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DictionaryfortissimoVery loud music
adverb / adjective / noun

fortissimo

for-TISS-ih-moh/fɔːrˈtɪsɪməʊ/

Very high volume in musical performance.

The pianist plays the powerful chord fortissimo, following the score's marking.

A close side view of the established pianist playing a powerful chord, with the score’s intrinsic ff marking prominent and only a short, accurately constructed section of keyboard exposed.
Etymology
fortItalianloud, strong
+issimoItalianvery, most

Italian forte joins the ideas of strength and loudness. Its superlative intensifies that quality, making fortissimo an instruction to perform very loudly.

In context

OrchestrationOnline6:35
asking for a fortissimo hit directly in the center of a bass drum could actually break the drum head
Orchestration Tip: How (not) to Destroy the Percussion Section

More examples

  • The fortissimo passage requires strong breath support from the singers.
  • The sudden fortissimo makes the quiet ending even more striking.
  • Play this phrase fortissimo without speeding up.

Forms

fortissimo · fortissimos · fortissimi

Similar words

loudly
Describes high volume without specifying a particular musical dynamic.
forte
Calls for loud playing, but less loud than fortissimo.