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"Cantar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to sing", and "canción" is a noun which is often translated as "song". Learn more about the difference between "cantar" and "canción" below.
cantar(
kahn
-
tahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to sing
Me encanta cantarle canciones de cuna a mi bebé.I love to sing lullabies to my baby.
a. to sing
Los pájaros cantan en cualquier momento del día.Birds can sing at any time of day.
b. to crow
El gallo canta al despuntar el día.The rooster crows at the break of dawn.
c. to chirp
Solo cantan los grillos macho.Only the male crickets chirp.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to sing
¿También cantas o solo tocas la guitarra?Do you sing also or just play the guitar?
a. to confess
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Cantó tras horas de interrogatorio.He confessed after hours of interrogation.
5.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(to smell badly)
a. to stink
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Te canta el aliento por las mañanas.Your breath stinks in the morning.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. song
El Cantar de Roldán es un poema épico.The Song of Roland is an epic poem.
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la canción(
kahn
-
syohn
)
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. song
Es mi canción favorita porque me anima, no importa cómo me sienta.It's my favorite song because it cheers me up no matter how I feel.
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