Assai
Very or quite — a modifier that intensifies the tempo or expression marking it accompanies
Category
modifier
Pronunciation
ahs-SAH-ee
Origin
Italian
Length
79 words · 1 min read
About Assai
Assai strengthens whatever marking it modifies: allegro assai means very fast, adagio assai means very slow. It sits between molto (very much) and poco (a little) in intensity.
More modifier terms
Poco a poco
View all modifierterms →Little by little — a gradual, incremental change applied to any musical direction
ConWith — connects a musical direction to its qualifying element
SempreAlways; continuously throughout the passage.
Non troppoNot too much — a restraining qualifier for tempo or expression
TroppoToo much — used with non to mean not too much, moderating another musical instruction
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →