What does largo mean?
Largo is an Italian-derived musical term meaning slow and broad in tempo. When it appears on a score, it instructs performers to use a deliberately unhurried pace, often with a spacious, majestic, or solemn character. Because the instruction concerns not only speed but also breadth of delivery, largo differs from a simple request to play slowly. The word can also describe music or artistic work that has an expansive, dignified quality. In the rarer noun use, it names a broad, slow tempo or the direction associated with that tempo. While related tempo markings include adagio, largo has a particularly stately and spacious character that makes it especially effective in slow movements, solemn ceremonies, and dramatic finales. Outside musical and artistic contexts, the term remains uncommon and generally sounds formal or elevated.
Slowly and broadly in tempo, often in a stately or spacious manner.
"The violins sang the phrase largo beneath the softly swelling orchestra."
Used as a musical direction, normally printed in italics in scores.
Broad and spacious in style or character, especially in music.
"The conductor gave the slow movement a richly textured, largo treatment."
More common in descriptions of music and artistic performance than in general conversation.
A broad, slow tempo or a musical direction indicating that tempo.
"The composer entered a largo before the final chorus."
This noun use is less common than the use of the word as a musical direction.
The plural is rare because the noun is normally used in musical discussion or as a score marking.
"The collection contains several largos from the composer's late orchestral works."
Largo literally means broad in Italian, so its musical instruction asks performers not only to slow down but to make the music spacious and expansive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of largo
Largo comes from Italian, where largo originally means broad or wide and also serves as a musical direction meaning slow and broad. Italian largo ultimately derives from Latin largus, meaning broad, spacious, or generous, which is also the source of English large. The related musical marking larghetto is formed with the Italian diminutive suffix -etto and indicates a slightly faster tempo than largo.
How largo is actually used
Largo is used chiefly as a musical direction. Its close association with broad, stately music gives it a formal and elevated tone in artistic contexts.
Easily confused with largo
Largo is primarily a musical direction meaning slow and broad, whereas large is an adjective meaning big in size or amount.