Triple meter

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 system based on triple-time patterns, typically using three beats per measure or line

Detailed Definition
Triple meter is a rhythmic structure based on divisions of three beats per measure or foot, such as anapestic or dactylic patterns, producing a lilting or galloping cadence; it contrasts with duple (two-beat) meters and is often used for lyrical swiftness or ceremonial grandeur, as in Byron’s “The Destruction of Sennacherib” or Greek choral odes.
Example
Example in poetry:
Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha” uses trochaic tetrameter (four triple beats); Swinburne’s “Sapphics” employ triple-time rhythms; Greek dactylic hexameter (Homer) uses six triple feet; modern example: “Over the river and through the wood” (dactylic tetrameter).
Additional Notes
Triple meter groups beats in threes (e.g., 6/8 time in music); in poetry, often uses anapestic or dactylic feet to suggest dance, procession, or fluidity.
Also Known As
Triple-time meter ternary rhythm three-beat verse dactylic/anapestic flow Anapest Triplet rhythm
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