lento

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparablemusic

   Slowly; used in sheet music as an instruction for the speed of playing.

   Grammar: Placed at the start of a passage as a direction.

   Patterns

   • play lento

   The composer wrote lento above the opening bars.

   Play the second section lento.

   The choir sang the hymn lento.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounmusic

   Slow, describing a passage or movement played at a slow tempo.

   Grammar: Used about music: a lento movement.

   Patterns

   • a lento movement

   The lento movement felt calm and heavy.

   A lento passage followed the fast one.

   The piece has a lento ending.

3. 3nouncountablemusic

   A slow piece or section of music.

   Grammar: Used in musical programs.

   Patterns

   • a lento in something

   The concert ended with a gentle lento.

   She loved the lento in the sonata.

   A short lento linked the two dances.

Word forms

Common combinations

play lento

The conductor asked the strings to play lento.

marked lento

The score was marked lento.

lento movement

The lento movement is deeply moving.

lento tempo

A lento tempo suits the mood.

molto lento

The last section is molto lento.

Synonyms and how they differ

adagio

Adagio is slow but a little quicker and more graceful than lento.

largo

Largo is broader and more stately and slightly slower than lento.

andante

Andante means walking pace, so it is faster than lento.

slowly

Slowly is the everyday English word and does not tell a musician an exact tempo.

Opposites

Word family

lentissimo adverb

very slowly

lentamente adverb

slowly, as an Italian variant

rallentando adverb

gradually slowing down

tempo noun

the speed of music

Commonly confused: lento or lentil?

Practice

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