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Where does the word "legato" come from? It comes from Italian legato, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "legato" come from? It comes from Italian legato, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).
Legato’s story begins in Italian: legato meant “bound, tied together.” Literally bound, tied, describing notes played smoothly connected. It reached English by 1800s as legato. Italian 'tied', from 'legare', to bind. Today, legato means a musical direction to play notes smoothly, without gaps.
- Stage 1 · Italian · 1700s legato "bound, tied together", literally bound, tied, describing notes played smoothly connected.
- Stage 2 · English · 1800s legato "played smoothly, with notes connected", Italian 'tied', from 'legare', to bind.