Home › Glossary › Letter T

two-beat line

Meter
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 metrical line featuring exactly two primary stresses, regardless of total syllable count, often used for rhythmic brevity or emphasis.

Detailed Definition
Two-beat line designates a verse line containing exactly two primary stresses regardless of total syllable count. This fundamental binary rhythm creates strong, regular pulse throughout the poem.
Example
Example in poetry:
Single line containing two stressed beats; Verse line with binary emphasis; Two-beat accentual line regardless of syllable count; Dimeter focusing on two stresses
Additional Notes
two-beat line|meter|Line with two stressed beats common in accentual and ballad traditions regardless of unstressed syllables. Accentual verse; practical tip: suits narrative drive; contrast syllable-count meters.
Also Known As
Dimeter Two-stress line Binary metrical line
Skip to main content