Common piano terms seen in sheet music.

TermsDefinition
Allegrettomoderately fast
Allegrolively and fast
Andantemoving along
A temporeturn to former speed
Con molto espressionewith much expression
Con motowith movement
Con spiritowith spirit
Crescendo gradually becoming louder
Da capo al fine return to the beginning and continue until the word Fine
Decrescendo gradually becoming softer
Dim., diminuendogradually becoming softer
Dolcesweetly
Finethe end of the piece
ƒ (forte) loud
Graziosogracefully
Legato smoothly, well connected
Leggierolightly
mƒ (mezzo forte)moderately loud
mp (mezzo piano)moderately soft
p (piano) soft
pp (pianissimo)very soft
ppp (pianissimente)extremely soft
Prestovery fast
Ritard., ritardandogradually becoming slower
Riten,. ritenuto, rit. slowing down
Rubatowith some freedom in the time
Similecontinue in a similar manner
Staccatoshort and detached
Vivacelively, spirited