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Hymn

Genre
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 song or poem of praise and reverence addressed to a deity or a sacred subject.

Detailed Definition
Hymn in poetry is a formal song or poem of praise, usually directed toward a deity, a divine concept, or a sense of sacredness; rooted in spiritual and religious traditions, hymns often employ elevated diction, regular meter, and repetitive or refrain structures to encourage communal recitation and memorability, though secular hymns also exist that celebrate nature, nations, or human ideals, such as Emerson’s “Hamatreya.”
Example
Example in poetry:
Isaac Watts’ “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” exemplifies Christian hymnody; Phyllis Wheatley’s “On Being Brought from Africa to America” uses hymn form for spiritual and racial reflection; Contemporary poet Lucille Clifton’s “won’t you celebrate with me” functions as secular hymn to survival; William Blake’s “Jerusalem” transforms hymn into revolutionary anthem; African American spirituals like “Wade in the Water” blend hymn structure with coded resistance; Joy Harjo’s “Eagle Poem” serves as Indigenous hymn invoking circular prayer.
Additional Notes
Religious song of praise, often metered and rhymed. Ancient form across cultures. Related to psalm, ode. Study tip: Note communal/worship function; often designed for group singing.
Also Known As
Sacred song Devotional verse Religious lyric Praise poem Ancient Greek praise-poem Canticle Paen Paean Gatha Song Hymne
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