cânta

Cânta is a Romanian verb meaning to sing. It refers to the action of producing vocal music and is used both in general statements about singing and when specifying what is sung, as in a cânta un cântec.

Etymology and related forms: The verb derives from Latin cantare and shares roots with other Romance languages’ cantare/cantar. The related noun cântec means “song.” The verb takes different forms across tenses, moods, and voices, and the participle cântat is used in perfect tenses.

Grammar and principal forms: The infinitive is a cânta. In the present indicative, the forms are eu cânt, tu cânți, el/ea cântă, noi cântăm, voi cântați, ei/ele cântă. The imperative is cântă (singular) or cântați (plural). The gerund is cântând, and the past participle is cântat, used with auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses (am cântat, cântasem, etc.).

Usage notes: Cânta can be intransitive when speaking of singing itself, e.g., „Îmi place să cânt.” It can be transitive when a direct object is present, as in „a cânta un cântec” (to sing a song). It is common in everyday speech, music education, and artistic contexts. Romanian composers and performers frequently use the verb in descriptions of performances and repertoire.

Cultural context: Singing is a prominent element of Romanian folk, liturgical, and popular music. The verb appears in countless songs, manuals, and colloquial expressions, reflecting its central role in musical culture and daily communication.