music theory

A tempo

In time

Accelerando (Accel)

Gradually getting faster

Ad libitum (Ad lib.)

At choice

Adagio

Slow

Affettuoso

Tenderly

Agitato

Agitated

Al, alla

In the style of

Alla breve

With a minim beat

Allargando

Broadening

Allegretto

Fairly quick

Allegro

Fast

Allegro assai

Very fast

Allegro moderato

Moderately fast

Amabile

Amiable, pleasant

Andante

At a walking pace

Andantino

Slightly faster than andante

Animato

Animated, lively

Animé

Animated, lively

Appassionato

With passion

Assai

Very

Attacca

Go immediately to next section

Ben

Well

Brio

Vigour

Cantabile

In a singing style

Cantando

Singing

Come

As, similar to

Comodo

At a comfortable speed

Con, col

With

Crescendo (Cresc.)

Gradually getting louder

Da capo (D.C.)

Repeat from beginning

Dal segno (D.S.)

Repeat from “S” sign

Deciso

With determination

Decrescendo (Decresc.)

Gradually getting quieter

Diminuendo (Dim.)

Gradually getting quieter

Dolce

Sweet, soft

Dolore

Grief, sorrow

Doloroso

Sorrowful

Douce

Sweet

E, ed

And

Energico

Energetic

Espressivo (espress.)

Expressive

Fine

The end

Forte (f)

Loud

Fortepiano (fp)

Loud, then immediately soft

Fortissimo (ff)

Very loud

Forza

Force

Giocoso

Playful, merry

Grave

Very slow, solemn

Grazioso

Graceful

Langsam

Slow

Largamente

Broadly

Larghetto

Rather slow

Largo

Slow and stately

Lebhaft

Lively

Legato

Smoothly

Leggiero

Light, nimble

Lent

Slow

Lento

Slow

Ma

But

Maestoso

Majestic

Marcato (marc.)

Emphatic, accented

Marcia

March

Mässig

At a moderate speed

Meno

Less

Mesto

Sad

Mezzo

Half

Mezzo forte (mf)

Moderately loud

Mezzo piano (mp)

Moderately quiet

Misterioso

Mysteriously

Moderato

Moderate speed

Modéré

At a moderate speed

Molto

Very much

Morendo

Dying away

Mosso

Movement

Moto

Movement

Niente

Nothing (silence)

Non

Not

Perdendosi

Dying away

Pesante

Heavy

Pianissimo (pp)

Very quiet

Piano (p)

Quiet

Più

More

Poco

A little

Poco a poco

Little by little

Prestissimo

As fast as possible

Presto

Fast (faster than allegro)

Prima, primo

First

Quasi

As if, resembling

Rallentando (Rall.)

Gradually getting slower

Retenu

Held back

Rinforzando (rf, rfz, rinf.)

Reinforcing

Risoluto

Bold, strong

Ritardando (rit., ritard.)

Gradually getting slower

Ritenuto (rit., riten.)

Held back

Ritmico

Rhythmically

Rubato

With some freedom of time

Ruhig

Peaceful

Scherzando

Playfully, joking

Schnell

Fast

Semplice

Simple, plain