cantar
/can-TAR/
to sing
One primary meaning of 'cantar' is to sing, producing musical sounds with the voice.
cantar(verb)
to sing
?to produce musical sounds with the voice
to perform (a song)
?in a performance context
📝 In Action
Mi hermana canta muy bien. Quiere ser cantante profesional.
A1My sister sings very well. She wants to be a professional singer.
¿Qué canción estabas cantando esta mañana?
A2What song were you singing this morning?
Ojalá cantemos karaoke el viernes.
B1I hope we sing karaoke on Friday.
💡 Grammar Points
Easy Regular Verb
Cantar is perfectly regular, meaning the endings follow the simplest pattern for all verbs that end in -ar. Once you learn 'canto, cantas, canta,' you know how to conjugate hundreds of other verbs!
⭐ Usage Tips
Don't Forget the 'To'
In Spanish, you don't need 'a' before the song you sing. You just 'sing the song' (cantar la canción), not 'cantar a la canción'.
When referring to birds or crickets, 'cantar' means to chirp or make characteristic sounds.
cantar(verb)
to chirp
?used for birds or crickets
to crow
?used for roosters
,to whistle/sound
?used for tea kettles or machinery
📝 In Action
Los pájaros cantan al amanecer. Es muy tranquilo.
A2The birds sing (or chirp) at dawn. It is very peaceful.
El gallo de la granja canta muy fuerte a las cinco.
B1The rooster on the farm crows very loudly at five o'clock.
💡 Grammar Points
Used Only in Third Person
When talking about animals or kettles, this verb almost always appears in the third person singular or plural ('el pájaro canta', 'los grillos cantan').
In certain contexts, 'cantar' can informally mean to confess or admit a crime or secret.
cantar(verb)
to confess
?to admit a crime or secret
,to spill the beans
?to reveal secret information
to rat someone out
?to inform on an accomplice (slang)
📝 In Action
Después de tres horas de interrogatorio, el sospechoso por fin cantó.
B2After three hours of interrogation, the suspect finally confessed (spilled the beans).
Tu hermano le cantó todo a tus padres sobre la fiesta.
C1Your brother ratted out everything (told everything) to your parents about the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Meaning
This is a figurative extension of the verb, implying that the person is 'making noise' or 'speaking up' when they were expected to be silent.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Register Mismatch
Mistake: "Using 'cantar' (confess) in a formal document or serious legal setting."
Correction: Use 'confesar' or 'declarar' instead. 'Cantar' is strictly for informal or narrative contexts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Caution
This meaning carries a strong informal or criminal connotation, similar to 'snitch' or 'rat out' in English. Use it only when the setting matches.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cantar
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses the informal/slang meaning of 'cantar'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cantar' irregular?
No, 'cantar' is a perfectly regular -ar verb. It follows the standard endings for all tenses, making it one of the easiest verbs to learn in Spanish!
How do I say 'singing' (the noun)?
You have a few options: 'el canto' refers to the act of singing or a style of song, and 'el cantar' can also mean a song or epic poem. 'Cantar' itself can mean 'singing' in some contexts, but 'el canto' is the safest noun to use.