Which of the following terms indicates to play a note softly?

The term that indicates to play a note softly is "piano." In musical terminology, "piano" is derived from the Italian word meaning "soft" and is used to instruct musicians to play with a gentle or quiet dynamic. This term is a fundamental aspect of music dynamics, which helps convey the emotion and expression intended by the composer.

In contrast, "forte" means to play loudly, "mezzo" signifies a moderately loud dynamic (marked as mezzo piano for somewhat soft and mezzo forte for somewhat loud), and "legato" refers to playing notes in a smooth, connected manner without gaps between them. Understanding these terms helps musicians interpret dynamics and articulation correctly, leading to a more expressive performance.