Meaning & use
subito
Last updated
UK/ˈsuː.bi.təʊ/
US/ˈsuː.bi.toʊ/
Meaning
adverbnot comparablemusictechnical
A musical direction meaning suddenly or at once, used to tell players to change volume or style abruptly.
Grammar: Appears with another term, as in subito piano; it does not take comparison.
Patterns
- subito piano
- subito forte
The score says subito piano after the big chord.
The conductor stressed the subito change of mood.
The movement ends with a subito fortissimo.
Common combinations
- subito piano
- The violins play subito piano, very quiet.
- subito forte
- At bar 12 the music turns subito forte.
- subito pianissimo
- The choir drops subito pianissimo.
- subito change
- A subito change in tempo startled the audience.
Synonyms and how they differ
- suddenly
- Suddenly is the everyday English word, while subito is a score marking.
- abruptly
- Abruptly stresses sharpness and is used in general writing, not as a direction.
Opposites
Word family
- sudden adjective
- happening quickly without warning
Practice
In a score, what does subito piano tell the performer to do?
Choose one answer.
Subito means suddenly and piano means quiet, so players drop volume at once. Slowing gradually would be a different direction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “subito”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.