Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to sing" in Portuguese: cantar
cantar
To sing in Portuguese is cantar. Say eu canto no chuveiro or ela canta bem. Cantor / cantora is the singer—different word.
Karaoke night
Eu canto essa música toda vez.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cantar
Say it
kahn-TAHR / KAHN-too
/kã.ˈtaʁ/
kahn-TAHR. Eu canto is KAHN-too.
"to sing" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| cantar | to sing Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu canto | I sing Present. | Present. |
| cantar junto | sing along Group. | Group. |
| cantei | I sang Past. | Past. |
How to use cantar in real life
- 1Karaoke night
Eu canto essa música toda vez.
I sing this song every time.
Habit.
- 2Kids’ class
As crianças cantam juntas na roda.
The kids sing together in the circle.
Group.
- 3Concert memory
A plateia cantou o refrão inteiro.
The crowd sang the whole chorus.
Past.
Mistakes English speakers make with cantar
Incorrect: Eu sou cantar bem.
Correct: Eu canto bem. / Eu sei cantar bem.
Conjugate: eu canto, or use sei cantar.
Incorrect: Ela é um canto famosa. (meaning singer)
Correct: Ela é uma cantora famosa.
Cantor/cantora is the person; cantar is the verb.
Good to know
Brazilians sing at birthday parties (Parabéns), in the car, and at karaoke. Cantar junto is sing along. Don’t use cantor when you mean the action cantar.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a karaoke song
ChatPal
Você canta essa?
Do you sing this one?
You
Canto, mas preciso do refrão.
I sing it, but I need the chorus.
ChatPal
Eu canto a segunda voz com você.
I’ll sing the harmony with you.
You
Fechado. Sobem o volume.
Deal. Turn up the volume.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to sing" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to sing" in Portuguese
I sing?
Eu canto.
She sings?
Ela canta.
Singer?
Cantor / cantora.
Sing along?
Cantar junto.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
