French word

tempo

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛmpo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpace

Example

Nous devons accélérer le tempo pour finir à l'heure.

We need to pick up the pace to finish on time.

Illustration for tempo (pace)

More examples

Si tu racontes trop, tu peux perdre le tempo de la conversation.

If you talk too much, you can lose the rhythm of the conversation.

Core concept

A pacing dial that controls the speed of a beat, movement, or organized activity.

Common phrases

  • perdre le tempo

    lose the rhythm

  • changer de tempo

    change the rhythm

  • avoir un bon tempo

    have a good rhythm

Similar words

rythme: The speed of a flow created by recurring movements or sounds.
cadence: The speed of regular progression set by beats or measured intervals.

Definition in French

Mesure de la rapidité ou de la cadence d'une musique, d'un mouvement ou d'une activité.

Word origin

The Italian musical noun tempo, from Latin tempus, 'time', enters French with its musical sense and also denotes an activity's rate.

Usage tips

  • For a general pace or recurring pattern, rythme is often more natural than tempo; tempo fits especially well with music and organized activity.

Other meanings

  • temponoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word