terza rima: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Technical (Poetry)
Quick answer
What does “terza rima” mean?
A poetic verse form consisting of three-line stanzas (tercets) with an interlocking rhyme scheme (ABA, BCB, CDC, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A poetic verse form consisting of three-line stanzas (tercets) with an interlocking rhyme scheme (ABA, BCB, CDC, etc.).
A specific, demanding poetic structure of Italian origin, famously used by Dante in the Divine Comedy, requiring a continuous chain of interlinked rhymes. It can also refer to a poem written in this form.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling remains Italian.
Connotations
Equally connotes high literary tradition, formal craft, and Italian Renaissance poetry in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both dialects, confined to literary and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “terza rima” in a Sentence
[Author] wrote [Poem] in terza rima.The terza rima consists of [Description].[Poem] is composed in terza rima.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “terza rima” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The terza rima structure is challenging.
- He attempted a terza rima sonnet.
American English
- The terza rima format is complex.
- She wrote a terza rima sequence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literature departments, poetry workshops, and scholarly papers on poetic form.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in prosody (the study of verse).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “terza rima”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “terza rima”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “terza rima”
- Pronouncing 'rima' as /ˈraɪ.mə/ (like 'rime'); correct is /ˈriː.mə/ or /ˈri.mə/.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a terza rima'); it is typically uncountable (e.g., 'written in terza rima').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it originated in Italy with Dante, it has been adapted into English and other languages by poets like Percy Bysshe Shelley, Robert Browning, and Seamus Heaney.
The basic unit is a tercet (three lines) rhyming ABA. The next tercet uses the B rhyme for its first and third lines, creating a new rhyme C for its second line, resulting in BCB. This creates a chain: ABA, BCB, CDC, DED, and so on.
English has a more limited stock of rhyming words compared to Italian, making it challenging to sustain the interlocking rhyme pattern over a long poem without forcing the sense or using obscure words.
Yes, but it typically concludes with a single line (or a couplet) that rhymes with the second line of the final tercet, providing closure to the chain (e.g., ...YZY Z).
A poetic verse form consisting of three-line stanzas (tercets) with an interlocking rhyme scheme (ABA, BCB, CDC, etc.
Terza rima is usually formal, literary, technical (poetry) in register.
Terza rima: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɛət.sə ˈriː.mə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɛrt.sə ˈri.mə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TERZA RIMA has THREE (terza) lines that RHYME (rima) in an interlocking chain, like a ZIPPER.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORM IS A CHAIN (the interlocking rhymes create a linked chain of stanzas).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of terza rima?