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Dalila

Biblical
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

Variant spelling of Delilah, the woman who betrayed Samson to the Philistines.

Detailed Definition
Dalila, like Delilah, represents seductive betrayal and the vulnerability of strength to desire. In poetry, she symbolizes the peril of intimacy with the enemy, the weaponization of affection, and the tragic intersection of love and treachery.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dalila—variant spelling of Delilah—appears in poetic tradition: “Dalila’s scissors cut more than hair—they severed Samson’s covenant”; A modern poem: “My Dalila wears concern, whispering, ‘Tell me your secret’”; In a sonnet on betrayal: “Love’s greatest weapon is trust—Dalila knew this”; Historical verse: “Dalila’s name means ‘languishing’—and Samson languished in her arms.”
Additional Notes
Dalila is a variant spelling of Delilah (Judges 16), used in some translations. Her name may derive from a root meaning “to languish” or “to weaken.” In poetic tradition, she epitomizes seductive betrayal, the weaponization of intimacy, and the tragic vulnerability of the hero. Her story invites exploration of gender, power, and the cost of secrets.
Also Known As
Delilah
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