In the "symbolic" column, r indicates an unstressed syllable, and p a stressed syllable.
pyrrhic | pyrrhic | rr | diddy | in a |
iamb | iambic | rp | di-dum | en-GAGE |
trochee | trochaic | pr | dum-di | AL-ways |
spondee | spondaic | pp | dum-dum | HOT STUFF |
tribrach | tribrachic | rrr | di-di-di | and in the |
anapaest (in US, anapest) | anapaestic (anapestic) | rrp | diddy-dum | on the WAY |
amphibrach | amphibrachic | rpr | di-dum-di | e-TER-nal |
bacchius | bacchiac | rpp | di-dum-dum | the WHOLE HOG |
dactyl | dactylic | prr | dum-diddy | WAN-der-ing |
cretic or amphimacer | cretic | prp | dum-di-dum | PIECE of CAKE |
antibacchius | antibacchiac | ppr | dum-dum-di | GOOD MORN-ing |
molossus | molossic | ppp | dum-dum-dum | GREAT WHITE HOPE |
tetrabrach or proceleus maticus | tetrabrachic or proceleusmatic | rrrr | diddy-diddy | and isn't it |
paeon | paeonic | rrrp or rrpr or rprr or prrr | one stressed in four | |
ionic minor or double iamb | rrpp | diddy-dum-dum | in the LONG RUN | |
di-iamb or diamb | di-iambic or diambic | rprp | di-dum-di-dum | a CUP of TEA |
antispast | antispastic | rppr | di-dum-dum-di | the OLD COUN-try |
epitrite | epitritic | rppp or prpp or pprp or pppr | three stressed in four | |
choriamb or choriambus | choriambic | prrp | dum-diddy-dum | HOLE in the WALL |
ditrochee | ditrochean or ditrochaic | prpr | dum-di-dum-di | TOP-sy-TUR-vy |
ionic major | pprr | dum-dum-diddy | LEFT-HAND-ed-ness | |
dispondee | dispondaic | pppp | dum-dum-dum-dum | FEE-FIE-FO-FUM |
Back to Verse Forms home page.
© Bob Newman 2004. All rights reserved.
This page last updated 06/06/2004