word
rubato
roo-BAH-toh
ruːˈbɑːtoʊListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
rubato
Sounds like
Say 'roo-BAH-toh'.
Dictionary meaning
The musical practice of temporarily speeding up or slowing down the tempo freely.
History and origin
Italian — 'stolen' (as in stolen time).
Examples
- The pianist's use of rubato gave the nocturne a deeply personal, breathing quality.
Common mispronunciations
roo-BAY-tohROO-bah-toh
Learn one new pronunciation a day
Get a word, name or idiom like “rubato” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.
Something wrong? Suggest a correction