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Three-syllable measure

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 metrical foot or line unit composed of three syllables, such as anapest or dactyl

Detailed Definition
Three-syllable measure refers to metrical lines or feet organized around groups of three syllables, such as anapests (u u –) or dactyls (– u u), creating a rolling or stately rhythm; common in narrative and hymnal verse (e.g., Longfellow’s “Evangeline”), it offers musical variety against the dominance of two-syllable iambic patterns.
Example
Example in poetry:
Anapest: “Twas the night before Christmas” (da-da-DUM); dactyl: “Just for a handful of silver he left us” (DUM-da-da); amphibrach: “A sailor went to sea, sea, sea” (da-DUM-da); tribrach (rare): three unstressed syllables in comic verse.
Additional Notes
Three-syllable measure uses feet like anapests (˘˘–) or dactyls (–˘˘) as the dominant rhythm; creates galloping or lilting effects—common in limericks or Longfellow’s “Evangeline.”
Also Known As
Trisyllabic meter triple-foot measure three-beat rhythm ternary cadence Amphimacer Three-syllable foot
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