molto

Molto is an Italian word that functions as an adverb meaning "much" or "very." It is used to increase the degree of an adjective, an adverb, or a past participle, and can also serve as a quantity determiner with nouns. The term derives from Latin multus, sharing the core sense of largeness or extent.

In everyday Italian, molto precedes adjectives or participles to express intensity: molto bello (very beautiful), molto interessante (very interesting). When modifying verbs, it communicates extent or frequency: corre molto (he runs a lot). Before nouns, molto can indicate quantity, with gender and number affecting the form (molto; molta; molti; molte).

In music notation, molto is a common directive meaning "very" or "much" and is used to intensify a tempo or character marking. For example, molto allegro means very fast and lively, while molto cantabile indicates a very singable, lyrical style. It can appear before other tempo or mood terms, sometimes extended with additional modifiers (e.g., molto presto, molto dolce).

As an Italian loanword, molto appears in English primarily in musical or literary phrases. Outside such contexts, it remains recognized mainly by learners of Italian. Overall, it is a flexible intensifier in Italian and a familiar musical tempo modifier in international usage.