Visitando la librería más linda de Buenos Aires

What does “contratapa” mean in Spanish?

While showing the most beautiful bookshop in Buenos Aires, the host points out the parts of a book. He says the back cover, the “contratapa”, often has a short summary so you know what the book is about. “Contratapa” is the back cover — the side you flip to when deciding whether to buy. “Tapa” means cover (usually the front); “contratapa” is the word for the back, heard in Argentina and much of Latin America. In Spain you’ll often hear “contraportada” for the back cover instead. Handy the next time you pick up a book.

Spoken line: “En la contratapa, muchas veces hay un resumen del libro para saber de qué se trata.” (On the back cover, there is often a summary of the book so you know what it is about.) More examples: - “Leí la contratapa antes de comprarlo.” — I read the back cover before buying it. - “El precio está en la contratapa.” — The price is on the back cover. - “La tapa tiene el título; la contratapa, el resumen.” — The front cover has the title; the back cover, the summary. Notes: “tapa” is the cover, usually the front one. “Contratapa” is the back cover, the opposite face. Both are common, plain words you hear about books, magazines, and notebooks.