What does andantino mean?
Andantino is a musical tempo term derived from Italian, functioning as a diminutive of andante. It directs a performer to play at a pace slightly quicker than andante — the speed of an easy walk — yet still well short of moderato or allegro. The word appears chiefly in written scores as a tempo marking, where it shapes the character of a movement by suggesting motion that is unhurried but gently propulsive. Interestingly, the logic of the suffix is not straightforward: while '-ino' typically signals smallness or slowness in Italian, composers have historically disagreed about whether andantino should be faster or slower than andante, though the faster reading now predominates. Beyond the marking itself, musicians also use andantino to refer to the passage of music performed at that pace. For listeners, encountering the term in program notes signals a movement of moderate, flowing gracefulness.
nounA musical direction indicating a tempo slightly faster than andante but slower than moderato; also the passage of music performed at this pace.
- A tempo marking directing performance slightly faster than andante.
- A movement or passage of music to be played at this tempo.
"The second movement is marked andantino, giving it a gentle, walking lilt just a shade quicker than an andante."
"The composer marked the opening theme andantino, lending it a relaxed but forward-moving character."
"She rehearsed the andantino until its gentle pulse felt effortless under the fingers."
The plural follows standard English noun formation with -s; it is rare outside discussions of multiple movements or markings.
"The symphony contains two andantinos, each marked with subtle differences in pulse."
In Italian, adding '-ino' usually makes something smaller — but in music, 'andantino' actually means a little FASTER than 'andante', one of terminology's charming contradictions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of andantino
Andantino comes from Italian, formed as a diminutive of andante, which itself derives from the Italian verb andare, meaning 'to walk' or 'to go'. The root traces back to Latin ambulare, 'to walk'. Adopted into European musical vocabulary during the development of tempo markings in the 17th and 18th centuries, andantino shares its lineage with related musical terms such as andante and andamento.
How andantino is actually used
Almost exclusively used in classical music contexts, appearing in scores, program notes, and music criticism. Its meaning has varied historically between composers — some treated it as slower than andante — so performers sometimes consult editorial notes when interpreting older scores.
Easily confused with andantino
Andante indicates a moderate walking pace, while andantino is a diminutive form meaning slightly faster than andante.