Which term means ‘slurred staccato’?

• A. Portato
• B. Tenuto
• C. Con fuoco
• D. Con grazia

Answer: (A)

Portato describes an articulation that sits between legato and staccato: notes are connected by a slur but played with a gentle, perceptible separation. This captures the idea of “slurred staccato”—a smooth, connected phrase with light detachments between the notes. It’s often shown by a slur over a group of notes that also carry dots or short marks (or a tenuto mark) to indicate the subtle separation within the phrase.

Tenuto, by contrast, asks you to hold each note for its full value, sometimes with a slight emphasis, but it doesn’t imply any deliberate detachment across a slur. Con fuoco means with fire, a mood/character instruction affecting intensity and drive rather than articulation. Con grazia means with grace, a stylistic or expressive nuance, not the specific light separation described by portato.