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Extrametrical

Adjective
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

Describing syllables, words, or phrases that fall outside a poem’s established metrical pattern, often used for emphasis, disruption, or variation.

Detailed Definition
Extrametrical describes syllables or words that fall outside the established metrical pattern of a line—such as feminine endings in iambic pentameter—adding rhythmic variation without disrupting the underlying scheme; these “extra” elements provide flexibility and naturalness to formal verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Extrametrical: In iambic pentameter verse, an extrametrical syllable (feminine ending) appears in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 20: “A woman’s face with Nature’s own hand painted,” where “painted” adds a sixth syllable.

Adding a syllable beyond metrical count; Extending a foot past regular scansion; Running over the rhythmic scheme; Including non-metrical insertions deliberately
Additional Notes
Extrametrical: Syllables or beats outside the established metrical pattern (e.g., feminine endings); adds rhythmic flexibility—common in iambic pentameter with extra unstressed syllables.

Adds syllables beyond expected meter; can be intentional variation or irregularity; consider effect in scanning.
Also Known As
Beyond meter Extra-metrical Outside measure Non-counted syllable Excess meter Added foot Extra rhythm Overflow syllable
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