Pronunciation: /ləˈɡɑːtoʊ/

Definitions of legato

noun a musical direction indicating that notes should be played or sung smoothly and connected

Example Sentences

A1 I learned how to play legato on the piano.

A2 The musician performed the piece with smooth legato transitions.

B1 She practiced her legato technique for hours to improve her playing.

B2 The cellist's legato phrasing was praised by the music critics.

C1 The violinist's legato playing was so seamless and expressive.

C2 The conductor emphasized the importance of achieving perfect legato in the orchestra's performance.

adverb in a smooth and connected manner

Example Sentences

A1 She played the piano legato, smoothly connecting each note.

A2 The singer's voice flowed legato through the entire song.

B1 The orchestra performed the piece with a legato style, creating a seamless sound.

B2 The violinist executed the passage with a legato technique, showcasing their skill.

C1 The pianist's legato playing demonstrated a high level of musicality and control.

C2 The conductor emphasized the importance of playing legato to achieve a cohesive sound in the performance.

Examples of legato in a Sentence

formal The pianist played the piece with smooth legato phrasing.

informal She sang the song with a nice legato flow.

slang I love how he connected those notes with such legato.

figurative The artist painted the sky with legato strokes of color.

Grammatical Forms of legato

past tense

legatoed

plural

legatos

comparative

more legato

superlative

most legato

present tense

legatos

future tense

will legato

perfect tense

have legatoed

continuous tense

is legatoing

singular

legato

positive degree

legato

infinitive

to legato

gerund

legatoing

participle

legatoed

Origin and Evolution of legato

First Known Use: 1732 year
Language of Origin: Italian/Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'legato' originated from Italian, derived from the Latin word 'ligare' meaning 'to bind'. It was first used in the context of music to indicate a smooth and connected style of playing or singing.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'legato' has become widely used in music notation to instruct musicians to play or sing smoothly and connectedly. It has also been adopted in other languages and fields to describe a similar concept of fluidity and continuity.