chantonner

Chantonner is a French verb that means to hum or to sing softly to oneself without articulating the words clearly.

Meaning:

• It refers to the action of singing quietly, often under one's breath or in a soft tone, typically for oneself.
• It can imply singing fragments of a song or melody softly, often to keep time or simply for pleasure, without the intensity of full singing.

Word Parts:

• The root of the verb is "chant", which comes from the French word for "song" or "sing".
• The suffix "-onner" often conveys a repeated, continuous action in French, so chantonner literally suggests "to sing continuously in a soft, repetitive way."

Synonyms:

• murmurer (to murmur)
• mijoter en chantant (to hum or sing quietly)
• fredonner (to hum or sing softly, often with melody—very close synonym)

Antonyms:

• crier (to shout or cry out, opposite of soft singing)
• chanter (to sing fully; although related, chanter implies a more deliberate and vocal singing, stronger than chantonner)

Usage example:

• Elle chantonne toujours une petite chanson en travaillant.
  (She always hums a little song while working.)