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Alliteration

Meaning

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound or letter at the beginning of closely connected words. It’s a common literary device used to create a musical effect in writing and speech.

Pronunciation

IPA: /əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/

Stress: The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: a-lit-er-a-tion.

Etymology

The word “alliteration” comes from the New Latin word allīterātiō, which is derived from allīterātus. Allīterātus comes from allīterō, which combines the Latin words ad (“to, towards, near”) and lītera (“a letter”). So, the word literally means “to letter to”.

Morphology

“Alliteration” is a noun. The adjective form is “alliterative”.

Examples

• Simple: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
• Medium: The slithering snake silently stalked its prey.
• Complex: Amidst the whispering winds and weeping willows, a weary wanderer watched the world with wistful wonder.

Synonyms

• Head rhyme
• Initial rhyme

Related Terms

• Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds anywhere within words.
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.

Interesting Facts

Alliteration was a key feature of Old English poetry, like Beowulf. Poets used alliteration instead of rhyme to structure their verses.

Tips for Learning

Try creating your own alliterative phrases or sentences. This hands-on approach will help you remember the definition and usage of “alliteration”. Also, listen for alliteration in songs, poems, and speeches.

Mini-Tasks

• Create a sentence using alliteration with the letter ‘s’.
• Find an example of alliteration in a famous poem or song.
• What is the difference between alliteration and consonance? Explain in your own words.

Common Word Combinations

• Perfect alliteration
• Alliterative verse
• Use alliteration

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