# sinfonietta

> English word · Noun · IPA /sɪnfəʊˈnjɛtə/

## Definitions
1. A small-scale symphony (either in length or size of orchestra needed).
2. A small orchestra.

## Etymology
Either:
* from the Italian sinfonietta;
* formed on the Italian roots sinfonia (“symphony”) + -etta (feminine diminutive suffix), either in English or in German (as Sinfonietta) and adopted thence; or,
* an alteration of the French symphoniette to resemble an Italian construction of the form sinfonia + -etta.
Compare the French–Italian hybrid symphonietta.

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