The Spanish word 'cantante' (meaning 'singer') comes from the Spanish verb 'cantar' ('to sing') combined with the suffix '-nte', which forms active participles. The verb 'cantar' itself derives from the Latin verb 'cantare', meaning 'to sing'. The suffix '-nte' is added to verb stems to create nouns that describe someone who performs the action of the verb, similar to how '-er' works in English words like 'singer' or 'dancer'.

Some simpler related Spanish words include the verb 'cantar' (to sing), which is one of the first verbs Spanish students learn. Other common related words include 'canto' (song), 'canción' (song), and 'canta' (he/she sings). All these words share the same root relating to singing or musical performance.

While not exactly the same, English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'chant' and 'enchant', which come from the same Latin root 'cantare'. A 'chant' is a type of rhythmic singing, and to 'enchant' originally meant to cast a spell through singing or chanting, though its meaning has broadened to mean 'charm' or 'delight' in modern usage.