There are many Latin terms used in music to show how a piece of music is to be performed. Some of these terminologies are arranged under various groups as shown below.
Tempo
| Tempo | time | The speed of music e.g. 120 BPM |
| Grave | solemn | Slow and solemn, slower than largo |
| Largo | broad | Slow and dignified |
| Larghetto | a little bit broad | Not as slow as largo |
| Lentando | slowing | Becoming slower |
| Lento | slow | Slow |
| Adagio | ad agio, at ease | Slow, but not as slow as largo |
| Adagietto | little adagio | Faster than adagio; or a short adagio composition |
| Andante | walking | Moderately slow, flowing along |
| Moderato | moderately | At a moderate speed |
| Allegretto | a little bit joyful | Slightly slower than allegro |
| Largamente | broadly | Slow and dignified |
| Mosso | moved | Agitated |
| Allegro | joyful; lively and fast | Moderately fast |
| Sostenuto | sustained | A slowing of tempo, often accompanied by legato playing |
| Fermata | stopped | Marks a note to be held or sustained |
| Presto | ready | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | very ready | Very very fast, as fast as possible |
| Accelerando | accelerating | Accelerating |
| Affrettando | becoming hurried | Accelerating |
| Allargando | slowing and broadening | Slowing down and broadening, becoming more stately and majestic, possibly louder |
| Ritardando | slowing | Decelerating |
| Rallentando | becoming progressively slower | Decelerating |
| Rubato | robbed | Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm |
| Tenuto | sustained | Holding or sustaining a single note |