Segno

Segno is an Italian word meaning sign or mark. In general usage, it refers to any sign, mark, or symbol, and in Italian it is commonly used to name zodiac signs and other indicators.

In music notation, a segno is a specific symbol used to indicate a restart point for repeats. The sign is a stylized letter S with a diagonal stroke and two dots, and it serves as a reference point for navigation within a score. When a performer encounters the directive dal segno (D.S.), they return to the segno sign and continue from there. Common variants include D.S. al Fine, which means return to the segno and play until the designated end, and D.S. al Coda, which directs a return to the segno and then jump to a separate coda section. The segno can be placed at any point in the music to suit the composer’s structure, and multiple segnos may appear in longer works to guide complex repeats.

Beyond music, segno remains the general term for a sign or mark in Italian, and its use extends to everyday writing and references to zodiac signs, where each sign is described as a segno or “sign of the zodiac.” In English-language musical terminology, segno is primarily encountered in the context of repeat instructions and score navigation.