The Italian Language

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Updated 21 July 2008

Mood Indications

These are adjectives which are usually used together with words like allegro or adagio.

Italian	English
lugubre	lugubrious, funereal Adagio lugubre
tranquillo	tranquil, peaceful Andante tranquillo
furioso	furious Presto furioso
spianato	from spianare/to level Used only by Chopin in the Andante Spianato e Gran Polonaise Brillante
con amore amoroso	with love Andante amoroso
con spirito	with love Andante amoroso
con spirito	with spirit Allegro con spirito
leggero leggiero	light. Prefer leggero to leggiero Presto leggero
leggerissimo	very lightly
pesante	from pesare/to be heavy allegro pesante
agitato	from agitare/to agitate: restless
con brio	with brilliance Allegro con brio
brillante	from brillare/to shine: with brilliance
maestoso	majestically. Also used as a moderate tempo marking Allegro maestoso
affettuoso	with affection Andante affettuoso
con spirito	with spirit Allegro con spirito
dolce	sweet Dolce ma sonoro
aperto	From aprire/to open. Used once by W. A. Mozart for the first movement of his fifth violin concerto.
alla marcia	In the manner of a March
alla turca	in Turkish style
appassionato	From appassionare/to fill with passion Allegro appasionato
grazioso	graceful Andante grazioso
deciso	from decidere/to decide Allegro deciso
espressivo con espressione	with expression
cantabile	Something which can be sung Andante cantabile
solenne	solemn
religioso	religious