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contraer

to contract, to catch (a disease)

verb kohn-trah-EHR Rare
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: From Latin contrahere (to draw together), from contra- + trahere (to draw).

Also means

to shrink, to incur (a debt)

Usage Note

Contraer is an irregular verb conjugated like traer (contraigo, contraes, contrae…; preterite contraje). Common uses: contraer matrimonio (to marry, formal register), contraer una enfermedad (to contract a disease), contraer una deuda (to incur a debt). Contraer matrimonio is the most formal way to say 'to get married' in legal and ceremonial language.

Examples

"Contrajo una infección grave durante el viaje."

Natural Translation

He contracted a serious infection during the trip.

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