choriamb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Literary
Quick answer
What does “choriamb” mean?
A metrical foot in poetry consisting of four syllables in the pattern long–short–short–long (‒ ‿ ‿ ‒) or stressed–unstressed–unstressed–stressed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A metrical foot in poetry consisting of four syllables in the pattern long–short–short–long (‒ ‿ ‿ ‒) or stressed–unstressed–unstressed–stressed.
In classical prosody, a four-syllable foot used in various Greek and Latin meters. More broadly, it can refer to any unit of verse with this specific rhythmic pattern, and it is a technical term in the analysis of poetic meter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Scholarly, precise, associated with classical education and formal literary analysis.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, encountered almost exclusively in academic texts about poetry or classical literature.
Grammar
How to Use “choriamb” in a Sentence
The line [VERB] a choriambThe metre [VERB] composed of choriambsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “choriamb” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The poet's choriambic experiments gave the ode a distinctly Hellenic flavour.
American English
- Her verse is characterized by its choriambic rhythm, which is quite rare in modern poetry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in literature departments, classical studies, and advanced poetry workshops to analyse metrical patterns.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in the technical vocabulary of prosody.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “choriamb”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “choriamb”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈtʃɔːriæmb/ (with a 'ch' as in 'chair').
- Using it to describe any four-syllable foot.
- Misspelling as 'choryamb' or 'choriambic' when referring to the noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term used only in the study of poetry and classical literature.
Choriambs are frequently found in the odes of the ancient Greek poet Sappho and in the works of Horace. A notable English example is in Algernon Charles Swinburne's poem 'Sapphics', which uses the metre of the same name built from choriambs.
A dactyl is a three-syllable foot (long–short–short or stressed–unstressed–unstressed). A choriamb is a four-syllable foot (long–short–short–long). They share a short–short centre but the choriamb has a long syllable at both ends.
In British English: /ˈkɒr.i.æmb/ (KOR-ee-amb). In American English: /ˈkɔːr.i.æmb/ (KOR-ee-amb). The initial 'ch' is a hard 'k' sound, as in 'chorus' or 'chemistry'.
A metrical foot in poetry consisting of four syllables in the pattern long–short–short–long (‒ ‿ ‿ ‒) or stressed–unstressed–unstressed–stressed.
Choriamb is usually technical/literary in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CHORus of IAMBs' – a chorus (group) that starts and ends with a strong beat (like an iamb's stress), but has a dance of two quick, light steps in the middle.
Conceptual Metaphor
A choriamb is a DANCE STEP in the ballet of poetry: STRONG-step-step-STRONG.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'choriamb' exclusively used?