Definition
A female singer or chanteuse; a woman who chants or sings, especially in a formal or professional context.
Etymology
From 'chantor' or 'chanter' plus the feminine suffix '-ess.' This follows the medieval pattern of creating gendered versions of occupational titles (similar to actor/actress or waiter/waitress).
Kelly Says
Medieval and Renaissance texts used 'chantress' for female singers, showing how gendered suffixes were a standard way to mark occupational roles—though this practice has fallen out of favor in modern English!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ዘማሪ ሴት
ze-ma-ree set
ARالعربية
مُغنية
mu-gh-niyah
BNবাংলা
গীতিকারী
gee-tee-ka-ree
CACatalà
cantora
kan-to-ra
CSČeština
zpěvačka
z-p-e-va-chka
DADansk
sangerinde
san-ger-in-deh
DEDeutsch
Chantfer
KHANT-fer
ELΕλληνικά
τραγουδίστρια
tra-goo-dis-tria
ESEspañol
cantautora
kan-ta-o-tra
FAفارسی
خواننده زن
kho-an-neh-deh zen
FISuomi
laulaja
lau-la-ja
FRFrançais
chanteuse
shan-teus
GUGU
ગીતકારી
gee-tee-ka-ree
HAHA
mawa mace
maw-ah mah-ce
HUMagyar
énekesnő
eh-ne-kes-noh
IDBahasa Indonesia
penyanyi wanita
pen-ya-n-ee wa-na-ta
IGIG
nwanyi egwu
n-wa-nyi eh-gwu
ITItaliano
cantatrice
kan-ta-t-ree-tse
KO한국어
찬송가자
chan-song-ga-ja
MSBahasa Melayu
penyanyi wanita
pen-ya-n-ee wa-na-ta
MYမြန်မာ
သံတိုမယ
than-to ma-yay
NLNederlands
zangeres
zan-ger-es
NONorsk
sangerinne
san-ger-in-neh
PLPolski
śpiewaczka
sh-vee-vatch-ka
PTPortuguês
cantautora
kan-ta-o-tra
RORomână
cântăreață
kan-ta-re-a-tsa
RUРусский
певица
pe-vi-tsa
SVSvenska
körsångerska
körsang-er-ska
SWKiswahili
mwanamke
mwa-na-m-ke
THไทย
นักร้องหญิง
naak roeng-ying
TLTL
mang-aawit na babae
mang-a-wit na ba-ba-e
TRTürkçe
şarkıcı kadın
shar-kee-chi ka-din
UKУкраїнська
співачка
s-pee-v-ach-ka
VITiếng Việt
nữ ca sĩ
nu-kai-si
YOYO
ọmọ ẹ̀sẹ̀
oh-moh eh-seh
ZUZU
umculi wesi
oom-koo-lee weh-si
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Occupational suffix '-ess' marks women singers as a distinct category from male 'chantors,' reinforcing gender-based job segregation and implying women's musicianship as derivative.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'chantor' or 'singer' for all genders unless historical specificity requires otherwise.
Inclusive Alternatives
["chantor","singer","vocalist"]
Empowerment Note
Women historically dominated liturgical singing in convents and secular contexts; 'chantress' erasure obscures this foundational contribution to Western music.