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Refrain

Structure
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 line or group of lines repeated at regular intervals—typically at the end of stanzas—to reinforce theme, rhythm, or emotional tone.

Detailed Definition
A refrain is a repeated line or group of lines at regular intervals in a poem or song, typically at the end of stanzas, used to emphasize key themes, create musicality, or evoke ritualistic or folkloric resonance, as in the recurring “Nevermore” in Poe’s “The Raven.”
Example
Example in poetry:
Refrain: In Dylan Thomas’s "Do not go gentle into that good night," the lines "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" serve as refrains.
Additional Notes
Refrain: A repeated line or group of lines at regular intervals (often at the end of stanzas); reinforces theme, mood, or musicality; common in ballads, villanelles, and liturgical poetry.
Other Meanings of “Refrain”
Also Known As
Chorus Burden Repetend Recurring line Burden of song Terminal repetition forbear formulaic refrain
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