Dynamic signs:

Italian term Meaning

fortissimo(ff) very loud (-issimo means ‘very’)
forte(f) loud
mezzo forte(mf) moderately(a little bit of) loud
mezzo piano(mp) moderately(a little bit of) quiet
piano(p) quiet
pianissimo(pp) very quiet (-issimo means ‘very’)
pianississimo (ppp) very very quiet
fortississimo(fff) very very loud
crescendo(cresc.) gradually getting louder
decrescendo(decresc.) gradually getting quieter
diminuendo(dim.) gradually getting quieter
fortepiano(fp) loud, then immediately quiet
sforzando, sforzato,( sf, sfz) forced, accented
a niente to nothing
morendo dying away
perdendosi dying away
smorzando(smorz.) dying away
rinforzando(rinf., rf, rfz) reinforcing
sotto voce in an undertone(under the voice)

Tempo signs:
Italian term Meaning
allegro quick
allegretto fairly(between a little bit and very) quick
presto fast(quicker than allegro)
prestissimo very fast
vivace, vivo lively, quick
con brio with vigour, lively
accelerando(accel.) gradually getting quicker
rallentando(rall.) gradually getting slower
ritardando(rit.) gradually getting slower
ritenuto (riten, rit.) getting slower; held back
stringendo gradually getting faster
rubato/tempo rubato with some freedom of time
piu mosso more movement, quicker
meno mosso less movement, slower
con moto with movement
a tempo in time (resume the original speed)
comodo/ tempo comodo convenient/ at a comfortable speed
moderato at a moderate(a little bit quicker than medium) speed
andante at a medium speed
andantino slightly faster than andante(but may also mean slightly
slower)
adagio slow
lento slow(slower than adagio)
largo slow, stately(the same as, or slower than, lento)
larghetto rather slow
largamente broadly
grave very slow, solemn
allargando broadening

Emotion:
Italian term Meaning
cantabile in a singing style
dolce sweet
fine the end(finish)(al fine=’up to the end’)
legato smoothly
staccato(stacc.) detached
da capo(D.C.) repeat from the beginning
dal segno(D.S.) repeat from the sign
expressivo(express.) expressive
grazioso graceful
alla marcia in the style of a march
agitato agitated
animato animated, lively
con forza with force
energico energetic
giocoso playful, merry
leggiero light
maestoso majestic
marcato(marc.) emphatic, accented
pesante heavy
risoluto bold, strong
scherzando playful, joking
semplice simple, plain
sostenuto(sost.) sustained
tranquillo calm
triste, tristamente sad, sorrowful
affettuoso tenderly
amabile pleasant(amiable)
appassionato with passion
deciso withdetermination
mesto sad
misterioso mysterious
ritmico rhythmically
cantando singing
con dolore with grief
con spirito with spirit
doloroso sorrowful
sonoro resonant, with rich tone(sonorous)
General:
molto very much
non troppo not too much
poco, poco a poco a little; little by little
col, con with
e, ed and
ma but
meno less
piu more
senza without
ben well
prima, primo first
sempre always
simile similar, in the same way
subito(sub.) suddenly
alla breve with a minim beat
assai very(allegro assai – very quick)
come prima as before
ad libitum(ad lib.) at choice
attacca go straight on(to the next part of the music)
quasi as if, resembling

French: Italian:
anime animated, lively animato
douce sweet dolce
lent slow lento
modere at a moderate speed moderato
retenu held back ritenuto
vite quick allegro
German: Italian
langsam slow adagio/lento
lebhaft lively vivace
maessig at a moderate speed moderato
ruhig peaceful tranquillo
schnell fast allegro/presto
traurig sad mesto