What does spondee mean?
A spondee is a metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables, traditionally represented by two long syllables. It contrasts with an iamb, which has one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. English verse usually follows an iambic rhythm, so a spondee can create emphasis, weight, surprise, or a sense of disruption when it appears unexpectedly. In classical Greek and Latin poetry, spondaic meter was especially associated with solemn, slow, or weighty movement, and spondees were prominent in certain lines of hexameter. The word comes through Latin from Greek, where it was connected with ritual drinking songs and libations. For readers of poetry, the term is useful for identifying moments when rhythm becomes unusually forceful or irregular. It also provides a concise way to distinguish the ordinary iambic pattern of English verse from the heavier rhythm of a double stress.
nounA spondee is a metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables. In English verse, it is often used in place of an iambic foot to create emphasis, weight, or a deliberate change in rhythm.
- A metrical foot made up of two stressed syllables, traditionally represented by two long syllables.
"The final line contains a spondee, giving the conclusion unusual force."
"The poet placed a spondee at the end of the verse for dramatic emphasis."
"In classical Latin verse, spondaic lines are often associated with slow, weighty movement."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"The manuscript contains several spondees in its final stanza."
A spondee is named for a Greek libation, and its two heavy syllables give the meter a forceful, weighty character.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spondee come from?
The English word comes from Latin spondeus, a term used in classical prosody for a metrical foot of two long syllables. Latin borrowed the word from Greek σπονδή, meaning a libation or drinking offering; the related Greek term also referred to a song sung during such a ritual. The metrical sense developed through Greek and Latin grammatical tradition before entering English as a technical term in poetry and prosody.
Related word forms
How spondee is actually used
In modern English poetry, a spondee is often used deliberately to replace the more common iamb, producing emphasis or disruption. The term is technical and belongs primarily to discussions of prosody and poetry.
Easily confused with spondee
An iamb consists of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable, whereas a spondee consists of two stressed syllables.