verb

contraer

contract · get married

Significa hacerse más pequeño o reducirse. También puede usarse para hablar de adquirir una obligación, una deuda o una enfermedad.

Definition & meaning

Contraer is a versatile Spanish verb that typically carries the following meanings:

To contract or shrink: To reduce in size, volume, or surface area. It is frequently used in biological or physical contexts, such as muscles contracting or a material shrinking when exposed to cold.
To catch or develop (an illness): To become infected with a disease or virus.
To enter into or acquire (an obligation/commitment): To take on a debt, marriage, or formal agreement. For instance, to incur a debt or to enter into marriage.
To shorten (linguistics): To combine two words into one, such as the Spanish articles "al" (a + el) or "del" (de + el).

Grammar & Word origin

Contraer is an irregular verb of the second conjugation (-er). Its irregularity is primarily found in the first-person singular indicative (contraigo) and throughout the present subjunctive (contraiga, contraigas...).

It originates from the Latin verb contrahere, composed of the prefix con- (together) and trahere (to draw or pull). Essentially, it means "to draw together."