Decrescendo, decresc.
Becoming softer
Crescendo, cresc
Becoming louder
Diminuendo, dim
Becoming softer
Forte, f
Loud
Fortepiano, fp
Loud, then suddenly soft
Fortissimo, ff
Very loud
Mezzo forte, mf
Moderately loud
Mezzo piano, mp
Moderately soft
Piano, p
Soft
Pianissimo, pp
Very soft
Sforzando, sf, sfz
A suddenly strong accent of a single note or chord