Home › Glossary › Letter R

reciprocal rhyme

Rhyme
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 rhyme scheme where two lines or stanzas mirror each other’s end sounds reciprocally, creating a symmetrical or dialogic sonic effect.

Detailed Definition
Reciprocal rhyme occurs when two words rhyme by exchanging initial consonants or syllables (e.g., “pat” and “tap”), creating a mirrored sonic relationship that emphasizes symmetry and interdependence; this playful device underscores thematic reciprocity, dialogue, or balance between contrasting elements within the poem.
Example
Example in poetry:
Rhyme where the two rhyming words are the same word repeated but with a different meaning or usage in each instance: "The ring had no ring to it."; Rhyming a noun with the same word used as a verb: "A hand will hand the gift to you."; A type of punning rhyme where the same-sounding word is used in two different contexts in consecutive lines; The pairing of identical words that function differently within the line: "The light was dark, the dark light."
Additional Notes
A rhyme scheme where the rhyming sounds mirror each other within a stanza or sequence (e.g., A B C C B A), creating a sense of balance or turning back on itself; related to chiasmus or mirror rhyme.
Also Known As
Mutual rhyme reciprocal sound pair return rhyme Bilateral rhyme
Skip to main content