Reprinted from Fundamentals for Strings Appendix in Masters Thesis by Albert Jeung (Poly, Class of '84)

A Tempo Return to the original tempo or previous tempo
Accelerando Gradually get faster
Adagietto A little faster than adagio
Adagio Slow
Agitato Agitated
Allegro Lively, quick
Allegretto A little slower than allegro
Allegro me non troppo Allegro, but not too much
Andante Walking tempo, nor fast nor too slow
Andantino A little faster than andante
Animato Animated
Arco With the bow
Assai Very
Attaca To the next section without interruption
Cadenza Solo section, passage
Cantabile In a singing style
Col legno Play with the stick of the bow
Con arco With the bow
Con moto With motion
Con sordino With the mute
Detache Legato Bow changes and notes not separated
Dolce Sweetly
Largetto A little faster than largo
Largo Very slow
Leggiero Lightly
L'istesso tempo Continue with the same tempo or beat
Loure Slurred notes with space between them to be played in a legato manner
Ma non troppo Not too much
Marcato Accented, heavy notes
MarteIe Accented, heavy notes
Meno mosso Less motion
Morendo Dying away
Non divisti Play all the notes
Obbligato A second part or accompaniment to solo parts
Ossia An alternative way to play a section
Pesante Heavily
Piu More
Pon mosso More motion
Pizzicato Strings to be plucked
POC0 poco Little by little
Portato Slurred notes with space between them played in a legato manner
Presto Very fast
Prostissimo As fast as possible
Ritenuto Slower than the previous section
Rubato Taking a little more time on some notes for musical expression
Saltato, saltando Off the string at the tip of the bow in a ricochet, thrown manner
Sautille Fast, short notes to be played off the string, but close to the string
Scherzo In a playful style
Segue Continue without interruption
Sempre Always continue bowing, tempo, or style as before
Senza sordino Without the mute
Sostenuto Sustained
Spiccato To be played off the string
Staccato Very strong, short notes on the string
Stringendo Increasing the tempo suddenly and continually
Sul ponticello To be played near the bridge
Sul tasto To be played on the fingerboard
Tacet Do not play
Tempo primo Return to the first tempo of the movement or piece
Tenuto Hold out to the fullest value of the not
Tremelo Play as many notes as fast as possible, usually at the tip of the bow
Tutti All play accompaniment part
Vivace Lively, quick
Viva Lively

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