allegro: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 (Specialized)Technical / Formal (primarily musical), occasionally Literary.
Quick answer
What does “allegro” mean?
A musical direction meaning fast, lively, and cheerful in tempo and mood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical direction meaning fast, lively, and cheerful in tempo and mood.
Any movement or section of a piece of music played at a brisk, quick pace; can also describe brisk and lively movement or activity in a non-musical context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both follow the standard musical terminology.
Connotations
Identical connotations of speed, lightness, and artistic technicality.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general language, equally standard in musical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “allegro” in a Sentence
[piece/part/section] is marked 'Allegro'to play [something] Allegroan Allegro [movement/section]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “allegro” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The conductor instructed the strings to allegro the passage.
American English
- You need to allegro that section much more.
adverb
British English
- The sonata should be played allegro, as marked.
American English
- Take it allegro from bar 32.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, performance studies, and analysis of Western classical music.
Everyday
Very rare. May be used metaphorically by educated speakers (e.g., 'The meeting proceeded at an allegro pace').
Technical
Standard term in musical notation, performance instructions, and scores across classical, jazz, and some contemporary music.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “allegro”
- Using it as a standard adjective for speed outside of music (e.g., 'He drives very allegro').
- Mispronouncing it with a hard 'g' (/æˈlɛɡroʊ/ instead of /əˈlɛɡroʊ/).
- Confusing it with 'allegory'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Italian, fully naturalized in English musical terminology. It is considered a standard English word within that specific domain.
It would be highly unusual and stylized, likely perceived as a humorous or pretentious metaphor. Standard adjectives like 'brisk' are preferred.
Both mean fast. 'Allegro' is brisk, lively, and cheerful (approx. 120-168 bpm). 'Presto' is even faster, very quick (approx. 168-200 bpm). 'Presto' implies more sheer speed, while 'allegro' implies a bright character.
It is commonly used as a noun ('the third movement is an allegro') or an adverb ('play this allegro'). Less commonly, it can be an adjective ('the allegro section').
A musical direction meaning fast, lively, and cheerful in tempo and mood.
Allegro is usually technical / formal (primarily musical), occasionally literary. in register.
Allegro: in British English it is pronounced /əˈleɡrəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈlɛɡroʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a common source of idioms]”
- “Full of allegro (rare, poetic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cheerful ALLEGator playing the piano very fast (Alleg-ro).
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION / PACE IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF SOUND: A fast pace in music is a directed, purposeful movement.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'allegro' most appropriately and commonly used?