contra
Lemma Details
Translation: against; opposite; contrary to; versus; in opposition to; in contrast to
Part of Speech: preposition
Etymology: Derived directly from Latin 'contra' meaning 'against, opposite to'. This Latin term has given English many words including 'counter', 'contrary', 'contradict', and 'contrast'. The Spanish 'contra' preserves both the form and meaning of its Latin ancestor almost unchanged, making it easily recognizable to English speakers familiar with words containing the 'counter-' or 'contra-' prefix.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Estoy contra esa idea.
I am against that idea.
Nadó contra la corriente.
He swam against the current.
El equipo jugó contra los campeones.
The team played against the champions.
Esto va contra mis principios.
This goes against my principles.
La pared está contra la ventana.
The wall is opposite the window.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'contrary' in English - both start with 'contra' and involve opposition.
- Remember sports matchups like 'Lakers contra Bulls' (Lakers versus Bulls).
- Visualize two arrows pointing in opposite directions to represent 'contra'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In political contexts, 'los contras' refers specifically to the counter-revolutionary groups that opposed the Sandinista government in Nicaragua during the 1980s. The term gained international recognition during this period, especially in news coverage of Central American politics.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Contra' means 'against' while 'con' means 'with' - they have nearly opposite meanings despite looking somewhat similar.
Confused word:
Trabajo con mi hermano.
I work with my brother.
Notes: These prepositions express opposite relationships between subjects and objects.
Mnemonic: 'Contra' has that extra 'tra' which can remind you of 'contrary' (against), while 'con' is shorter like the English 'with'.
Explanation: 'Contra' indicates opposition while 'entre' means 'between' or 'among'.
Notes: 'Contra' involves opposition; 'entre' involves position.
Mnemonic: 'Entre' sounds like 'enter', as in entering a space between things.