Home › Glossary › Letter R

repeating chorus

Structure
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 section of lines that recurs at regular intervals within a poem

Detailed Definition
A repeating chorus is a stanza or phrase that recurs at regular intervals in a poem, typically after each verse, to provide structural stability and thematic emphasis; rooted in song and oral tradition, it invites communal participation and reinforces central ideas through rhythmic insistence, as in spirituals or protest poetry.
Example
Example in poetry:
The refrain “Hey nonny nonny” in Shakespeare’s songs; A modern poem with a repeating chorus like a pop song; A protest poem with a chant-like repeated section; A lyric where the chorus shifts slightly each time to show progression.
Additional Notes
A repeating chorus returns at regular intervals, often with slight variation; it builds momentum—common in folk and protest poetry.
Also Known As
Cyclic refrain Iterative chorus Repetitive chant Returning song Chorus refrain returning chorus cyclical chorus
Skip to main content