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tetrameter iamb

Meter
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 four-foot iambic line producing a steady, balanced rising rhythm

Detailed Definition
Tetrameter iamb is a line of verse consisting of four iambic feet (eight syllables), creating a steady, songlike rhythm common in ballads, hymns, and lyric poetry; its regular alternation of unstressed-stressed syllables yields a driving yet accessible musicality ideal for narrative progression or communal recitation.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The night is dark and full of fear”; “She walks the path with steady tread”; “The wind howls through the barren trees”; “My heart beats fast with dread and hope”; “Time flows like rivers to the sea”
Additional Notes
Tetrameter iamb = iambic tetrameter (u – x4); staple of English lyric and ballad. Scan for feminine endings or substitutions—compare with pentameter for pacing.
Also Known As
Iambic tetrameter Four-beat rising line Quadruple iambic measure Tetrameter rising foot
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