Poetry and sound

Iamb

A metrical foot of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable.

Detailed Explanation

The iamb is the most common foot in English verse because it mirrors the natural rhythm of speech. Repeated iambs produce the rising beat of iambic meter.

Original Example · written for TassandraInk

be-CAUSE / the NIGHT / is LONG

Related Terms

Foot, Iambic Pentameter, Meter

Sources and further reading

—Poetry Foundation: Glossary of Poetic Terms
—Academy of American Poets: Glossary

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