How do you say sings in Spanish? Consider this: ” In English, the third‑person singular present form “sings” translates to canta when referring to he, she, or it. Day to day, the answer lies in the verb cantar, which means “to sing. On the flip side, Spanish verb conjugation changes depending on tense, mood, and subject, so knowing how to correctly use canta and its related forms is essential for clear communication. This guide walks you through the meaning, conjugation, usage, common pitfalls, and practice ideas for expressing “sings” in Spanish, giving you the tools to speak and write with confidence.
Not obvious, but once you see it — you'll see it everywhere.
Understanding the Verb Cantar
Cantar is a regular ‑ar verb, which makes its conjugation predictable once you learn the pattern. Because it follows the standard ‑ar endings, you can apply the same rules to thousands of other Spanish verbs (e.g., hablar, estudiar, trabajar). Recognizing cantar as the base form helps you locate the correct version for any subject or tense.
Infinitive and Meaning
- Infinitive: cantar (to sing)
- English equivalent: “to sing”
- Participle: cantado (sung) – used in perfect tenses
- Gerund: cantando (singing) – used for progressive constructions
Knowing these forms lets you build sentences like “He is singing” (Él está cantando) or “They have sung” (Ellos han cantado).
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense is where you’ll most often encounter the English “sings.” Below is the full present indicative conjugation of cantar:
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | canto | I sing |
| tú | cantas | you sing (informal) |
| él/ella/usted | canta | he/she/it sings; you sing (formal) |
| nosotros/as | cantamos | we sing |
| vosotros/as | cantáis | you all sing (informal, Spain) |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cantan | they sing; you all sing (formal/Latin America) |
Key point: The third‑person singular form canta is the direct translation of “sings.” Use it when the subject is él, ella, or usted.
Example Sentences
- Él canta en el coro. – He sings in the choir.
- Mi hermana canta muy bien. – My sister sings very well.
- El pájaro canta cada mañana. – The bird sings every morning.
Past Tense Forms
Spanish offers two primary past tenses for completed actions: the preterite (pretérito perfecto simple) and the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto). Both can render “sang” in English, but they convey different nuances No workaround needed..
Preterite (Completed Action)
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | canté | I sang |
| tú | cantaste | you sang |
| él/ella/usted | cantó | he/she/it sang |
| nosotros/as | cantamos | we sang |
| vosotros/as | cantasteis | you all sang |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cantaron | they sang |
Cantó is the preterite third‑person singular form, equivalent to “he/she/it sang.”
Example: Ayer ella cantó una canción hermosa. – Yesterday she sang a beautiful song Small thing, real impact..
Imperfect (Ongoing or Habitual Past)
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | cantaba | I used to sing / I was singing |
| tú | cantabas | you used to sing |
| él/ella/usted | cantaba | he/she/it used to sing / was singing |
| nosotros/as | cantábamos | we used to sing |
| vosotros/as | cantabais | you all used to sing |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cantaban | they used to sing |
Cantaba expresses a repeated or background action in the past.
Example: Cuando era niño, él cantaba en la ducha. – When he was a child, he used to sing in the shower Most people skip this — try not to. Simple as that..
Future and Conditional Forms
To talk about singing that will happen or would happen under certain conditions, use the future and conditional tenses.
Future Simple
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | cantaré | I will sing |
| tú | cantarás | you will sing |
| él/ella/usted | cantará | he/she/it will sing |
| nosotros/as | cantaremos | we will sing |
| vosotros/as | cantaréis | you all will sing |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cantarán | they will sing |
Cantará = “will sing.”
Example: Mañana ella cantará en el concierto. – Tomorrow she will sing at the concert.
Conditional Simple
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | cantaría | I would sing |
| tú | cantarías | you would sing |
| él/ella/usted | cantaría | he/she/it would sing |
| nosotros/as | cantaríamos | we would sing |
| vosotros/as | cantaríais | you all would sing |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cantarían | they would sing |
Cantaría = “would sing.”
Example: Si tuviera tiempo, él cantaría más seguido. – If he had time, he would sing more often Not complicated — just consistent..
Using “Sings” in Sentences
Knowing the correct form is only half the battle; you also need to place it correctly within a sentence. Spanish syntax is flexible, but certain patterns help ensure clarity.
Subject‑Verb Agreement
- The verb must match the subject in number and person.
- Él canta (he sings) vs. Ellos cantan (they sing).
- When the subject is omitted (common in Spanish), the verb ending still reveals who is