Home › Glossary › Letter S

Sapphire

Gemstones
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 blue variety of corundum prized for its celestial hue, often associated with wisdom and fidelity.

Detailed Definition
Sapphires in poetry evoke the heavens, divine truth, and constancy, their deep blue echoing both sky and sea. Medieval and Renaissance poets linked sapphires to chastity and spiritual insight, while Romantic and modern writers use them to symbolize melancholy, depth of feeling, or unattainable ideals. The gem’s clarity and cool tone make it a counterpoint to fiery rubies in poetic imagery.
Example
Example in poetry:
Donne’s “sapphire skies” evoke divine constancy; in Romantic poetry, sapphire symbolizes melancholy depth; modern verse uses it to explore unattainable ideals; its celestial blue appears in verses on spiritual longing; as corundum, it embodies cool endurance; its clarity becomes metaphor for intellectual purity.
Additional Notes
Sapphire, typically blue corundum, symbolizes wisdom, loyalty, and divine favor; its association with royalty and clergy gives it a regal, spiritual aura—poets use its deep blue to evoke the heavens, truth, or the calm depth of a noble soul, contrasting with ruby’s fiery passion.
Also Known As
blue corundum September birthstone wisdom stone
Skip to main content