Cantar Conjugation in Portuguese
cantar means “to sing” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 37 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to sing, and it is completely regular: canto, cantas, canta, cantamos, cantais, cantam. Its pretérito perfeito is cantei, cantaste, cantou, and its participle is cantado. It is the verb for singing a song, in the shower or on a stage. This page gives you the complete conjugation of cantar — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu canto uma canção todos os dias.” — “I sing a song.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: cantar
- English: to sing
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: cantando
- Present participle: cantante
- Past participle: cantado
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ar verbs; pattern ar in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for cantar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read cantar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about cantar
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ar pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle cantado. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is cantando, the present participle is cantante and the past participle is cantado: keep all three in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions, the present participle appears as an adjective, and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those three forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for cantar. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | canto |
| tu | cantas |
| ele/ela | canta |
| nós | cantamos |
| vós | cantais |
| eles/elas | cantam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu canto uma canção todos os dias.” — “I sing a song”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantei |
| tu | cantaste |
| ele/ela | cantou |
| nós | cantámos |
| vós | cantastes |
| eles/elas | cantaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu cantei uma canção ontem.” — “I sang a song”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantava |
| tu | cantavas |
| ele/ela | cantava |
| nós | cantávamos |
| vós | cantáveis |
| eles/elas | cantavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu cantava uma canção antigamente.” — “I used to sing a song”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantara |
| tu | cantaras |
| ele/ela | cantara |
| nós | cantáramos |
| vós | cantáreis |
| eles/elas | cantaram |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu cantara uma canção antes do jantar.” — “I had sung a song”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantarei |
| tu | cantarás |
| ele/ela | cantará |
| nós | cantaremos |
| vós | cantareis |
| eles/elas | cantarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu cantarei uma canção amanhã.” — “I will sing a song”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantaria |
| tu | cantarias |
| ele/ela | cantaria |
| nós | cantaríamos |
| vós | cantaríeis |
| eles/elas | cantariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu cantaria uma canção um dia.” — “I would sing a song”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho cantado |
| tu | tens cantado |
| ele/ela | tem cantado |
| nós | temos cantado |
| vós | tendes cantado |
| eles/elas | têm cantado |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem cantado uma canção esta semana.” — “He has sung a song”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha cantado |
| tu | tinhas cantado |
| ele/ela | tinha cantado |
| nós | tínhamos cantado |
| vós | tínheis cantado |
| eles/elas | tinham cantado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha cantado uma canção antes do jantar.” — “I had sung a song”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei cantado |
| tu | terás cantado |
| ele/ela | terá cantado |
| nós | teremos cantado |
| vós | tereis cantado |
| eles/elas | terão cantado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei cantado uma canção até amanhã.” — “I will have sung a song”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria cantado |
| tu | terias cantado |
| ele/ela | teria cantado |
| nós | teríamos cantado |
| vós | teríeis cantado |
| eles/elas | teriam cantado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria cantado uma canção ontem.” — “I would have sung a song”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cante |
| tu | cantes |
| ele/ela | cante |
| nós | cantemos |
| vós | canteis |
| eles/elas | cantem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu cante uma canção.” — “It is important that I sing a song”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantasse |
| tu | cantasses |
| ele/ela | cantasse |
| nós | cantássemos |
| vós | cantásseis |
| eles/elas | cantassem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu cantasse uma canção.” — “It was important that I sing a song”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | cantar |
| tu | cantares |
| ele/ela | cantar |
| nós | cantarmos |
| vós | cantardes |
| eles/elas | cantarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu cantar uma canção, é bom.” — “If I sing a song, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | canta |
| ele/ela | cante |
| nós | cantemos |
| vós | cantai |
| eles/elas | cantem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Canta uma canção!” — “Sing a song!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não cantes |
| ele/ela | não cante |
| nós | não cantemos |
| vós | não canteis |
| eles/elas | não cantem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não cantes uma canção.” — “Do not sing a song.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha cantado |
| tu | tenhas cantado |
| ele/ela | tenha cantado |
| nós | tenhamos cantado |
| vós | tenhais cantado |
| eles/elas | tenham cantado |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha cantado uma canção.” — “It is important that I have sung a song”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse cantado |
| tu | tivesses cantado |
| ele/ela | tivesse cantado |
| nós | tivéssemos cantado |
| vós | tivésseis cantado |
| eles/elas | tivessem cantado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse cantado uma canção.” — “It was important that I had sung a song”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver cantado |
| tu | tiveres cantado |
| ele/ela | tiver cantado |
| nós | tivermos cantado |
| vós | tiverdes cantado |
| eles/elas | tiverem cantado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver cantado uma canção, é bom.” — “If I have sung a song, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | cantando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Cantando uma canção, aprendo muito.” — “While singing a song, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | cantante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle cantante is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective. You will meet cantante more often as an adjective or a noun than as a verb form, so learn it as a word in its own right.
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | cantado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho cantado uma canção esta semana.” — “I have sung a song.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with cantar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu canto uma canção todos os dias.” — “I sing a song”
- “Tu cantaste uma canção ontem.” — “You sang a song”
- “Ele cantava uma canção antigamente.” — “He used to sing a song”
- “Eu cantarei uma canção amanhã.” — “I will sing a song”
- “Tu cantarias uma canção um dia.” — “You would sing a song”
- “Ele tem cantado uma canção esta semana.” — “He has sung a song”
- “Eu tinha cantado uma canção antes do jantar.” — “I had sung a song”
- “Tu terás cantado uma canção até amanhã.” — “You will have sung a song”
- “É importante que eu cante uma canção.” — “It is important that I sing a song”
- “Canta uma canção!” — “Sing a song!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu cantar uma canção.”
✓ Right: “Eu canto uma canção todos os dias.”
The infinitive cantar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form canto.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu cantas uma canção.”
✓ Right: “Eu canto uma canção todos os dias.”
cantas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with canto.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu canto uma canção ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu cantei uma canção ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito cantei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou cantado uma canção.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho cantado uma canção esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of cantar is formed with ter plus the past participle cantado: the eu form is tenho cantado. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu canto uma canção.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu cante uma canção.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use cante here, not the indicative canto.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho cantando uma canção.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho cantado uma canção esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle cantado, not the gerund cantando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on cantar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of cantar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) cantas
- B) canto
- C) canta
- D) cantamos
What is the ele/ela form of cantar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) cantei
- B) cantaste
- C) cantou
- D) cantámos
What is the nós form of cantar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) cantava
- B) cantavas
- C) cantáveis
- D) cantávamos
What is the tu form of cantar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) cantarás
- B) cantarei
- C) cantará
- D) cantaremos
What is the eu form of cantar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) cantarias
- B) cantaria
- C) cantaríamos
- D) cantaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of cantar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho cantado
- B) tens cantado
- C) tem cantado
- D) temos cantado
What is the ele/ela form of cantar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) cantes
- B) cantemos
- C) canteis
- D) cante
What is the eu form of cantar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) cantasse
- B) cantasses
- C) cantássemos
- D) cantásseis
What is the gerund of cantar?
- A) cantado
- B) cantando
- C) cantar
- D) canto
What does cantar mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to sing
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) canto — the correct form is canto. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) cantou — the correct form is cantou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) cantávamos — the correct form is cantávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) cantarás — the correct form is cantarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) cantaria — the correct form is cantaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem cantado — the correct form is tem cantado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) cante — the correct form is cante. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) cantasse — the correct form is cantasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) cantando — the correct form is cantando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to sing — the correct form is to sing. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does cantar mean in English?
cantar means “to sing”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is cantar regular or irregular?
cantar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is cantando and the past participle is cantado.
What are the gerund and past participle of cantar?
The gerund is cantando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is cantado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho cantado.
Which auxiliary does cantar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
cantar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho cantado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle cantado.
How do I say “I sing” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu canto uma canção todos os dias.” — “I sing a song” The eu form of the present is canto, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of cantar — every tense of cantar in one place.
- Cantar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Cantar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese present tense guide — the full guide to the present tense in Portuguese.
- Pagar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Comprar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise cantar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise cantar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise cantar with the interactive tool.