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Since some of you’ve asked, here’s the official list of 134 terms you need to know for your ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory. Mozart is watching you…
ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory: List of Terms
| A tempo | In time |
| Accelerando (Accel) | Gradually getting faster |
| Ad libitum (Ad lib.) | At choice |
| Adagio | Slow |
| Affettuoso | Tenderly |
| Agitato | Agitated |
| Al, alla | In the style of |
| Alla breve | With a minim beat |
| Allargando | Broadening |
| Allegretto | Fairly quick |
| Allegro | Fast |
| Allegro assai | Very fast |
| Allegro moderato | Moderately fast |
| Amabile | Amiable, pleasant |
| Andante | At a walking pace |
| Andantino | Slightly faster than andante |
| Animato | Animated, lively |
| Animé | Animated, lively |
| Appassionato | With passion |
| Assai | Very |
| Attacca | Go immediately to next section |
| Ben | Well |
| Brio | Vigour |
| Cantabile | In a singing style |
| Cantando | Singing |
| Come | As, similar to |
| Comodo | At a comfortable speed |
| Con, col | With |
| Crescendo (Cresc.) | Gradually getting louder |
| Da capo (D.C.) | Repeat from beginning |
| Dal segno (D.S.) | Repeat from “S” sign |
| Deciso | With determination |
| Decrescendo (Decresc.) | Gradually getting quieter |
| Diminuendo (Dim.) | Gradually getting quieter |
| Dolce | Sweet, soft |
| Dolore | Grief, sorrow |
| Doloroso | Sorrowful |
| Douce | Sweet |
| E, ed | And |
| Energico | Energetic |
| Espressivo (espress.) | Expressive |
| Fine | The end |
| Forte (f) | Loud |
| Fortepiano (fp) | Loud, then immediately soft |
| Fortissimo (ff) | Very Loud |
| Forza | Force |
| Giocoso | Playful, merry |
| Grave | Very slow, solemn |
| Grazioso | Graceful |
| Langsam | Slow |
| Largamente | Broadly |
| Larghetto | Rather slow |
| Largo | Slow and stately |
| Lebhaft | Lively |
| Legato | Smoothly |
| Leggiero | Light, nimble |
| Lent | Slow |
| Lento | Slow |
| Ma | But |
| Maestoso | Majestic |
| Marcato (marc.) | Emphatic, accented |
| Marcia | March |
| Mässig | At a moderate speed |
| Meno | Less |
| Mesto | Sad |
| Mezzo | Half |
| Mezzo forte (mf) | Moderately loud |
| Mezzo piano (mp) | Moderately quiet |
| Misterioso | Mysteriously |
| Moderato | Moderate speed |
| Modéré | At a moderate speed |
| Molto | Very much |
| Morendo | Dying away |
| Mosso | Movement |
| Moto | Movement |
| Niente | Nothing (silence) |
| Non | Not |
| Perdendosi | Dying away |
| Pesante | Heavy |
| Pianissimo (pp) | Very quiet |
| Piano (p) | Quiet |
| Più | More |
| Poco | A little |
| Poco a poco | Little by little |
| Prestissimo | As fast as possible |
| Presto | Fast (faster than allegro) |
| Prima, primo | First |
| Quasi | As if, resembling |
| Rallentando (Rall.) | Gradually getting slower |
| Retenu | Held back |
| Rinforzando (rf, rfz, rinf.) | Reinforcing |
| Risoluto | Bold, strong |
| Ritardando (rit., ritard.) | Gradually getting slower |
| Ritenuto (rit., riten.) | Held back |
| Ritmico | Rhythmically |
| Rubato | With some freedom of time |
| Ruhig | Peaceful |
| Scherzando | Playfully, joking |
| Schnell | Fast |
| Semplice | Simple, plain |
| Sempre | Always |
| Senza | Without |
| Sforzando (sf) | Forced, accented |
| Sforzato (sfz) | Forced, accented |
| Simile (sim.) | In the same way |
| Smorzando (smorz.) | Dying away in tone and speed |
| Sonoro | Resonant, with a rich tone |
| Sostenuto | Sustained |
| Sotto voce | In an undertone |
| Spirito | Spirit |
| Staccato (stacc.) | Detached |
| Stringendo | Gradually getting faster |
| Subito (sub.) | Suddenly |
| Tempo | Speed, time |
| Tenuto | Held |
| Tranquillo | Calm |
| Traurig | Sad |
| Tristamente, Triste | Sorrowful |
| Troppo | Too much |
| Vite | Quick |
| Vivace, vivo | Lively, quick |
How about a quiz?
Once you feel ready, test yourself with this official quiz by ABRSM!
A Final Thought
Learning 134 musical terms may feel like a grind at first, but it’s absolutely worth it. This isn’t just about passing an exam—it’s part of becoming a more capable and thoughtful musician. Whether you’re working toward Grade 6 practical, preparing for school exams, or just wanting to perform better, these terms are part of the toolkit you’ll carry with you throughout your musical journey.
If you need any form of guidance, I offer ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory lessons to help you succeed. Feel free to reach out for more information.
