Italian music terms
Italian is the universal language of classical music. This page provides definitions and explanations of common Italian musical terms used to indicate tempo, expression, dynamics, articulation, and more ‒ helping musicians interpret music accurately and with style. You can quickly find any term using the search function at the top of the page.
Italian Tempo Terms
This table contains common music terms for tempo like allegro or andante. In modern music these terms may be out of date because of a metronome mark such as ♩ = 120, meaning that the piece should be played at a tempo of 120 beats per minute (bpm).
| Term | Description | BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Largo | very slow and broad | 40 - 60 |
| Lento | slow | 52 - 68 |
| Adagio | slow and stately | 60 - 80 |
| Andante | at a walking pace | 76 - 100 |
| Moderato | moderate pace | 88 - 112 |
| Allegretto | moderately fast | 100 - 128 |
| Allegro | fast, quickly and bright | 112 - 160 |
| Vivace | lively and fast | 138 - 142 |
| Presto | very fast | 140 - 200 |
| Prestissimo | extremely fast | 188 - 220 |
Articulation
Articulation affects their connection, length, and emphasis. Different articulation markings help musicians express various styles and emotions, from smooth legato to sharp staccato. Below is a list of common articulation terms with their meanings.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| legato | linked together, smoothly |
| staccato | short, detached notes |
| staccatissimo | very short, extremely detached notes |
| tenuto | held for full value, slightly emphasized |
| marcato | marked, accented |
| portato | between legato and staccato, slightly detached |
Dynamics
Dynamic markings do not refer to absolute volumnes. They are usually written under the stave or between two staves if there are two of them.
| Symbol | Description | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ppp | pianississimo | extremely soft |
| pp | pianissimo | very soft |
| p | piano | soft |
| mp | mezzo-piano | moderately soft |
| mf | mezzo-forte | moderately loud |
| f | forte | loud |
| ff | fortissimo | very loud |
| fff | fortississimo | extremely loud |
Mood
This section lists common Italian terms that indicate the emotional character or expressive quality of a piece. These terms help performers convey the intended mood, feeling, or attitude of the music.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| agitato | agitated, restless |
| appassionato | passionate |
| brillante | brilliant, sparkling |
| cantabile | in a singing style |
| con brio | with spirit, with vigor |
| con fuoco | with fire, passionately |
| con moto | with motion |
| dolce | sweetly |
| energico | energetic |
| espressivo | expressive |
| furioso | furiously |
| giocoso | playful, joyful |
| grazioso | gracefully |
| lacrimoso | tearful, mournful |
| leggiero | lightly, delicately |
| maestoso | majestically |
| marcato | marked, with emphasis |
| misterioso | mysteriously |
| pesante | heavy, ponderous |
| risoluto | resolute, determined |
| scherzando | playfully, jokingly |
| serioso | seriously |
| sostenuto | sustained |
| tranquillo | calmly, peacefully |
| veloce | fast, rapid |
General
These general terms include terms that are commonly used in conjunction with other terms like meno mosso (slightly slower) or molto rit (noticable decrease in tempo).
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| poco | a little |
| assai | very |
| meno | less |
| più | more |
| molto | much, very |
| subito | suddenly |
| giocoso | playfully |
| cantabile | in a singing style |
| ritardando | gradually slowing down |
| accelerando | gradually speeding up |
| sempre | always, continuously |
| sforzando | with sudden emphasis |
| crescendo | gradually getting louder |
| diminuendo | gradually getting softer |
| da capo | from the beginning |
| dal segno | from the sign |
| fine | the end |