Home › Glossary › Letter C

Composite rhyme

Rhyme
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 rhyme where a single word rhymes with a multi-word phrase (e.g., “cat” / “mat that”), creating complex sonic equivalences across line endings.

Detailed Definition
Composite rhyme combines multiple sonic elements—consonance, assonance, and syllabic stress—into a layered rhyming effect that transcends simple end-rhyme; it creates rich auditory textures by weaving partial echoes throughout the line rather than relying on terminal correspondence.
Example
Example in poetry:
Composite rhyme: Rhyme combining multiple sound elements—e.g., “running” and “sunken” share consonants and partial vowels, creating a rich, textured rhyme in modern verse.
Additional Notes
Composite rhyme combines consonance, assonance, and slant elements for a rich, imperfect echo; expands sonic texture beyond perfect rhyme.
Also Known As
Combined rhyme Blended echo Merged consonance Compound sound-match Historical-mix rhyme
Skip to main content