Ithyphallic

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 metrical foot consisting of three syllables, two long and one short (– – ˘)

Detailed Definition
Ithyphallic is a metrical term from Greek prosody denoting a colon of three trochees (– u – u – u), associated with phallic hymns and processional songs; though obsolete in modern practice, it survives as a scholarly reference to ancient rhythmic forms linked to fertility rites, symbolizing poetic virility or ecstatic celebration in discussions of classical lyric’s ritual origins.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ithyphallic: Greek comic meter: “—⏑⏑—⏑⏑—” (three trochees); Aristophanes’ bawdy choruses use ithyphallic lines; “Rise up, O phallus!” in fertility rites; Modern adaptations in satirical verse; Ithyphallic rhythm evoking masculine energy or mockery; Contemporary performance poetry reclaiming ithyphallic for queer joy
Additional Notes
Ithyphallic: A metrical foot of three long syllables (— — —); rare in English but appears in classical prosody; associated with phallic hymns in ancient Greek ritual poetry.
Also Known As
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