Inklingo

How to Say "song" in Spanish

English → Spanish

canción

NounA1General
Use this for a song with lyrics that is sung, like a pop song or a ballad.

Examples

¿Cuál es tu canción favorita?

What is your favorite song?

canto

KAN-tohˈkanto

NounA1General
Use this to refer to the musical sound made by a bird or a general musical piece.
A single, large, stylized musical eighth note floating, with colorful, wavy lines radiating outward, representing sound.

Examples

El canto del pájaro es muy bonito.

The bird's song is very beautiful.

Estudió la técnica del canto lírico durante años.

She studied the technique of opera singing for years.

Gender Rule

Even though this word ends in '-o', remember that the related word for 'song' (canción) is feminine, but 'canto' (the act of singing or a specific chant) is masculine.

tema

TEH-mahˈte.ma

NounB1Informal/General
Use this for a specific musical track or piece by an artist, often in a modern or pop context.
A single, large, cheerful, stylized eighth musical note floating prominently in the center of the frame.

Examples

¿Has escuchado el último tema de este artista?

Have you heard this artist's latest song?

Mi tema favorito del álbum es el número tres.

My favorite track on the album is number three.

El tema de la película es muy famoso.

The theme song of the movie is very famous.

cante

KAHN-tehˈkante

NounB1Specialized
This refers specifically to the vocal style or performance in flamenco music.
A man in traditional Spanish clothing with his head tilted back and mouth open as if singing flamenco.

Examples

Me encanta el cante jondo por su intensidad.

I love the 'cante jondo' (deep singing) because of its intensity.

El cante de ese gitano era puro sentimiento.

That gypsy's singing was pure emotion.

Hay diferentes tipos de cante en el flamenco.

There are different types of singing in flamenco.

Cante vs. Canto

While both mean 'singing' or 'song,' use 'cante' specifically for flamenco and folk traditions in Spain. Use 'canto' for general singing or opera.

Using Cante for Pop Music

Mistake: “Me gusta el cante de Shakira.”

Correction: Me gusta el canto (or la voz) de Shakira. 'Cante' sounds very specific to folk traditions and might sound odd used for modern pop stars.

Canción vs. Canto

Learners often confuse 'canción' and 'canto.' Remember that 'canción' is for a sung piece with words, while 'canto' is more general, often referring to bird sounds or a musical phrase. Don't use 'canto' for a pop song.

Related Translations

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