Home › Glossary › Letter D

Drinking-song meter

Meter
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 metrical form suited to convivial songs about wine or drinking.

Detailed Definition
Drinking-song meter refers to rhythmic patterns traditionally used in convivial poetry—often anapestic, dactylic, or trochaic—that mimic the swaying, communal energy of group singing; these meters prioritize memorability and participatory ease, supporting the ritualistic and celebratory functions of carousal within literary and folk traditions.
Example
Example in poetry:
Anacreontic meter (˘ ¯ ˘ ¯) defines classical drinking-song meter; Ben Jonson’s “Song: To Celia” uses modified drinking-song meter; Herrick’s “To Anthea” employs trochaic tetrameter as drinking-song meter; Burns’ “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye” adapts folk drinking-song meter; Contemporary folk-poets like Leonard Cohen echo drinking-song meter in lyrics.
Additional Notes
Drinking-song meter: The overall rhythmic structure characteristic of songs meant for social drinking, typically simple, repetitive, and with a strong, predictable beat suitable for group singing.
Also Known As
Drinking-song rhythm Bacchic meter Festive song meter Convivial cadence Anacreontic
Skip to main content