Cantora

Cantora is the feminine noun in Portuguese for a female singer. The term derives from cantar, the verb to sing, and contrasts with cantor, the masculine form. In Portuguese-speaking countries such as Portugal and Brazil, cantoras are performers who sing professionally in various genres including fado, samba, Música Popular Brasileira (MPB), pop, rock, and traditional folk. The word is commonly used in journalistic and biographical contexts to identify female vocalists.

Historically, cantoras have played a central role in the music scenes of Lusophone countries, with influential figures contributing to national and regional styles. In Brazil, cantoras such as Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, and Ana Carolina achieved nationwide recognition and helped shape MPB and popular music. In Portugal, cantoras like Amália Rodrigues and Dulce Pontes are linked to fado, while others have broadened the country’s contemporary music.

In Angola, Mozambique, and other Lusophone communities, cantoras perform traditional and contemporary repertoires, reflecting local cultures and diasporic influences. The term also appears in media and music criticism as a standard descriptor for female vocalists, distinguishing them from male counterparts, cantores. Notable differences across genres exist, but the core identity remains that cantoras are female singers who contribute to the musical arts within Portuguese-speaking cultures.

Related topics include cantor, fado, MPB, Brazilian music, and Portuguese music.