Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

glissando

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.83 in modern English

Syllables: glis-san-do
IPA

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Either a continuous sliding from one pitch to another ("true" glissando), or an incidental scale played while moving from one melodic note to another ("effective" glissando).

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A method of playing an electric guitar in which a metal bar is held at right angles across the strings and rapidly moved up and down, creating a smooth, lush sound.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To play with a glissando or sliding effect.

Example Sentences

"After another alternation of the two elements, there is a more playful episode, in which flute and bassoon take up the first element, with swooping glissando on the ondes Martenot."

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian glissando.

Usage

Inflected Forms

glissandi (plural) glissandos (plural) glissandoes (plural) glissandos (present, singular) glissandoing (participle, present) glissandoed (participle, past) glissandoed (past)

Phrases

glissando babbler

Questions

What does glissando mean?: Either a continuous sliding from one pitch to another ("true" glissando), or an incidental scale played while moving from one melodic note to another ("effective" glissando).
Where does glissando come from?: Borrowed from Italian glissando.

How to pronounce glissando

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “glissando”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “glissando”.
Repeat and practice — Say “glissando” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.