Meanings
comparative more pianissimo · superlative most pianissimo
- entertainmentIndicating that the piece is to be played very softly.
plural pianissimos · plural pianissimi
- A dynamic sign indicating that a portion of music should be played pianissimo.
- A portion of music that is played very softly.
If the Randall Thompson Alleluia lacked the otherworldly awe and mystery the composer intended, the BGMC offered a fair accounting of the work with some wonderfully hushed pianissimos and clearly delineated contrasts in mood.
1984 December 29, Charles Henry Fuller, “Music For The Holidays”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Italianpiano
- Italianpianissimo
- Englishpianissimo
Borrowed from Italian pianissimo.
More words from Italian
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish pianissimo
- pianissimovery softly
French pianissimo
- pianissimovery softly
Hebrew פְּיָאנִיסִימוֹ
- פְּיָאנִיסִימוֹ (p'yanísimo)very softly
Indonesian pianissimo
- pianissimovery softly
Italian pianissimo
- pianissimovery softly
Japanese ピアニッシモ
- ピアニッシモ (pianisshimo)very softly
Russian пиани́ссимо, пьяни́ссимо
- пиани́ссимо (pianíssimo)very softly
- пьяни́ссимо (pʹjaníssimo)very softly
Spanish pianissimo
- pianissimovery softly
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with pianissimo
All rhymes →Cite this entry
pianissimo. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pianissimo
“pianissimo.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pianissimo. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pianissimo,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pianissimo.
Source: pianissimo on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.