au contraire

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from French au contraire. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /əʊ ˈkɒntɹɛː(ɹ)/ (US) IPA(key): /oʊ ˌkɔnˈtɹɛ(ə)ɹ/, /oʊ ˌkɑnˈtɹɛ(ə)ɹ/ (less common, nonstandard) IPA(key): /ɔ-/ === Adverb === au contraire (not comparable) (usually humorous, emphatic) On the contrary. ==== Usage notes ==== Now often used for more humorous, ironic, or dramatic effect than on the contrary. ==== Translations ==== === References === == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /o kɔ̃.tʁɛːʁ/ (Quebec) IPA(key): /o kõ.tʁaɛ̯ʁ/ === Adverb === au contraire on the contrary, quite the contrary, quite the opposite; au contraire ==== Usage notes ==== May be reinforced by bien or tout, i.e., bien au contraire or tout au contraire ==== Related terms ==== au contraire de === References ===