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🔊 Loud part 🔊 Very loud
fortissimo

fortissimo

8.3
A direction telling musicians to play or sing very loudly
  • adjective
  • /fɔrˈtɪsɪmoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fortísimo
  • The composer marked this section as fortissimo to create a dramatic effect.

Examples

  • She ended the song with a fortissimo note that echoed across the hall.

  • During the performance, the orchestra suddenly played fortissimo, startling the audience.

  • Play fortissimo!

  • Sing fortissimo now.

  • During the performance, the orchestra suddenly played fortissimo, startling the audience.

  • The composer marked this section as fortissimo to create a dramatic effect.

  • She ended the song with a fortissimo note that echoed across the hall.

Synonyms

loud
vsfortissimo
733 1.0

Having a very strong, high sound

is a musical direction for very great volume rather than a general sound
fortemente
vsfortissimo
  • Specialized
9.9

To play in a loud, strong way to show emphasis in the music

is louder directing musicians to perform with very great volume
forte
vsfortissimo
  • Specialized
7.7

Played or sung loudly in music

is louder and tells performers to play with very great volume

Antonyms

piano
  • Specialized
24 3.1

A direction in music to play softly

pianissimo
  • Specialized
8.1

To play or sing very softly

How Loud

fortissimo
  • Specialized
8.3
forte
  • Specialized
7.7
piano
  • Specialized
24 3.1
pianissimo
  • Specialized
1 7.5

Surface Forms

fortissimo positive

Etymology

Fortissimo comes from the Italian word forte, which means 'loud' or 'strong', and the ending -issimo, which means 'very'. So fortissimo literally means 'very loud', which is why it is used as a direction to play or sing with great volume.