Word origins

• CozzolinoA surname from Italian.
• CatinoA surname from Italian.
• BarracoA surname from Italian.
• VetranoA surname from Italian.
• buffoA comic singer, particularly in comic opera
• tortelliA kind of stuffed pasta.
• GerbinoA surname from Italian.
• MasucciA surname from Italian.
• PerrellaA surname from Italian.
• RescignoA surname from Italian.
• PetraliaA surname from Italian.
• FortiniA surname from Italian.
• MasellaA surname from Italian.
• LoscalzoA surname from Italian.
• AbbatielloA surname from Italian.
• abbozzoA rough drawing or model.
• a bene placitoAt pleasure; ad libitum.
• AbruzzeseOf, from or relating to the region of Abruzzo in Italy.
• Abruzzi wareOrnate Italian pottery from the 15th century.
• a cappellaA vocal performance with no instrumental accompaniment.
• a capriccioAt whatever tempo and with whatever expression the conductor or performer desires.
• AccettaA surname from Italian.
• acciaccaturaA short grace note (theoretically taking no time at all), occurring on the beat occupied by the main note to which it is prefixed, one scale-step higher or lower than that main note. (Sometimes equivalent, therefore, to a short appoggiatura, but in Baroque music interpreted differently and more strictly.) Written as a note lighter in appearance, typically a quaver (eighth note), with an oblique stroke through the stem.
• accompagnatoA tempo mark directing that a recitative is to be accompanied by the orchestra.
• AccursoA surname from Italian.
• AciernoA surname from Italian.
• acini di pepepasta in very small pieces
• AcocellaA surname from Italian.
• acqua altaA phenomenon that regularly occurs in the city of Venice, Italy, typically during high and spring tide, involving the flooding of the most low-lying areas of Venice.
• adagiettoA tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played slightly faster than adagio.
• adagissimoVery slowly.
• AddamoA surname from Italian.
• AddeoA surname from Italian.
• addoloratoA tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played sorrowfully.
• AdduciA surname from Italian.
• AdornatoA surname from Italian.
• AdovasioA surname from Italian.
• affettiHuman passion and feelings expressed through gesture.
• affettuosoWith feeling; in a loving, tender way.
• affogatoA drink or dessert (especially ice cream) topped with espresso and sometimes a caramel or chocolate sauce.
• affrettandoIn a rushing or hurrying manner; as if pressing onwards.
• agliataA sauce made of garlic, vinegar and breadcrumbs.
• agnolottiA type of square or rectangular ravioli from Piedmont made from a small sheet of pasta folded up.
• AgostinelliA surname from Italian.
• AgrilloA surname from Italian.
• agrodolceAn Italian sweet-and-sour sauce.
• albarelloA ceramic pharmacy or drug jar, generally majolica ware, usually tall rather than wide, and often of a waisted shape.
• AlboretoA surname from Italian
• al cartoccioen papillote
• al denteFirm to the bite, cooked just right.
• AlfonsineOf or relating to Alfonso X of Castile (1221–1284) or the Alfonsine tables, astronomical tables prepared under his patronage.
• AlianoA surname from Italian.
• AlibertiA surname from Italian.
• alicornA unicorn.
• alimurgyThe study of wild edible plants for use as food, especially in times of famine or food scarcity.
• alla breveA time signature for which the half note is the beat and there are two beats per measure.
• alla marciaA tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played in the style of a march, usually with a 2/4 or 4/4 beat with an accent on the downbeat
• allargandoDecreasing in tempo; getting slower.
• AllegrettiA surname from Italian.
• allegrissimoA direction in musical notation indicating that the piece should be played very fast and lively.
• allegro ma non troppoA tempo mark lively but not too much
• allegro moderatoA little slower than allegro.
• allegro non troppoFast, but not too fast.
• AllevaA surname from Italian.
• allineateTo align.
• AlloccaA surname from Italian.
• AlloccoA surname from Italian.
• al nienteIndicating in music notation that the dynamics fade to nothing.
• AloiaA surname from Italian.
• Alto AdigeSouth Tyrol: A predominantly German-speaking autonomous province of the Trentino-Alto Adige region in north-east Italy; until 1919 part of Austria, since 1972 under a special autonomy statute.
• alto-relievoA form of sculpture in which carved figures or other objects protrude from the background.
• AmalfitanoA surname from Italian.
• AmarenaA variety of cherry (Prunus cerasus) grown in Bologna and Modena, Italy, usually bottled in syrup and used to decorate chocolate desserts.
• amarevole(To be played) bitterly.
• amatricianaA traditional Italian pasta sauce based on guanciale, pecorino, and tomato.
• amorevolousaffectionate; loving.
• amorinoA cupid (a putto, commonly with bow and arrow, representing love).
• anaphonesisThe raising of /e/, /o/ to /i/, /u/ before certain consonantal environments, mainly [ŋ] and /ʎ/, occurring originally in some Tuscan dialects, and thus in Standard Italian.
• anatripsologyThe study or application of friction or rubbing as a remedy.
• AndolinaA surname from Italian.
• AndreozziA surname from Italian.
• anelliniA type of pasta composed of little rings.
• AngelilloA surname from Italian.
• AngilelloA surname from Italian.
• AnneseA surname from Italian.
• AnnunziatoA surname from Italian.
• ANSVAgenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo, the Italian aircraft accident investigation agency.
• anteportA hanging or covering in front of a door.
• antipaticoUnpleasant, odious, unsympathetic, harsh, (of person) crabby.
• antiportA structure in a cell membrane that simultaneously transports different molecules or ions through the membrane in opposite directions.
• AntonellisA surname from Italian.
• aperitivoAn Italian apéritif.
• a piacereAt pleasure.
• appaltoA contract to assume another party's obligation to supply a product or service.
• appoggiaturaA type of musical ornament, falling on the beat, which often creates a suspension and subtracts for itself half the time value of the principal note which follows.
• arancinoA baked rice ball, filled with cheese or other sauce, originally from Sicily.
• arborio riceA northern Italian variety of short-grained starchy rice with a white dot at the center of each grain, commonly used in risotto.
• archicembaloA form of harpsichord that had extra keys and strings
• archluteA fretted and double-necked stringed musical instrument with a large body, double courses in the bass, and two sets of tuning pegs.
• arciliutoSynonym of archlute.