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Choliambic verse

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A metrical form similar to iambic verse but with a trochee or spondee in the final position, creating a "limping" rhythm; it was used by Greek poets for satirical or aggressive effect.

Detailed Definition
Choliambic verse, or “limping iambic,” is a satirical meter consisting of an iambic trimeter with a spondaic (two stressed) substitution in the final foot, creating a halting, mocking rhythm; used by Greek poets like Hipponax to convey irony or invective.
Example
Example in poetry:
Choliambic verse (or “limping iamb”) substitutes a spondee or trochee for the final iamb in an iambic trimeter line, as in this reconstructed example: “Strike now the lyre, but break the final beat.”
Additional Notes
Choliambic verse employs the choliambic meter for satirical or subversive effect, disrupting expected rhythms to mock or critique—its “limp” signals poetic rebellion against decorum.
Also Known As
Limping iambic verse Scazon poetry Choliamb measure Reversed-foot iambic
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