a poco
a little; gradually
a tempo
in time; generally implies a return to the original rate of speed
accelerando
gradually faster
adagietto
slow, but not as slow as adagio
adagio
very slow
agitato
agitated; rapid
al fine
to the finish
alla
in the style of
allargando
gradually slower and broader
allegretto
light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro
allegro
rapid; lively
andante
moderately slow, but moving
andantino
generally a little quicker than andante
animato
animated; spirited
appassionato
intensely; passionately; with deep feeling
brilliante
brilliantly
cantabile
in a singing style
chromatic
by semi-tones
coda
the final added measures of a musical composition
con anima
with animation; spirit
con brio
with spirit; brilliantly
con forza
with force
con grazia
with grace
con spirito
with spirit; brilliance
cresendo
gradually louder
da capo
from the beginning
dal segno
from the sign
decresendo
gradually softer
diminuendo
gradually softer
dolce
sweetly
energico
energetically
etude
a study
fermata
a hold or pause
forte
loud
fortissimo
very loud
furioso
furiously
grandioso
grand or noble style
grave
very slow or solemn
grazioso
gracefully
l'istesso
the same
larghetto
slow, but not as slow as largo
largo
very slow
legato
smooth and connected
lento
very slow
maestoso
majestically
marcato
marked; with emphasis
marziale
martial
meno
less
mezzo
medium; half
moderato
moderately
molto
very
mosso
motion; movement
non troppo
not too much
pianissimo
very softly
piano
softly
poco
a little
poco a poco
little by little
prestissimo
very fast; more so than presto
presto
very fast
rallentando
gradually slower
ritardando
gradually slower
ritenuto
a steady pace, but slower than the preceding tempo
rubato
temporary irregularity of time, lengthening some notes at the expense of others
segno
sign
sempre
always, continually
sforzando
forced; with emphasis
simile
the same
soli
more than one performer in unison
solo
a composition or passage for one performer
sostenuto
sustained
staccato
separated, detached style
subito
suddenly
tacet
silent
tempo
time; speed
tenuto
sustain full value
vivace
vivacious; lively
arioso
in a vocal style
ben
well
calando
gradually slower and softer
con
with
con amore
with tenderness
con fuoco
with fire, energy
forzando
forcefully accented
giocoso
joyfully
larghissimo
very slow, more so than largo
leggiero
lightly
marcia
march style
morendo
dying away
moto
motion; movement
opus
a musical work or composition
ottava
an octave
pesante
heavily; with emphasis
piu
more
primo
first
religioso
in solemn style
scherzando
in light, playful style
scherzo
playfully, usually in rapid tempo with rhythmic and dynamic contrasts
senza
without
smorzando
dying away
sordino
mute