What does diminuendo mean in music?

diminuendo means "gradually getting softer".

What type of musical term is diminuendo?

diminuendo is a dynamics term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the dynamics word list.

What grade is diminuendo tested in?

diminuendo first appears at Grade 2 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Dynamics

diminuendo — meaning in music

diminuendo is a musical term meaning gradually getting softer. It is a dynamics marking, first tested at Grade 2 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

gradually getting softer

DynamicsFirst tested: Grade 2

Translations

French	devenant progressivement plus doux
German	wird allmählich weicher
Italian	diventando gradualmente più morbido
Spanish	poco a poco se vuelve más suave
Chinese	逐渐变得柔软

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All dynamics terms

calando crescendo decrescendo diminuendo forte fortissimo mezza voce mezzo mezzo forte mezzo piano morendo perdendosi pianissimo piano sforzando smorzando sotto voce