Consonance repeats consonant sounds in words placed close together, often in their final or internal positions, as in “blank and think.” Unlike alliteration, which usually emphasizes initial sounds, consonance can work throughout a word and need not follow identical spelling. Its echoes may be soft and unobtrusive or heavily patterned. In poetry, consonance binds lines through sound, supports a measured cadence, and can imitate a setting or feeling. Harsh stops may suggest tension, while liquids and nasals may produce a quieter, more reflective music.

Consonance may link words subtly even when their vowel sounds differ, as in repeated k, t, or m sounds. It is especially effective at line endings and within free verse, where sound patterns can supply cohesion without rhyme. Distinguish it from alliteration, which emphasizes initial consonants.