Home › Glossary › Letter M

Mid-hemistich echo

Sound
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 repeated sound or word occurring at the midpoint of a half-line

Detailed Definition
Mid-hemistich echo occurs when a sound, word, or phrase repeats within the same half-line (hemistich), creating internal resonance that enhances musicality or emphasis; this subtle technique, common in alliterative verse or lyric poetry, tightens sonic texture and can underscore thematic keywords, making the line feel intricately woven and rhythmically cohesive.
Example
Example in poetry:
Echoing a word or sound at the midpoint of a line: “The river flows—flows—through the vale”; “She whispered love—love—into the night”; “Time ticks—ticks—away our chance”; “Hope fades—fades—but never dies”
Additional Notes
Mid-hemistich echo tightens sonic texture—place repeated sounds around the caesura to create internal cohesion without relying on end-rhyme.
Also Known As
Internal hemistich echo Mid-line resonance Caesural repetition Half-line echo Leonine rhyme
Skip to main content