How do you pronounce Pianissimo?

Pianissimo is pronounced "pyah-NEE-see-moh".

What is the opposite of Pianissimo?

The opposite of Pianissimo includes: Fortissimo, Forte.

Pianissimo

Very soft; much quieter than piano.

About Pianissimo

Pianissimo, abbreviated "pp," calls for an extremely soft dynamic. Achieving a true pianissimo requires excellent breath control for wind players and singers, and a delicate touch for string and keyboard players.

More dynamics terms

Crescendo

Gradually getting louder

Forte piano (fp)

The notational symbol fp — attack a note forte then immediately drop to piano

Niente

Nothing; fade to complete silence.

Fortississimo

Extremely loud; louder than fortissimo.

Smorzando

Dying away in tone and speed.

View all dynamicsterms →

Synonyms

very soft very quiet

Antonyms

Fortissimo Forte

Piano Pianississimo

Compare with similar terms

Pianissimo vs very soft Pianissimo vs very quiet Pianissimo vs Fortissimo Pianissimo vs Forte

v1 · 09/04/2026Browse all terms →

Nearby Terms

Perfect FifthAn interval of seven semitones
Perfect FourthAn interval spanning five semitones, historically treated as both consonant and dissonant depending on context.
PesanteHeavily, with weight.
PhraseA complete musical thought, analogous to a sentence in spoken language.
PhrasingThe way a performer shapes a musical sentence by controlling dynamics, timing, and articulation to convey its structure.
PianississimoExtremely soft; softer than pianissimo.
PianoSoft, quiet
PitchThe perceived highness or lowness of a sound, determined by its frequency.
Pitch ClassA group containing all notes that share the same letter name regardless of octave, such as every C on the keyboard.
PiùMore — intensifies the direction it accompanies