Home › Glossary › Letter T

trifle

Concept
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 light or inconsequential poetic piece often written for amusement

Detailed Definition
A trifle in poetry denotes a light, playful, or seemingly insignificant verse—often humorous or decorative—that belies deeper craftsmanship or irony; though dismissed as minor, it can critique seriousness or offer respite, as in Augustan occasional poems or modern lyric trifles that use wit to explore fleeting moments with deceptive simplicity.
Example
Example in poetry:
“A crumb of cake, a sigh, a glance — such trifles move the heart” — small things with emotional weight; “He saved the ticket stub — a trifle, yet his treasure” — minor object as symbol; “Her laugh, a trifle light, could lift the heaviest day” — delicate but powerful; “Just a button, just a thread — trifles of a life once lived” — memorial through minutiae
Additional Notes
trifle|In poetry, this refers to a poem of very light, inconsequential, or humorous subject matter, often written quickly or simply for amusement; related to light verse or occasional verse of little serious import.
Also Known As
Trivial poem Light verse Poetic trifle Bagatelle fico
Skip to main content