cantabile

C3A1N1T1A1B3I1L1E1

noun

A tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played in a lyrical manner

Similar
singingmelodiousmelodicmusical
OriginItalian cantabile ← Latin cantabilis →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nouncantabile (plural cantabiles)

plural cantabiles

  1. entertainmentA tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played in a lyrical manner
  2. entertainmentA passage having this mark
adverbcantabile (comparative more cantabile, superlative most cantabile)

comparative more cantabile · superlative most cantabile

  1. entertainmentPlayed in this style; singingly, lyrically
adjectivecantabile (comparative more cantabile, superlative most cantabile)

comparative more cantabile · superlative most cantabile

  1. entertainmentDescribing a passage having this mark; singable, lyrical

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivesmooth and flowing

Similar
singingmelodiousmelodicmusical
Also see
melodicmelodiousmusicalsinging

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latincantabilis“worthy to be sung”
  2. Italiancantabile“singable, capable being sung”
  3. Englishcantabile

Borrowed from Italian cantabile (“singable, capable being sung”), derived from cantare (“to sing”). See also Latin cantabilis (“worthy to be sung”).

More words from Italian, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

anticable
Cite this entry
APA

cantabile. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cantabile

MLA

“cantabile.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cantabile. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cantabile,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cantabile.

Source: cantabile on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.