cantar
“cantar” means “to sing” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to sing
Also: to perform (a song)
📝 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.
to chirp
Also: to crow, to whistle/sound
📝 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.
to confess, to spill the beans
Also: to rat someone out
📝 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.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cantar
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses the informal/slang meaning of 'cantar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin verb 'cantāre', which meant 'to sing' or 'to chant.' Its musical roots have been consistent throughout history.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.