea, señalando que lo que ocurre o se dice es contrario a lo esperado o a lo mencionado anteriormente.
Word origin
From the adjective contrario (from Latin contrārius) plus the adverbial suffix -mente, with contra meaning against or opposite.
Usage tips
- Common in formal writing and often used in the phrase contrariamente a 'contrary to', while casual speech usually prefers al contrario or todo lo contrario.
Other meanings
- converselyadverb
Opposites
- similarmentesimilarlyadverb
Related words
- contrariocontraryadjective
- contrariaropposeverb
- contrariedadannoyancenoun