Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| altezza | /alˈtet.t͡sa/ | feminine |
| intonazione | /in.to.natˈt͡sjo.ne/ | feminine |
| timbro | /ˈtim.bro/ | masculine |
The term altezza is used in a musical context as the standard way to describe the vertical dimension of a note, or its frequency. For a more formal way to express pitch as it relates to a musical note, you can say L'altezza del suono.
Which one should you use?
It is important to choose the correct word based on what aspect of sound you are describing. Use altezza when referring specifically to the scientific or musical property of how high or low a sound is. Use intonazione to refer to the melodic contour of speech or singing, or the rise and fall of a voice. Use timbro to describe the quality or color of a sound.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word altezza is pronounced /alˈtet.tsa/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In a royal context, Sua Altezza is the formal way to address a member of a royal family as 'Your Highness'.
- The word timbro is used not only for sound but also for a rubber stamp or the imprint it leaves on paper.
- While altezza describes the frequency, intonazione is used when a singer is 'out of tune'. A singer who is flat or sharp is said to have a problem with their intonazione.
Examples in context
- Lui ha lanciato la pallaHe pitched the ball
- L'altezza della nota è sbagliata.The pitch of the note is wrong.
- Non riesco a controllare l'altezza della mia voce.I can't control the pitch of my voice.
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are practicing music together.
- GiuliaFrancesco, l'altezza di questa nota è sbagliata.Francesco, the pitch of this note is wrong.
- FrancescoHai ragione, Giulia, devo accordare lo strumento.You are right, Giulia, I need to tune the instrument.
- GiuliaOra l'altezza sembra corretta.Now the pitch seems correct.
- FrancescoSì, suoniamo di nuovo dall'inizio.Yes, let's play again from the beginning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pitch” translations and entries altezza, intonazione, timbro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
