cantare
/kanˈta.re/
To sing in Italian is cantare.
The verb cantare means to produce harmonious sounds with one's voice.
Meaning: to produce harmonious sounds with one’s voice (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, the verb is modified to cantari.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes its form depending on the tense and aspect you wish to express. For example, cantavo is used to describe a continuous or habitual action of singing in the past, such as "I was singing" or "I used to sing". To express an intention or an action of singing that will occur later, use the future tense form canterò (I will sing). The past participle cantato (sung) is used with auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses, such as ho cantato (I have sung).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /kanˈta.re/.
Did you know?
- The Italian expression cantare can be used figuratively to mean 'to confess' or 'to sing' under pressure during a police interrogation.
- When an Italian says cantare a squarciagola, they are singing 'at the top of their lungs', literally 'with a ripped throat'.
- In Italian culture, the term bel canto refers to a specific 19th-century operatic style emphasizing beauty of tone and agility.
Examples in context
- Io non so cantare.I can't sing.This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to sing with cantare.Tatoeba #3266549 by Guybrush88, translation #1883025 by Spamster
- Tom non sa cantare.Tom does not know how to sing.This sentence shows how to use cantare to say someone does not know how to sing.Tatoeba #2821762 by Guybrush88, translation #3697810 by MTC
- A me piace cantare.I like to sing.This sentence uses cantare to express a liking for singing.Tatoeba #2841349 by Guybrush88, translation #256531 by CK
- Andiamo al karaoke a cantare stasera?Shall we go to the karaoke to sing tonight?
- 710 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are in a car during a road trip.
- ChiaraTi va di cantare una canzone?Do you feel like singing a song?
- FrancescoSì, mi piace molto cantare in auto.Yes, I really like singing in the car.
- ChiaraCantiamo insieme questa canzone!Let's sing this song together!
- FrancescoVa bene, iniziamo subito.Okay, let's start right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sing” translations and entries cantare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
