Dynamics and Expression
| English | Italian | French | German | Spanish | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | piano | doux | leise | suave | Common notation uses p, regardless of language |
| Very soft | pianissimo | très doux | sehr leise | muy suave | Common notation uses pp |
| Moderately soft | mezzo piano | assez doux | mäßig leise | moderadamente suave | Common notation uses mp |
| Moderately loud | mezzo forte | assez fort | mäßig laut | moderadamente fuerte | Common notation uses mf |
| Loud | forte | fort | laut | fuerte | Common notation uses f |
| Very loud | fortissimo | très fort | sehr laut | muy fuerte | Common notation uses ff |
| Gradually louder | crescendo | crescendo | lauter werdend | creciendo | Also indicated by an opening hairpin |
| Gradually softer | diminuendo | diminuendo | leiser werdend | disminuyendo | Also indicated by a closing hairpin |
| Suddenly soft | subito piano | subitement doux | plötzlich leise | súbitamente suave | Immediate dynamic contrast |
| Suddenly loud | subito forte | subitement fort | plötzlich laut | súbitamente fuerte | Immediate dynamic contrast |
| With force | con forza | avec force | mit Kraft | con fuerza | Strongly energized attack or character |
| Sweetly | dolcemente | doucement | sanft | dulcemente | Gentle character, not necessarily a specific dynamic |
| Calmly | tranquillo | tranquille | ruhig | tranquilo | Serene or settled character |
| Expressively | espressivo | expressif | ausdrucksvoll | expresivo | Calls for expressive shaping |
| With feeling | con sentimento | avec sentiment | mit Gefühl | con sentimiento | Emotional character |
| Singing style | cantabile | chantant | gesanglich | cantabile | Phrase as if sung |
| Playfully | giocoso | enjoué | spielerisch | juguetón | Light, playful character |
| Majestically | maestoso | majestueux | majestätisch | majestuoso | Dignified and grand character |
| With energy | con brio | avec entrain | mit Schwung | con brío | Spirited character |
| Agitated | agitato | agité | erregt | agitado | Restless, urgent character |
| Mysteriously | misterioso | mystérieux | geheimnisvoll | misterioso | Suggests enigmatic character |
| Tenderly | teneramente | tendrement | zart | tiernamente | Gentle, affectionate character |
| Passionately | appassionato | passionné | leidenschaftlich | apasionado | Intense expressive character |
| Solemnly | solenne | solennel | feierlich | solemne | Ceremonial or serious character |
| Lightly | leggiero | léger | leicht | ligero | Light articulation or touch |
Other chapters: Tempo and Pacing · Articulation and Technique · Navigation and Ensemble · Musical Concepts and Score Vocabulary
Some entries are plain translations used in rehearsal rather than printed markings. Meaning can shift with era and instrument. These are the standard words printed in scores. Usage varies by edition, publisher and period.
Open the Musical Terms in Translation →