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Refrain

Performance
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 repeated line or phrase delivered at intervals in a poem. In live reading, it creates recognition and rhythm.

Detailed Definition
A refrain provides a returning verbal anchor in performance. Each repetition may be spoken in the same way to build ritual and expectation, or altered in volume, pace, emotion, or group participation to show change. Refrains are common in ballads, songs, oral poetry, and spoken-word pieces because they help listeners follow a poem's structure. They can also invite an audience to join the performance through repetition.
Example
Example in poetry:
Repeat a line such as “I am still here” at intervals throughout a poem, letting its meaning change as new details appear; In Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise,” the recurring title phrase functions as a refrain that reinforces resilience; A performance poet can return to “Say her name” after each section of a poem about memory, inviting the audience to recognize the poem’s central demand; Speak a refrain in the same rhythm each time at first, then alter its volume or tone in the final repetition to show emotional transformation
Additional Notes
Deliver a refrain with enough consistency for recognition, then vary emphasis when the poem's meaning changes. A refrain can organize a long performance, invite audience anticipation, and create a musical rhythm.
Other Meanings of “Refrain”
Also Known As
Chorus Repeated Line
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