countertenor

/ˈkaʊntətenə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkaʊntərtenər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌte-nər/ (ame, mw)

countertenor — noun

  • countertenorsingular
  • countertenorsplural

1. a male singer whose natural voice range is higher than a typical tenor's, reachi

1.名詞C1
釋義

a male singer whose natural voice range is higher than a typical tenor's, reaching into the alto register

例句

The countertenor sang the alto solo in Bach's St John Passion at the cathedral.

countertenor + alto solo

Noa trained as a baritone for years before discovering his true voice was that of a countertenor.

trained as a countertenor

同義詞
  • male alto

    often used interchangeably, though male alto tends to refer to a choral singer rather than a soloist in classical or Baroque music

反義詞
  • bass

    the lowest adult male voice, opposite to countertenor on the vocal range

文法句型

a countertenor

用法筆記

Countertenor refers to a type of male singing voice, not a singing technique such as falsetto. A countertenor's natural range sits in the alto register, whereas other male singers may use falsetto only for specific high notes.

常見錯誤

❌He sang the solo in a countertenor.
✅He sang the solo as a countertenor.
💡use 'as' not 'in' to describe the role or voice type.
❌He is a countertenor singer.
✅He is a countertenor.
💡'countertenor' already means a singer; adding 'singer' is redundant.