chanter
/ʃɑ̃.te/
chanter is the French word for "to sing".
The word chanter means "to sing."
Meaning: one who chants or sings (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb chanter is conjugated in the present tense as follows: Je chante (I sing), Tu chantes (you sing), Il/elle/on chante (he/she/one sings), Nous chantons (we sing), Vous chantez (you sing) and Ils/elles chantent (they sing).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ʃɑ̃.te/.
Did you know?
- In certain French slang contexts, if a person is 'chanter', it means they are 'singing' to the police by confessing or informing on others.
- In French slang, chanter can be used to describe the sound of tires screeching on the road or the high-pitched whistle of a boiling kettle.
- The word chanter shares a common root with the English word 'charming', as both relate to the Latin 'cantus' and the idea of 'enchanting' through song.
Examples in context
- L'opéra est un genre musical où les chanteurs interprètent des airs et des duos magnifiques.Opera is a musical genre where singers perform magnificent arias and duets.
- On a passé toute la nuit à chanter à tue-tête lors de la fête d'anniversaire.We spent the entire night singing at the top of our voices during the birthday party.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are discussing a music performance.
- LucasEst-ce que tu connais un bon chanter ?Do you know a good singer?
- EmmaOui, ma sœur est un excellent chanter.Yes, my sister is an excellent singer.
- LucasElle pourrait venir chanter avec nous ?Could she come sing with us?
- EmmaJe vais lui demander aujourd'hui.I will ask her today.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry chanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chanter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
