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Twelve-syllable iambic

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 line composed of six iambic feet totaling twelve syllables, equivalent to alexandrine form

Detailed Definition
Twelve-syllable iambic describes a line of six iambic feet (iambic hexameter), totaling twelve syllables; though less common than pentameter in English, it offers a balanced middle ground between compactness and expansiveness, occasionally used in narrative or descriptive verse to accommodate longer phrasing within a regular rising rhythm.
Example
Example in poetry:
Twelve-syllable iambic (Alexandrine) elevates tone in English: Used by Dryden in translations; In Shelley’s “Adonais”: “I weep for Adonais—he is dead!”; Contemporary example: “The clock strikes midnight and the ghosts begin to speak”; Such lines feel stately and expansive; They often close Spenserian stanzas; Less common than pentameter but used for climax.
Additional Notes
Twelve-syllable iambic (Alexandrine) often closes heroic couplets in French-influenced English verse. Compare with iambic hexameter. Note its stately pace—frequently used for summation or heightened reflection.
Also Known As
Alexandrine Twelve-syllable rising line Iambic hexameter variant Classical twelve-beat line Iambic hexameter
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