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Swallow

Birds
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 migratory bird symbolizing return, fidelity, and the arrival of spring.

Detailed Definition
Swallows’ annual return makes them powerful emblems of hope, renewal, and constancy in poetry. Their aerial grace and nesting near humans link them to home, memory, and cyclical time. From ancient Greece to modern verse, swallows evoke longing, fidelity, and the promise of new beginnings—often contrasting with the permanence of human sorrow or the fleeting nature of joy.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poetry, swallows return “like a promise kept,” symbolizing fidelity and cyclical time; Poets use swallows’ aerial grace to evoke freedom, migration, and fleeting joy; In classical verse, swallows nesting under eaves represent home and memory; The swallow’s forked tail inspires imagery of swift, precise movement; Its arrival heralds spring, making it a universal symbol of renewal.
Additional Notes
The swallow—graceful, migratory, and aerial—symbolizes return, fidelity, and the arrival of spring. Its forked tail and swift flight inspire imagery of precision and joy. Edna St. Vincent Millay and others use it to explore cyclical time and promise. Related terms: “harbinger of spring,” “aerial dancer,” “faithful migrant.” Contrast with non-migratory birds to highlight themes of journey and homecoming.
Also Known As
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow
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