How to Say "to contrast" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to contrast” is “contrastar” — use 'contrastar' when you want to express that two things are clearly different when compared side-by-side, highlighting their differences..
contrastar
/kohn-trahs-TAHR//kontɾasˈtaɾ/
Examples
El azul del cielo contrasta con el verde de los árboles.
The blue of the sky contrasts with the green of the trees.
Sus acciones contrastan con sus palabras.
His actions contrast with his words.
Me gusta cómo contrasta el color blanco sobre el fondo oscuro.
I like how the white color contrasts against the dark background.
Es interesante contrastar la cultura de España con la de México.
It is interesting to contrast the culture of Spain with that of Mexico.
Using 'Con' for Comparison
When you want to say you are contrasting one thing against another, always use the word 'con' (with) right after the verb.
A Regular Action
Good news! This verb follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar, so it has no tricky spelling changes in any tense.
Mistaking 'en contra' for 'contrastar'
Mistake: “Esa idea es contrastar a la mía.”
Correction: Esa idea contrasta con la mía. Why? Because you are comparing them, not fighting against them.
oponer
/oh-poh-NEHR//o.poˈneɾ/
Examples
El abogado se opuso a la moción del fiscal.
The lawyer opposed the prosecutor's motion.
El equipo decidió oponer una fuerte resistencia al ataque.
The team decided to put up a strong resistance to the attack.
Muchos ciudadanos se oponen a la nueva ley de impuestos.
Many citizens are against the new tax law.
No puedes oponer tus deseos a las necesidades de la familia.
You cannot put your desires before the needs of the family.
The 'Poner' Pattern
This verb is exactly like 'poner' (to put). If you know 'yo pongo' or 'yo puse', you simply add 'o-' to the front: 'yo opongo', 'yo opuse'.
Being Against Something
When you want to say you disagree with something, you must use the reflexive form (adding me, te, se) followed by the word 'a'. Example: 'Me opongo a la idea'.
Forget the 'a'
Mistake: “Me opongo el plan.”
Correction: Me opongo AL plan. Always use 'a' (which becomes 'al' with 'el') when mentioning what you oppose.
Using the wrong Past Participle
Mistake: “He oponido.”
Correction: He opuesto. Because it follows 'poner', the past form is irregular.
Choosing Between 'Contrastar' and 'Oponer'
Related Translations
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