beginning rhyme: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, technical (linguistics)
Quick answer
What does “beginning rhyme” mean?
A phonetic phenomenon where a word or syllable starts with the same sound as a preceding word or syllable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A phonetic phenomenon where a word or syllable starts with the same sound as a preceding word or syllable.
The repetition of initial consonant sounds (consonance) or whole syllables in closely connected words, often used deliberately for poetic or rhetorical effect, but also occurring naturally in speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically, though 'alliteration' is far more common in general discourse.
Connotations
Technical, academic, or literary. Sounds like a term a poet or linguist would use.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general use; primarily found in academic texts on poetry, rhetoric, or phonology.
Grammar
How to Use “beginning rhyme” in a Sentence
[subject] employs beginning rhymeThe [literary work] features beginning rhyme[Author] uses beginning rhyme to [effect]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beginning rhyme” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The poet's use of beginning rhyme in 'Sally sells seashells' is classic.
- Can you analyse the beginning rhyme in this Middle English verse?
American English
- The textbook defined beginning rhyme as a subset of alliteration.
- His rap lyrics relied more on beginning rhyme than end rhyme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Used in literature, poetry, linguistics, and rhetoric studies to analyze stylistic devices.
Everyday
Extremely rare; 'alliteration' is the everyday term.
Technical
Precise term in phonology and prosody for the repetition of initial phonemes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beginning rhyme”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beginning rhyme”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beginning rhyme”
- Confusing it with 'assonance' (vowel repetition) or 'consonance' (final consonant repetition).
- Using it interchangeably with 'rhyme' in general conversation, which would be misleading.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its strictest, most technical sense, yes. 'Beginning rhyme' is a specific type of alliteration focusing on the initial sound repetition. However, 'alliteration' is the far more common and general term.
Traditionally and strictly, 'beginning rhyme' refers to initial consonant repetition. The repetition of initial vowel sounds is usually termed 'assonance' or, more loosely, included under a broad definition of 'alliteration'.
Primarily in academic contexts: university-level literature courses, textbooks on prosody (the study of poetic meter), or linguistics papers on phonetics and stylistics.
Using 'beginning rhyme' adds precision in technical writing, clearly distinguishing it from other sound devices like internal rhyme, end rhyme, or consonance. It pinpoints the location (beginning) and type (rhyming sound) of the repetition.
A phonetic phenomenon where a word or syllable starts with the same sound as a preceding word or syllable.
Beginning rhyme is usually formal, literary, technical (linguistics) in register.
Beginning rhyme: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ ˌraɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈɡɪnɪŋ ˌraɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used idiomatically]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BEGINNING RHYME: The R sound is Repeated Right at the Start. (This sentence itself is an example).
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOUND ANCHOR: The initial sound 'anchors' or 'hooks' the words together, creating a pattern.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'beginning rhyme'?