cantare
/kanˈta.re/
Singing in Italian is cantare.
cantare refers to the act of using the voice to produce musical sounds. Vocalizing (noun).
Meaning: the act of using the voice to produce musical sounds, vocalizing (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use the infinitive cantare to refer to the concept or hobby of singing, whereas cantando refers to the ongoing act of performing the song.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Roman dialect, Stornellare refers to singing improvised verses.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form cantando is used to express the continuous action of singing (e.g., 'He is singing').
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kanˈta.re/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In some Italian idioms, cantare a squarciagola describes singing at the top of one's lungs, literally translating to 'singing with a ripped throat'.
- Traditional Italian folklore includes the stornello, a form of singing where the performer starts with a short, improvised poetic phrase to 'clear the throat'.
- In Italian music notation, the term bel canto meaning 'beautiful singing' refers to a specific style of opera that prioritizes agility and tone over dramatic power.
Examples in context
- A te piace cantare?Do you like singing?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes cantare.Tatoeba #4754726 by Guybrush88, translation #23929 by CK
- Ora inizi a cantare.Now start singing.This sentence is useful for telling someone to start cantare.Tatoeba #5542784 by Guybrush88, translation #2249720 by CK
- A Tom piace cantare.Tom enjoys singing.This sentence is useful for stating that Tom enjoys cantare.Tatoeba #10829788 by Guybrush88, translation #9749188 by CK
- Mi piace cantareI enjoy singing
- Il canto gioiosoThe joyful singing
- Sto cantandoI am singing
- Sto strimpellando e cantandoI am strumming and singing
- Sono un cantante professionista e adoro il mio lavoro!I am a professional singer, and I love my job!
- 242 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are talking about their hobbies.
- MartinaIl mio hobby preferito è cantare.My favorite hobby is singing.
- MatteoDavvero? Io non so proprio cantare.Really? I really don't know how to sing.
- MartinaPuoi imparare a cantare con me!You can learn to sing with me!
- MatteoGrazie, Martina, ma preferisco ascoltare.Thanks, Martina, but I prefer listening.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cantare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
