What does contrario in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word contrario in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use contrario in Spanish.

The word contrario in Spanish means contrary, opposing, damaging to, rival, adversary, displease, contradict, on the contrary, to the contrary, on the contrary, contrary to, in contrast to, unlike, on the contrary, argue to the contrary, argue the opposite, convince of the contrary, convince otherwise, otherwise, disposition to the contrary, otherwise, counterclockwise, in the opposite direction, to the contrary, in opposition, express the opposite, quite the contrary, quite the opposite, agreement to the contrary, quite the opposite, quite the contrary, quite the opposite. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word contrario

contrary

adjetivo (opuesto, inverso)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Sus propuestas eran contrarias al espíritu del partido.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. She abruptly turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.

opposing

adjetivo (competidor, contendiente) (adversary)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
El equipo contrario fue vencido por el local en el partido de fútbol.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. The opposing side lost because their tactics were poor.

damaging to

(perjudicial, nocivo)

Jugar a la bolsa resultará contrario a tus intereses si no tienes experiencia.
If you have no experience, playing the stock market will be damaging to your interests.

rival, adversary

nombre masculino, nombre femenino (persona enemiga)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La campaña del derechista se volvió más agresiva hacia su contrario que hacia el resto de candidatos.
The right-winger's campaign became more aggressive against the main rival than any other.

displease

verbo transitivo (provocar disgusto)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Contrarié a mis padres cuando abandoné mis estudios.
I displeased my parents when I abandoned my studies.

contradict

verbo transitivo (resistir, contradecir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
El científico contrarió la opinión de sus colegas en el debate.
The scientist contradicted the opinion of his colleagues in the debate.

on the contrary, to the contrary

locución adverbial (expresa oposición)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
A Álvaro no le importó que yo saliera con Fernando. Al contrario, le alegró que me llevara bien con su amigo.
Alvaro didn't mind that I went out with Fernando. On the contrary, he was glad I got along with his friend.

on the contrary

locución adverbial (expresa oposición)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
No tengo problema con dejar que mis hijos salgan solos; al contrario.
I don't have issues with letting my kids go out alone; on the contrary.

contrary to, in contrast to

locución preposicional (expresa oposición)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
El copiloto se quedó solo en la cabina, al contrario de lo que estipulaba el protocolo.
The copilot was left alone in the cabin, contrary to (or: in contrast to) what was stipulated in the protocol.

unlike

locución preposicional (expresa oposición)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Nuestra empresa, al contrario que muchas compañías de la competencia, no transmite los datos confidenciales de nuestros clientes.
Our company, unlike much of our competition, doesn't share our clients' confidential data.

on the contrary

locución adverbial (expresa oposición)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
No habrá lluvias este año, antes al contrario, se esperan sequías.
There won't be any rainfall this year, on the contrary, droughts are expected.

argue to the contrary, argue the opposite

locución verbal (contraponer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pedro argumentó una cosa pero Juan argumentó lo contrario.
Pedro put forward one argument but Juan argued the opposite.

convince of the contrary, convince otherwise

locución verbal (hacer cambiar opinión)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Está muy seguro de lo que pasó y será difícil convencerlo de lo contrario.
He's very sure of what happened and it will be difficult to convince him otherwise.

otherwise

locución adverbial (si no es así)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Toma el medicamento según las instrucciones del médico; de lo contrario, no tendrá el efecto que se espera.
Take the medication according to the doctor's instructions; otherwise, there could be serious consequences.

disposition to the contrary

locución nominal femenina (der: mandato opuesto, antagónico)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

otherwise

locución adverbial (si no es así)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Espero que Richard venga, en caso contrario quedaré muy molesta.
I hope Richard comes; otherwise I'll be upset.

counterclockwise

expresión (hacia la izquierda)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

in the opposite direction

locución adverbial (en dirección opuesta)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Los ciclistas recorrieron la autopista en sentido contrario.
The cyclists went along the highway in the opposite direction.

to the contrary, in opposition

locución adverbial (con opinión opuesta)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Aunque el Ministro está de acuerdo con las medidas, el Presidente se expresó en sentido contrario.
Even though the minister agrees with the measures, the President was in opposition.

express the opposite

locución verbal (formal (decir lo opuesto)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pedro dijo una cosa, pero Carlos manifestó lo contrario.
Pedro said one thing but Carlos expressed the opposite.

quite the contrary, quite the opposite

locución adverbial (lo opuesto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
No quiere perjudicarte más bien al contrario, te va a ayudar.
He doesn't want to hurt you; quite the contrary (or: quite the opposite), he's going to help you.

agreement to the contrary

(der: acuerdo entre las partes)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Unless otherwise agreed to, there shall be no contact between the two parties.

quite the opposite, quite the contrary

locución adverbial (expresa oposición)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
No tengo problema con dejar que mis hijos salgan solos; todo lo contrario.
I have no problem with letting my children go out on their own; quite the contrary.

quite the opposite

locución preposicional (expresa oposición)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Papá se tomó la noticia con mucha calma; todo lo contrario de lo que esperábamos.
Dad took the news quite well; it was quite the opposite from what we had expected.

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So now that you know more about the meaning of contrario in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

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Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.