Appoggio

Appoggio is an Italian noun meaning support, backing, or a place to rest or lean on. It derives from the verb appoggiare, to put against, lean on, or support. In everyday Italian it can refer to a physical support (the base or contact surface that bears a load), a figurative form of backing (moral or political support), or a place where something can rest.

In architecture and engineering, appoggio denotes a bearing point or support surface where a structure rests or transfers load. This can be the contact area between a column and its base, the floor on which a beam rests, or any surface that transmits weight from one element to another. The term is used to describe the role of a support within a larger assembly and is commonly found in technical drawings, specifications, and discussions of stability and load paths.

In music, appoggio refers to breath support, the technique of coordinating breathing, core stabilization, and vocal mechanism to maintain a steady, resonant tone. It is closely associated with classical and bel canto singing pedagogy, where proper appoggio helps control phrasing, dynamic balance, and tone quality while reducing tension. The concept emphasizes a continuous, balanced airflow and the alignment of breath with vocal emission rather than relying on tension or intrusive compression.

Other common uses include its figurative sense of backing or support in social or professional contexts, as in providing appoggio to a project or to another person, and the reflexive verb appoggiarsi, meaning to lean on or rely on someone or something.