chanteuse

American  

[shan-toos, shahn-tœz] / ʃænˈtus, ʃɑ̃ˈtœz /

noun

chanteuses plural

1. a female singer, especially one who sings in nightclubs and cabarets.

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chanteuse British  

/ ʃɑ̃tøz /

noun

1. a female singer, esp in a nightclub or cabaret

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• chanteuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chanteuse

1885–90; < French, feminine of chanteur; see -euse

Explanation

A chanteuse is a singer, especially a woman who performs in a nightclub. The femme fatale in an old black and white movie is often a chanteuse. While the chanteuse became a stock character in the film noir genre — a woman singing sultry songs in a smoky nightclub or cabaret — the word simply means "female singer" in French. It is derived from the verb chanter, "to sing." Edith Piaf is France's most famous chanteuse, a singer of popular songs who began her career in Parisian cabarets. You can use this word for contemporary singers too: "Taylor Swift is my favorite chanteuse."

Related Words

• artist
• crooner
• diva
• musician
• soloist
• vocalist
• voice