contre

Contre is a common French preposition used to express opposition, counteraction, or contrast. It translates as against, versus, or counter to in English. It governs a noun or pronoun, as in contre lui (against him) or aller contre une idée (to go against an idea). In sports schedules, teams are listed “A contre B” to indicate a match between them.

As a preposition, contre typically precedes its object and is versatile in idiomatic usage. It also forms part of many fixed expressions and compounds, such as contre-attaque (counterattack), contrepoint (counterpoint), and à contre-jour (backlit). The related verb contrer means to counter or thwart, and is often used with the sense of resisting or neutralizing an action.

Etymology and related forms: contre derives from Latin contra, via Old French contre. It is cognate with Spanish contra and Italian contro, reflecting the shared Romance heritage. The prefix contre- appears in many French derivatives, often signaling opposition or reversal.

Common idioms and senses include contre toute attente (against all expectations) and contre vents et marées (against winds and tides; despite obstacles). In everyday speech, être contre quelqu’un means to oppose that person’s position, while agir contre une proposition indicates active opposition or countering.

See also: contrer, contrepoint, contre-attaque, contretemps, à contre-jour. These terms illustrate the range of meanings associated with contre, from simple opposition to more specialized concepts in music, military strategy, or photography.