What’s the Plural of Concerto: Understanding Musical Terms
Quick Answer
The plural of concerto has two correct forms: concertos (English) and concerti (Italian). Both are right.
Everyday English: She played three piano concertos.
Classical music context: Vivaldi wrote four concerti for the seasons.
Concerto Has Two Plurals — See the Pattern
The word concerto comes from Italian. That is why it has two plural forms. Look at the pattern.
- one concerto → two concertos (English way)
- one concerto → two concerti (Italian way)
Did you see what happens? English adds -s to the end. Italian changes the -o to an -i. Both are used by native speakers today.
| One (singular) | English plural | Italian plural |
|---|---|---|
| concerto | concertos | concerti |
When to Use Concertos and When to Use Concerti
Both plurals are correct. But people pick one over the other in different places. Here is a simple guide.
Use concertos when:
- You are speaking or writing in everyday English.
- You are not sure which form to use. This one is safer.
- You are writing for a general audience.
Use concerti when:
- You are writing about classical music in a formal way.
- You are talking to musicians or music students.
- You want to show respect for the Italian roots of the music.
Easy way to remember: If you are not sure, use concertos. It is the safer choice in almost every everyday situation.
The Rule in One Line: Concertos for everyday English, concerti for formal music — both are correct.
Real-Life Examples With Concertos and Concerti
- My daughter loves piano concertos by Mozart. (everyday English)
- Vivaldi wrote four famous concerti called “The Four Seasons”. (formal music context)
- She played two concertos at the school show. (everyday)
- The programme lists all of Bach’s violin concerti. (formal music programme)
- I bought a CD of Beethoven’s piano concertos. (everyday shopping)
You are doing great. Now let us look at the mistake many learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Concerto
Many learners write concertoes with an -es ending. That is a smart guess — because some English words like tomato become tomatoes. But concerto is different. Even people who love classical music mix these up sometimes, so if you do too, you are not alone.
✗ She played three piano concertoes.
✓ She played three piano concertos.
✗ The orchestra played two concertis.
✓ The orchestra played two concerti.
✗ He wrote many violin concertoes.
✓ He wrote many violin concertos.
How to remember: Only two plural forms exist — concertos and concerti. Never add -es or -s to concerti. If you are not sure, pick concertos.
Other Italian music words with two plurals: solo → solos / soli, tempo → tempos / tempi, virtuoso → virtuosos / virtuosi.
Test Yourself: Concertos or Concerti?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. She played three piano _______ at the school concert. (Choose the everyday English form.)
2. The formal programme lists all of Vivaldi’s violin _______. (Use the Italian form.)
3. Which spelling is NOT a correct plural of concerto?
4. Only one piece was on the programme — a single piano _______.
5. I bought a CD of Mozart’s piano _______. (Use the safer, everyday English form.)
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned that concerto has two plurals: concertos and concerti. That is one more musical word you will never get wrong again.
But here is something interesting. Many English words come from other languages, and some of them behave in strange ways. Take the word criteria. Is it singular or plural? And what about alumni? These small words trip up even advanced learners. Do you know the answers?
Next lesson: Criteria: Singular or Plural?
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My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
