kantor

Kantor is a term with several meanings in different languages and contexts. It can denote a currency exchange office in Poland and some other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, where travelers and residents exchange money outside of banks. In modern usage, a kantor is typically a retail storefront or counter offering foreign exchange services, often found in airports, train stations, or city centers.

In religious and musical contexts, Kantor (or Cantor) refers to the lead singer or liturgical conductor of a synagogue or church. In Jewish tradition, the cantor leads prayers and chants, while in some Christian churches the kantor directs choir and music during services. The word derives from the Latin cantare, meaning to sing, and is cognate with various terms in European languages. In several languages, the local form kantor is used to refer to this religious function.

Kantor is also a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish and Central/Eastern European origin. Notable individuals with the name include Tadeusz Kantor (1915–1990), a Polish theatre director, painter, and scenographer who influenced postwar European avant-garde theatre.

See also Cantor for related uses and variations of the term in other languages and disciplines.