# alto

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæl.təʊ/ · frequency rank #15,565

## Definitions
1. A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
2. A person or musical instrument that performs the alto part.
3. An alto saxophone.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian alto (“high”). Doublet of old.

## Easily confused with
- **at** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-at)
- **ao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-ao)
- **art** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-art)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-ate)
- **ant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-ant)
- **ATM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-atm)
- **apt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-apt)
- **ATP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-atp)
- **att** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-att)
- **ATV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-atv)
- **ATF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-atf)
- **ATA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-ata)
- **Ath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-ath)
- **amt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-amt)
- **ATO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-ato)
- **ASO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-aso)
- **aro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-aro)
- **ATR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-atr)
- **arts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-arts)
- **auto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alto-vs-auto)

## Common misspellings (4)
`allto`, `altto`, `atlo`, `lato`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alto