Complete reference of Italian tempo markings used in music. Click any marking to hear the tempo with an interactive metronome.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| molto | very, much | Allegro molto = very fast |
| poco | a little | Poco adagio = a little slow |
| poco a poco | little by little, gradually | Poco a poco accelerando |
| non troppo | not too much | Allegro non troppo = fast, but not too much |
| assai | very, quite | Adagio assai = quite slow |
| meno | less | Meno mosso = less motion (slower) |
| piu | more | Piu mosso = more motion (faster) |
| mosso | motion, movement | Used with meno/piu |
| quasi | almost, as if | Quasi allegretto = almost allegretto |
| sempre | always, still | Sempre accelerando |
| subito | suddenly | Subito piu mosso |
| ma | but | Allegro ma non troppo |
| con | with | Con moto = with motion |
| moto | motion | Andante con moto |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| espressivo (espr.) | expressively, with feeling |
| dolce | sweetly, softly |
| cantabile | in a singing style |
| con brio | with vigor and spirit |
| con fuoco | with fire, passionately |
| con anima | with soul, with feeling |
| con spirito | with spirit |
| grazioso | gracefully |
| maestoso | majestically, stately |
| agitato | agitated, restless |
| appassionato | passionately |
| tranquillo | tranquilly, calmly |
| leggiero | lightly, nimbly |
| pesante | heavily, weighty |
| marcato | marked, emphasized |
| sostenuto | sustained |
| animato | animated, lively |
| risoluto | resolutely, boldly |
| scherzando | playfully |
| teneramente | tenderly |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| accelerando (accel.) | gradually getting faster |
| ritardando (rit.) | gradually getting slower |
| rallentando (rall.) | gradually getting slower (similar to rit.) |
| a tempo | return to the original tempo |
| rubato | flexible tempo, freely speeding up and slowing down |
| stringendo | pressing forward, getting faster with urgency |
| allargando | broadening, getting slower and often louder |
| calando | decreasing in both tempo and volume |
| morendo | dying away (slower and softer) |
| smorzando | dying away, extinguishing |
| stretto | quickening the tempo (in a fugue: overlapping entries) |
| tempo primo (Tempo I) | return to the first/original tempo |
| tempo giusto | in strict, exact time |
| l'istesso tempo | the same tempo (despite a meter change) |
| doppio movimento | double the speed |
| meno mosso | less motion, immediately slower |
| piu mosso | more motion, immediately faster |
| ritenuto (riten.) | immediately slower (unlike rit. which is gradual) |
Tempo markings are instructions written on sheet music that tell the performer how fast or slow to play a piece. Most tempo markings use Italian words, a tradition dating back to the 17th century when Italian composers dominated European music.
The metronome marking (BPM, or beats per minute) gives a precise speed, while the Italian term conveys both speed and character. For example, Allegro means not just "fast" but also "cheerful," and Adagio means not just "slow" but "at ease."