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Ionic

Meter
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 classical metrical foot of four syllables, typically two long followed by two short (– – ◡ ◡), used in Aeolic and dramatic verse.

Detailed Definition
Ionic meter is a classical quantitative rhythm based on the ionic foot (u u – – or – – u u), used in Greek and Latin choral lyrics for its flowing, dance-like quality; it conveys ceremonial grandeur or ecstatic movement, often in hymns or processional verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ionic: Greek lyric meter: “—⏑⏑—⏑⏑” (ionic a minore); Sappho’s fragments use ionic rhythms; “The sea surge’s ionic pulse” mimics wave rhythm; Modern adaptations in free verse cadence; Ionic meter evoking dance or fluid motion; Contemporary poems using ionic for ecstatic themes
Additional Notes
A classical Greek meter alternating long and short syllables in specific patterns. Two main types: Ionic a maiore (long-long-short-short) and Ionic a minore (short-short-long-long). Less common than dactylic or iambic meters.
Also Known As
Ionic foot Greek double foot Long-short-short-long Ionic meter
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