Home › Glossary › Letter P

Paean

Genre
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 song or lyric poem expressing triumph, praise, or thanksgiving

Detailed Definition
A song or lyric poem expressing triumph, praise, or thanksgiving, originally directed to the Greek god Apollo and other gods in classical antiquity. It was often performed by a chorus but sometimes by individuals.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Lenore” by Edgar Allan Poe: How shall the burial rite be read? The solemn song be sung? The requiem for the loveliest dead, That ever died so young?; “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe: A pæan from the bells! And his merry bosom swells With the pæan of the bells!; Ancient Greek Paean to Apollo: Permanent occupant of the holy Pythian oracle, founded by gods on the mountain flanking Delphi Apollo – O hail Paean – Apollo, pride and joy of Leto; "Praise of Creation” by George Moses Horton: Creation fires my tongue! Nature thy anthems raise; And spread the universal song Of thy Creator’s praise!
Additional Notes
While a a song or poem of triumph or thanksgiving, originally to Apollo in Greek tradition, a paean traditionally had strong religious and ceremonial functions in ancient Greece, often linked to ritual and healing (Apollo as the god associated with healing)
Also Known As
Hymn Song of praise Victory song Aegean hymn Ancient Greek praise-poem Celebratory ode joy-song
Skip to main content