perpetuo

Perpetuo is an Italian adjective meaning perpetual, lasting forever, or continuous. It derives from Latin perpetuus and is related to the English word perpetual; cognates appear in several Romance languages. In English-language texts the form perpetuo appears mainly in borrowed musical or scholarly phrases, or in translated Italian expressions.

In music, in perpetuo (or "in perpetuo") is a directive indicating continuous, unbroken motion for the duration of a passage or entire piece. It usually calls for a rapid, even flow with little to no rests, creating a sense of relentless momentum. The term is common in discussions of Baroque and Classical repertoire and is closely associated with the broader idea of perpetual motion in music, including the Latin-derived phrase perpetuum mobile that appears in titles and program notes.

Outside music, perpetuo functions as a general descriptor in Italian for ongoing or constant action or duration. In Italian texts it can appear in titles, descriptions, or inscriptions to convey unceasing continuity. In English-language scholarship, perpetuo appears chiefly when quoting or translating Italian phrases or discussing musical terminology.

Related terms include perpetual, perpetual motion (perpetuum mobile in Latin), and phrases such as in perpetuo that indicate ongoing action. The word’s primary contemporary usage remains rooted in Italian language contexts and musicology, where it succinctly communicates a sense of unbroken, continuous motion or duration.