staccato
gb/stəkˈɑtoʊ/ us/stəkˈɑtoʊ/
C1
English
szaggatott, staccatós, staccato, szaggatott játékmód, szaggatottság
C1
TECHNICAL
1
szaggatott
B2
staccatós
C1
Usage pattern:
play/sing [something] staccato; staccato [notes/passage/rhythm]
The score says the opening theme should be played staccato.
A kottában az áll, hogy a nyitótémát szaggatottan kell játszani.
She practiced the scales staccato to make the attacks cleaner.
Szaggatottan gyakorolta a skálákat, hogy tisztábbak legyenek a hangindítások.
The pianist kept the accompaniment staccato under the melody.
Learner examples
Play these notes staccato.
Játsszd ezeket a hangokat szaggatottan.
The music is staccato and lively.
A zene szaggatott és élénk.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add -ly (*staccatoly*); the adverb form is usually just staccato (e.g., “play it staccato”).
Meaning
short, detached musical notes
Collocations
staccato notes
|staccato passage
|staccato rhythm
|staccato articulation
|staccato marking
|play staccato
|staccato chords
|staccato pattern
|crisp staccato
|light staccato
Synonyms
detached (A general musical term; less specific than staccato as a marked articulation.)
Antonyms
legato (Means smoothly connected without breaks between notes.)
Themes
music
|performance
|arts
Definition
In music: with short notes and clear breaks between them.
In music, played or sung with each note sharply separated from the next, often shortened in length.
C1
2
szaggatott
B2
Usage pattern:
staccato [voice/speech/dialogue/steps/editing]; in a staccato way
He spoke in a staccato voice, as if each word took effort.
Szaggatott hangon beszélt, mintha minden szó kimondása erőfeszítésébe került volna.
The report is written in staccato sentences that keep the pace fast.
A jelentés rövid, szaggatott mondatai gyorsan viszik előre a szöveget.
A staccato burst of knocking cut through the silence.
Learner examples
Her answers came in staccato bursts.
A válaszai szaggatottan, rövid kitörésekben érkeztek.
The footsteps sounded staccato in the hallway.
A léptek szaggatottan visszhangoztak a folyosón.
Common mistake:
Often confused with “static” or “erratic”; staccato specifically suggests short, separated bursts.
Meaning
short, clipped, abrupt style
Collocations
staccato voice
|staccato speech
|staccato delivery
|staccato dialogue
|staccato sentences
|staccato footsteps
|staccato bursts
|staccato pacing
|staccato editing
|staccato rhythm
Synonyms
clipped (Emphasizes shortened speech sounds or a curt manner.)
|
choppy (Emphasizes uneven flow, especially in writing or movement.)
|
jerky (Often used for physical movement; can feel more physical than staccato.)
Antonyms
flowing (Emphasizes smooth, continuous movement or speech.)
|
smooth (General opposite: without abrupt breaks.)
Themes
communication
|writing
|sound
|arts
Definition
Made of short parts with sudden stops and starts.
Characterized by short, abrupt units or bursts, as in speech, writing, movement, or sound.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
staccato
C1
Usage pattern:
[the] staccato (in [something]); use/add staccato
The teacher asked for more staccato in the repeated notes.
A tanár több staccatót kért az ismételt hangoknál.
In the scherzo, the staccato should sound playful rather than harsh.
A scherzóban a staccatónak játékosnak kell hatnia, nem pedig keménynek.
Her control of staccato and legato made the phrasing clear.
Learner examples
The piece needs more staccato.
A darabnak több staccatóra van szüksége.
Practice staccato and legato every day.
Gyakorold minden nap a staccatót és a legatót.
Common mistake:
As a noun, it is often uncountable (“the staccato”), not usually “a staccato” unless referring to a specific effect or passage.
Meaning
staccato style in music
Collocations
clean staccato
|crisp staccato
|light staccato
|heavy staccato
|use staccato
|add staccato
|staccato articulation
|staccato technique
|staccato in the right hand
|contrast of legato and staccato
Synonyms
detachment (More general term; does not imply the standard musical label staccato.)
Antonyms
legato (As a noun, refers to smooth, connected playing contrasted with staccato.)
Themes
music
|performance
|arts
Definition
A style of playing music with short, separate notes.
A manner of musical performance in which notes are played or sung in a detached way; staccato articulation as a style or effect.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
[the] staccato of [something]
The staccato of keyboards filled the open-plan office.
Az egyterű irodát megtöltötte a billentyűzetek szaggatott kopogása.
Outside, the staccato of rain on the window kept her awake.
Odakint az ablakon kopogó eső szaggatott üteme ébren tartotta.
He recognized the staccato of hurried footsteps on the stairs.
Learner examples
I heard the staccato of fast typing.
Hallottam a gyors gépelés szaggatott kopogását.
Common mistake:
This noun use is less common than the adjective; many contexts sound more natural with the adjective (e.g., “staccato breathing”).
Meaning
a staccato quality or rhythm
Collocations
the staccato of gunfire
|the staccato of typing
|the staccato of footsteps
|a staccato of clicks
|a staccato of knocks
|staccato in the dialogue
Synonyms
rat-tat-tat (Onomatopoeic and more informal; often for knocking or gunfire.)
Antonyms
continuity (Emphasizes unbroken flow rather than separated bursts.)
Themes
sound
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
A short, broken rhythm in sound or speech.
A staccato-like quality in something nonmusical, such as speech, noise, or movement, marked by short, separated bursts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
staccato
IPA
GB/stəkˈɑtoʊ/
US/stəkˈɑtoʊ/
Syllables & stress
stac - cato (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cato)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: staccato
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.