këngëtare

Këngëtare is an Albanian noun meaning a female singer. It is formed from këngë, meaning song, with the feminine agent suffix tare, mirroring the masculine form këngëtar, which denotes a male singer. The term designates a woman who performs songs, whether professionally or in traditional, folk, or contemporary settings.

In Albanian-speaking areas—primarily Albania and Kosovo, with communities in North Macedonia, Montenegro, and the Albanian diaspora—the word is the standard designation for a woman who sings. It is explicitly gendered; the corresponding male form is këngëtar. In practice, contexts such as media, concert programs, or biographical notes may reinforce the feminine form by using këngëtare in reference to a particular artist or genre.

The concept covers a wide range of singing traditions, from traditional folk vocalists to modern pop, opera, and other vocal arts. Like other professional titles, the feminine form is ubiquitous in descriptions of performers, liner notes, and press coverage.

See also: këngëtar, këngë, këndim, Albanian music.