lento

IPA/ˈlentəʊ/
KK[lˈɛnto]IPA/ˈlentəʊ/

lento — adverb / adjective

1. at a slow, unhurried pace, with a calm and deliberate quality

1.adverb / adjectiveC1
Definition

at a slow, unhurried pace, with a calm and deliberate quality

Example

The dance troupe moved lento through the opening sequence, stretching each gesture to its fullest.

adverb: verb + lento in performance context

The film's final scene unfolded lento, with the camera resting on each face for a long moment.

adverb modifying non-musical action (film)

Common collocations
  • lento passage
  • lento section
  • play lento
  • marked lento
  • lento tempo
Synonyms
  • slowly

    the everyday word for any slow action; lento is more formal and specific to music or performance

  • adagio

    another slow tempo marking, though adagio often implies a calm, leisurely feel rather than a strict instruction

Antonyms
  • fast

    the general opposite

  • allegro

    the musical opposite: fast and lively

Grammar Patterns

lento + verb (adverb)

lento + noun (adjective)

Usage Note

Primarily used as a musical direction in English; less common in everyday speech about general slowness, where 'slowly' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

Play this section more lento than the first part.
Play this section lento, like the first part.
lento is not used with comparative 'more'; it is an absolute tempo marking.

lento — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Lento, adagio, largo, grave, and andante are all Italian tempo markings indicating slow speeds, but each carries a different nuance. Lento (literally 'slow' in Italian) is a straightforward instruction for a sustained slow pace — neither as broad and majestic as largo nor as profoundly solemn as grave. Adagio suggests a calm, leisurely tempo where expressiveness matters as much as timing; composers use it for lyrical, singing passages. Largo is broader and more expansive, evoking a stately, hymn-like feel. Grave is the slowest of all, used for passages of deep solemnity or tragedy. Andante, while still slow, is noticeably faster than the others — it means 'walking pace' and feels more flowing and natural. In practice, a composer picks lento when they want clear, measured slowness without the extra emotional weight that grave or largo would imply.

adagio ↗largograve ↗andante

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

Borrowed directly from Italian 'lento' meaning 'slow', which traces back to Latin 'lentus' meaning 'slow, sluggish, sticky'. The word entered English musical vocabulary in the 18th century as part of the standard set of Italian tempo markings used in classical music scores.