portamento

This term describes a specific musical technique where the transition between two notes is seamless and audible, rather than discrete. It is most commonly associated with string instruments and the human voice, where it creates a sense of longing, tension, or fluidity. In modern classical music, its use is often carefully measured to avoid sounding overly sentimental or melodramatic.

While similar to a glissando, a portamento is typically a shorter, more expressive slide between two specific pitches, whereas a glissando often implies a rapid slide across a wider range of notes, including the intermediate chromatic steps. In a technical sense, it is an ornament used to bridge the gap between melodic intervals.