word
Italian
ostinato
os-tih-NAH-toh
ˌɒstɪˈnɑːtoʊListen
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Syllable breakdown
ostinato
Sounds like
Say 'os-tih-NAH-toh'.
Dictionary meaning
A motif or phrase persistently repeated throughout a composition.
History and origin
Italian — 'ostinato' (obstinate, stubborn).
Examples
- Ravel's Boléro is built entirely on a single persistent ostinato that grows in orchestration but never changes.
Common mispronunciations
os-tih-NAY-tohOS-tih-nah-toh
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