Total rhyme is a stringent form of perfect rhyme in which not only the final stressed vowel and subsequent sounds match, but also the preceding consonant clusters, resulting in homophonic or near-identical word pairs (e.g., “write” and “right”); while often considered trivial or avoided in serious poetry due to its potential for cliché, total rhyme can be deployed strategically for punning, irony, or sonic density, and appears more frequently in light verse, nursery rhymes, or multilingual poetry where homophony bridges linguistic divides, creating moments of uncanny resonance or comic surprise.

Total rhyme matches entire words or phrases in sound and often spelling. Related to full-line rhyme and orthographic rhyme. Creates strong closure—common in nursery rhymes; ensure it feels inevitable, not forced or sing-song.