alto

Alto is a term with several distinct meanings in music, geography, and language. Derived from Italian and Spanish alto meaning high or tall, from Latin altus, it is used across languages to denote elevation or an upper position.

In music, alto usually designates a vocal range and the corresponding part in mixed choral singing, typically sung by women or girls, and covering roughly the middle to lower treble range. In many schools and choirs, the alto part sits below soprano and above tenor or is grouped with mezzo-soprano. The term also appears in the alto clef, a C-clef placed on the third line, used notably for viola and certain historical choral parts. The alto saxophone, a transposing instrument in E-flat, is a member of the saxophone family and commonly used in jazz and concert bands.

In geography, Alto is a toponym applied in numerous countries to towns, municipalities, and geographical features. The name often reflects elevation or a high position in the landscape and is found in Europe, North and South America, and elsewhere.

In onomastics and branding, Alto appears as a surname or given name in various cultures, and it is used in company or product names due to its connotations of height or superiority. The diverse uses of Alto reflect its broad association with height, position, and prominence across domains.