andante

/ɑnˌdɑnˈteɪ/

/ɑnˈdɑnti/

Other forms: andantes

Use the word andante to describe a relatively slow, moderately paced tune. Your piano teacher might tell you to play a piece andante.

The word andante, particularly common in classical music, is sometimes described as "at a walking pace." An andante movement in a symphony is faster than adagio but slower than allegro. Like so many musical words describing tempo, andante is Italian, a form of the verb andare, "to go." The Latin root, ambire, means "to go around" or "to go about."

Definitions of andante

1. adverb

   at a moderately slow tempo
   “this passage must be played andante”
2. adjective

   (of tempo) moderately slow
   synonyms:

   slow

   at a slow tempo
3. noun

   a moderately slow tempo (a walking pace)
   type of:

   pacing, tempo

   (music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
4. noun

   a musical composition or musical passage to be performed moderately slow
   type of:

   composition, musical composition, opus, piece, piece of music

   a musical work that has been created

   musical passage, passage

   a short section of a musical composition