Accelerando

(accel.)

Gradually faster

Adagio

Slowly, Leisurely

Affrettando

(affret.)

Quickening, hurrying

Allargando

Gradually slower, louder, and broader

Allegretto

(alltto.)

Light and cheerful,

faster than moderato,

slower than allegro

Allegro

(allo.)

Liverly, brisk, rapid

Ancora

Again

Andante

(andte.)

In moderately slow time, walking tempo

Assai 

Very 

Attacca 

Attack 

Ben 

Well 

Bis 

Until 

Brio 

Vigor, life, spirit 

Col, con 

With 

Col canto 

With the voice part 

Colla parte 

With the other part 

Come 

As 

Come prima 

As at the beginning 

Crescendo

(cresc.) 

Gradually increasing in loudness 

Da capo

(D.C.) 

Repeat from the beginning 

Dal segno

(D.S.) 

Repeat from sign 

Decrescendo

(decresc.) 

Gradually decreasing in loudness 

Diminuendo

(dim.) 

Gradually softer 

Dolce

(dol.) 

Softly, sweetly, delicately 

Espressivo

(espress.) 

With expression 

Fine

The end; the conclusion 

Fortissimo

(ff) 

Very loud 

Gli altri 

The others 

Grave 

Slow, solemn, deep 

Grazioso 

In a graceful manner 

Largo 

Broadly, slowly;

the slowest tempo marking 

Leggiero

(leggo.) 

Easily, lightly, delicately 

L'istesso, lo stesso 

The same 

Marcato

(marc.) 

Marked, accented 

Meno mosso 

Less motion; slower 

Mezzo-forte

(mf) 

Moderately loud 

Mezzo-piano

(mp) 

Moderately soft 

Morendo

(mor.) 

Dying away in tone and time 

Ossia 

Or

(usually indicates an easier alternate version

of passage) 

Pesante 

Heavy, ponderous; with weight 

Pianissimo

(pp) 

Extremely soft 

Piu 

More 

Poco a poco 

Little by little 

Possibile

(As) possible 

Prima 

First 

Presto 

Quickly; faster than allegro 

Rallentando

(rall.) 

Gradually slower 

Ritardando

(rit.) 

Gradually slackening of pace 

Segue 

Follow 

Sempre 

Always 

Senza 

Without 

Sforzando

(sfz.) 

With sudden emphasis 

Sordino 

Mute 

Stringendo

(string.) 

Pressing or accelerating 

Vivace 

With vivacity; lively, quick 

Volta 

Time, as in:

"the first time only" 

Volte subito

(V.S.) 

Turn quickly

Vuoto

Empty