Staccato (or stacc.) – Each note detached or separated from each other

(Pronounced sta-kah-tow)

To remember what staccato means, use the following mnemonic:

The stack of cards were oh (staccato) so high but then suddenly tumbled and the cards became detached.

Examples of staccato in a sentence

She sang partly in staccato - there was a little pause between each word and this added extra emphasis to them.

To get the best out of this song, some of it needs to be sung staccato to give clarity to the meaning.

The staccato rhythms in the final act of the opera help to portray the hostility and tension between the characters.