A large keyboard instrument in which pressing keys causes small hammers to strike strings to produce sounds. It is a synonym for Klavier.
example
Sie lernt seit fünf Jahren, Piano zu spielen.
She has been learning to play piano for five years.
Usage tips
Origin of the word
'Piano' is an international word that comes from Italian. It is understood in many languages and is a common term for the instrument, especially in a musical context.
EXAMPLE
Das Konzert für Piano und Orchester war ausverkauft.
The concert for piano and orchestra was sold out.
Typical collocation
The word 'Piano' (piano) is almost always combined with the verb 'spielen' (to play). The phrase 'Piano spielen' (to play piano) is a fixed collocation used to express that someone knows how to play this instrument or is currently playing it.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder kann sehr gut Piano spielen.
My brother can play piano very well.
Sentence structure with a preposition
If you want to say that someone is sitting at the instrument or playing a specific piece on it, you use the prepositions 'an' or 'auf' with the dative: 'am Piano sitzen' (to sit at the piano) or 'etwas auf dem Piano spielen' (to play something on the piano).
EXAMPLE
Der Pianist saß schon am Piano und wartete auf seinen Einsatz.
The pianist was already sitting at the piano and waiting for his cue.
Compare with
near_synonym · confusable
Piano vs Flügel
wing / grand piano
'der Flügel' and 'das Piano' can both belong to the category of keyboard instruments. 'das Piano' means the same as 'Klavier' and is a general term for this instrument. 'der Flügel' is a special, large form of it, often used for concerts. Learners may confuse the words because a grand piano can be a piano. But if you are only talking about the instrument in general, 'Piano' or 'Klavier' fits. If you mean the large concert form, 'Flügel' is more precise.
Piano
Herr Demir spielt heute Abend Piano in einer kleinen Bar.
Mr. Demir is playing piano in a small bar this evening.
Flügel
Vor dem Auftritt wurde der Flügel noch einmal gestimmt.
Before the performance, the grand piano was tuned once more.