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How to Say "against" in Spanish

English → Spanish

contra

/KON-tra//ˈkontɾa/

prepositionA2general
Use 'contra' when expressing direct opposition or disagreement with an idea, person, or action, functioning similarly to 'against' in English.
Two stylized knights facing each other ready for a competition, symbolizing opposition.

Examples

Estoy en contra de esa idea.

I am against that idea.

El partido de hoy es Argentina contra Brasil.

Today's match is Argentina versus Brazil.

El coche chocó contra un árbol.

The car crashed into a tree.

¿Estás a favor o en contra?

Are you for or against it?

Showing Opposition

Contra is your go-to word to show that one thing is opposed to, competing with, or physically up against another. Think of it as creating a 'versus' situation.

Answering 'How?'

As an adverb, contra (usually as en contra) answers the question 'how?' or 'in what way?'. How did they vote? En contra (Against).

Using `contra` instead of `en contra de`

Mistake: “Yo soy contra la decisión.”

Correction: Yo estoy en contra de la decisión. When you're expressing your personal stance or opinion, it's more natural to say 'estoy en contra de'.

contra

/KON-tra//ˈkontɾa/

adverbB2general
Use 'contra' as an adverb when asking or stating whether someone is in favor of or against something, often in a binary choice.
Two stylized knights facing each other ready for a competition, symbolizing opposition.

Examples

¿Estás a favor o en contra?

Are you for or against it?

Estoy en contra de esa idea.

I am against that idea.

El partido de hoy es Argentina contra Brasil.

Today's match is Argentina versus Brazil.

El coche chocó contra un árbol.

The car crashed into a tree.

Showing Opposition

Contra is your go-to word to show that one thing is opposed to, competing with, or physically up against another. Think of it as creating a 'versus' situation.

Answering 'How?'

As an adverb, contra (usually as en contra) answers the question 'how?' or 'in what way?'. How did they vote? En contra (Against).

Using `contra` instead of `en contra de`

Mistake: “Yo soy contra la decisión.”

Correction: Yo estoy en contra de la decisión. When you're expressing your personal stance or opinion, it's more natural to say 'estoy en contra de'.

contrario

/kon-TRAH-ree-oh//konˈtɾa.ɾjo/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'contrario' as an adjective to describe something (like an opinion or situation) as being opposite or contrary to something else.
A storybook illustration showing a bright red apple placed on the far left of a green hill and a bright blue apple placed on the far right of the same hill, emphasizing opposite positions.

Examples

Mi opinión es contraria a la suya.

My opinion is contrary to yours (or, opposite of yours).

Fuimos en direcciones contrarias y nos perdimos.

We went in opposite directions and got lost.

La ley es contraria a mis principios.

The law is against my principles.

Changing Forms

As an adjective, 'contrario' must match the noun it describes in number and gender: 'una idea contraria' (feminine singular) or 'dos puntos contrarios' (masculine plural).

Contra vs. Contrario

The most common mistake is using the adjective 'contrario' when the preposition 'contra' is needed for direct opposition. Remember that 'contrario' describes a state of being opposite, while 'contra' indicates an action or stance against something.

Related Translations

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