adverb / adjective / noun
lento
LEN-toh/ˈlentəʊ/
A slow pace in music.
The cellist plays lento, drawing the bow in a long, unhurried stroke.
Etymology
Latin lentus included “slow” and “sluggish” among its meanings. The musical direction carries that slowness into performance, instructing musicians to use a slow tempo.
In context
You wouldn't necessarily want to play it incredibly slowly, like a lento or an adagio. That might be a little bit too much on the slow side.
More examples
- The lento movement gives the orchestra a quiet moment.
- A brief lento separates the two lively sections.
- Play this phrase lento, but keep the rhythm steady.
Forms
lento · lentos
Similar words
- adagio
- Often suggests a slightly faster slow tempo than lento.
- largo
- Calls for a broad, spacious character as well as slowness.