legato

/ləˈgɑdoʊ/
/ˈlʌgɒtəʊ/
IPA guide

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”
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    antonyms:
    staccato
    separating the notes; in music
  2. adjective
    (music) without breaks between notes; smooth and connected
    “a legato passage”
    synonyms: smooth
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    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
    show more antonyms...
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