cantando
“cantando” means “singing” in Spanish (used to show an action is happening right now (e.g., 'I am singing')).
singingAlso: while singing, by singing
📝 In Action
Mi hermano está cantando una canción muy famosa en la radio.
A1My brother is singing a very famous song on the radio.
Ella trabaja en la cocina cantando para pasar el tiempo.
A2She works in the kitchen singing to pass the time.
Llevamos tres horas cantando en el karaoke, me duele la garganta.
B1We have been singing for three hours at karaoke; my throat hurts.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "cantando" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cantando
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'cantando' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *cantāre*, meaning 'to sing, to chant,' which is the root of many related words across Romance languages.
First recorded: Before the 10th century (in its root form, *cantar*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'cantar' and 'cantando'?
'Cantar' is the base form (the infinitive), meaning 'to sing'—it names the action. 'Cantando' is the gerund form, meaning 'singing'—it describes the action in progress or the manner in which someone does something.
¿Cantando is only used with 'estar'?
Mostly, yes, for showing continuous action ('Estoy cantando'). However, you can also use it with verbs like 'seguir' (to continue) or 'ir' (to go) to show an action is progressing over time, or by itself to describe how someone performs another action ('Corrió cantando').