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Trimeter

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

Trimeter is a line of verse containing three metrical feet, adaptable to various rhythms (iambic, trochaic, etc.) for lyrical effect.

Detailed Definition
Trimeter is a metrical line composed of three poetic feet, offering a concise, brisk rhythm often used in lyric poetry, hymns, or dramatic verse; its brevity lends itself to intensity and memorability, as seen in Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” or many of Emily Dickinson’s tightly wound stanzas.
Example
Example in poetry:
Trimeter appears in Emily Dickinson’s hymns: “Hope is the thing with feathers”; modern example: W.H. Auden’s “As I Walked Out One Evening” uses trimeter for ballad rhythm; trimeter offers brevity and musicality; it’s common in hymns and children’s verse; this meter balances simplicity and expressiveness; it often pairs with tetrameter.
Additional Notes
Trimeter: A line of verse with three metrical feet (e.g., iambic trimeter = 6 syllables); common in short forms like hymns or nursery rhymes; creates a light, rapid pace.
Also Known As
Three-foot line Three-measure verse Trimetric line Three-beat measure
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