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Grebe

Birds
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

A diving waterbird with lobed toes and secretive behavior in freshwater habitats.

Detailed Definition
Grebes appear in poetry as symbols of elusiveness, introspection, and hidden depths. Their tendency to sink quietly beneath the surface rather than fly makes them emblems of retreat, mystery, and emotional submersion. Often associated with still lakes and reedy margins, they evoke themes of concealment and the unseen. Poets use grebes to explore psychological states, the tension between visibility and invisibility, or the quiet dignity of creatures that avoid spectacle.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Ted Hughes’ “Pike,” the grebe’s diving is contrasted with the pike’s predation, highlighting different survival strategies; The grebe’s habit of sinking silently beneath water inspires metaphors for emotional withdrawal or introspection; Poets describe its lobed toes and red eyes to evoke the uncanny beauty of freshwater predators; In wetland poetry, the grebe’s secretive nesting in floating vegetation symbolizes hidden life and fragility; Its eerie calls at night appear in gothic or mysterious verse as voices from the deep; Ecopoets use the grebe to advocate for marsh conservation, as it requires clean, undisturbed waters.
Additional Notes
Grebe: Grebes are secretive waterbirds known for elaborate courtship dances and lobed toes; they symbolize hidden depths, partnership, and aquatic grace. Unlike ducks, they are poor walkers, emphasizing their commitment to water—useful for metaphors of immersion or inaccessibility. Their haunting calls at dusk add sonic texture to wetland poems.
Also Known As
Western Grebe Clark’s Grebe Horned Grebe Dabchick (for smaller species like Little Grebe)
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