lentement

Lentement is a French adverb meaning "slowly." It derives from the adjective lent, slow, which ultimately comes from Latin lentus. The adverb is formed with the suffix -ement. In everyday French, lentement describes actions performed at a slow pace, as in “Elle parle lentement” or “Il avance lentement.” The related noun lenteur denotes slowness.

In music, lentement is a tempo marking used on scores to indicate a slow tempo. It is less common than universal markings such as adagio or lento, but appears in French-language scores and in works that aim for a distinctly French character. When used, lentement signals a tempo toward the slower end of the spectrum, though the precise speed depends on context, style, and performer interpretation. It may be placed at the beginning of a movement or section or appear within a passage to shape mood and phrasing.

Outside of music, lentement can appear in stage directions or literary descriptions to convey manner of speaking or movement, consistent with its general meaning of slowness. The term is closely related to other Romance-language equivalents—lentamente in Spanish, lentamente in Italian, and lento in other contexts—sharing the same root concept of slowness and the French noun lenteur.

See also: lent, lenteur, adagio, lento.