Classical music: learn to pronounce all the Italian terms
Vibrato, vivace, pizzicato… Music lovers should be familiar with these Italian words, understand their meaning, and master their pronunciation. Click the blue words and listen to their correct pronunciation or read the written pronunciation (the stress is on the capital letters).
Italian musical terms: meaning and pronunciation
| A cappella - Singing without instrumental accompaniment. Pronunciation: ah cah-PEHL-lah (try to pronounce the double L). |
| Adagio - slowly. Pronunciation: ah-DAH-joh (the J has the sound of the G in gentleman) |
| Agitato - agitated, restless. Pronunciation: ah-jee-TAH-toh (the J has the sound of the G in gentleman) |
| Allegro - fast, at a brisk speed. Pronunciation: ahl-LEH-groh (try to pronounce the double L) |
| Amabile - amiable, pleasant. Pronunciation: ah-mah-BEE-leh |
| Andante - moderately slow. Pronunciation: ahn-DAHN-teh |
| Andantino - lighter than Andante, and usually slower. Pronunciation: ahn-dahn-TEE-noh |
| Arco - music played on a stringed instrument. Pronunciation: AHR-koh |
| Arioso - like an aria, but less formal. Pronunciation: ah-ree-OH-zoh (Z as in zebra) |
| Bis - twice. Pronunciation: BEES (S as in sun) |
| Brio - vigour, vivaciousness (eg: con brio = with vigour). Pronunciation: BREE-oh |
| Calando - gradually decreasing in speed and volume. Pronunciation: cah-LAHN-doh |
| Cantabile - in a smooth singing style. Pronunciation: cahn-TAH-bee-leh |
| Capriccioso - in a free and impulsive style. Pronunciation: cah-pree-CHOH-so (S as in poison) |
| Crescendo - gradually increasing in loudness. Pronunciation: creh-SHEHN-doh |
| Decrescendo - gradually decreasing in loudness. Pronunciation: deh-creh-SHEHN-doh |
| Diminuendo - same meaning of Decrescendo. Pronunciation: dee-mee-noo-EHN-doh |
| Dolce - sweetly and softly. Pronunciation: DOHL-cheh |
| Energico - notes played with energy. Pronunciation: eh-nehr-JEE-coh (the J has the sound of the G in gentleman) |
| Forte - loud, strong. Pronunciation: FOHR-teh |
| Fortissimo - very loud. Pronunciation: fohr-tee-SEE-moh |
| Giocoso - playful, humorous. Pronunciation: joh-COH-so (S as in poison) |
| Gioioso - joyful, merry. Pronunciation: joh-EEOH-soh (S as in poison) |
| Grave - very slow, solemn. Pronunciation: GRAH-veh |
| Impetuoso - impetuous, forcefully. Pronunciation: eem-peh-TWO-so (S as in poison) |
| Incalzando - getting quicker. Pronunciation: een-cahl-ZAHN-doh (Z as in pizza) |
| Inquieto - restless. Pronunciation: een-kwee-EH-toh |
| Legato - play without breaks between notes. Pronunciation: leh-GAH-toh |
| Leggero - lightly, delicately, gently. Pronunciation: leh-JEH-roh (the J has the sound of the G in gentleman) |
| Lento - slow. Pronunciation: LEHN-toh |
| Maestoso - to be performed in a majestic manner. Pronunciation: mah-eh-STO-soh (the first S as in sun, the second S as in poison) |
| Marcato - play with emphasis. Pronunciation: mahr-CAH-toh |
| Mezzoforte - moderately loud. Pronunciation: meh-zoh-FOHR-teh (z as in pizza) |
| Mezzopiano - moderately soft. Pronunciation: meh-zoh-PEEAH-noh |
| Moderato - played at a moderate pace. Pronunciation: moh-deh-RAH-toh |
| Mosso - fast and with animation. Pronunciation: MOS-soh (both S as in sun) |
| Pausa - pause. Pronunciation: pah-OO-sah |
| Pianissimo - very soft. Pronunciation: pee-ah-NEE-see-moh |
| Piano - soft. Pronunciation: pee-AH-noh |
| Pizzicato - plucking the strings of a stringed instrument. Pronunciation: pee-zee-CAH-toh (Z as in pizza) |
| Placido - calm, peaceful. Pronunciation: plah-CHEE-doh |
| Soave - gentle, smooth. Pronunciation: soh-AH-veh (S as in sun) |
| Sonoro, resonant, loud. Pronunciation: soh-NOH-roh (S as in sun) |
| Sostenuto - play in a sustained or prolonged manner. Pronunciation: soh-steh-NOO-toh (both S as in sun) |
| Staccato - each note sharply detached from the others. Pronunciation: stah-KAH-toh (S as in sun) |
| Stretto - performed in quicker time. Pronunciation: STREH-toh (S as in sun) |
| Tempo - speed, pace. Pronunciation: TEHM-poh |
| Tenuto - a note held for its full time value. Pronunciation: teh-NOO-toh |
| Tranquillo - calm, quiet manner. Pronunciation: trahn-KWEE-lloh (try to pronounce the double L) |
| Trionfale - triumphant. Pronunciation: tree-ohn-FAH-leh |
| Veloce - play at a fast tempo. Pronunciation: veh-LOH-cheh |
| Vibrato - rapid, slight variation in pitch in playing. Pronunciation: vee-BRAH-toh |
| Vigoroso - vigorous, strong. Pronunciation: vee-goh-ROH-soh |
| Vivace - lively. Pronunciation: vee-VAH-cheh |
08 January 2025
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