legato

/ləˈgɑdoʊ/

/ˈlʌgɒtəʊ/

Other forms: legatos

If you see the word legato in your sheet music, it's telling you to play or sing in a smooth, flowing way, with all the notes connected.

The word legato is Italian, and it literally means "tied together." If you're playing or singing a melody legato, it's as if each note is tied to the one before it and after it, forming a continuous flow of sound. The opposite of legato is staccato, where each note is played briefly and separately, producing a choppy sound.

Definitions of legato

1. adverb

   (music) connecting the notes
   “play this legato, please”

   antonyms:

   staccato

   separating the notes; in music
2. adjective

   (music) without breaks between notes; smooth and connected
   “a legato passage”

   synonyms: smooth

   antonyms:

   staccato

   (music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply

   abrupt, disconnected

   marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions