Home › Glossary › Letter R

Royal ballade

Form
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 longer medieval French ballade variant, also called the ballade royale

Detailed Definition
Royal ballade is a fixed French form consisting of three stanzas and an envoi, all ending with the same refrain, traditionally used for courtly or elevated themes; characterized by intricate rhyme schemes (often ABABBCBC) and dignified tone, it was favored by medieval poets like Villon for addressing noble patrons or moral reflections.
Example
Example in poetry:
A highly formalized French fixed form poem, typically three stanzas of 8 or 10 lines and a final short stanza (envoi), which includes a repeated last line (refrain) and a strict, limited rhyme scheme (ababbcbc for 8-line stanzas or ababbccddc for 10-line stanzas).; A ceremonial poem, such as one written for royalty, that adheres to the Ballade Royal form, with 8-line stanzas (abab bccb) and a 4-line envoi (bccb).; The use of a fixed form (like the ballade) for a subject of high praise or ceremony, fitting the 'royal' nature of the form.; A medieval poem in the Ballade form written to address or praise a high-ranking person (like a king or queen).
Additional Notes
Royal ballade is a specific, highly structured French poetic form similar to the standard ballade, usually consisting of five stanzas of ten lines each, concluding with a five-line envoi addressed to a patron or "prince," all ending with the same refrain.
Also Known As
Ballade royale royal ballad courtly ballade Ballade royal
Skip to main content