What is Alliteration? (Definition & Examples)

What makes these familiar phonetics fun? This is the job of alliteration, of course!

What is alliteration?

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She sells seashells by the seashore.

Sally’s seven sisters silently sewed.

Peter Piper picked a eeck of pickled peppers.

Also called initial rhyme or head rhyme, aliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds to start two or more words or syllables in close proximity.

As a literary and rhetorical device, you'll see, or should I say hear, alliteration all around, from monumental brand names (Dunkin' Donuts, Coca-Cola), to cultural icons (Donald Duck, Calvin Klein), and commonplace phrases ("right as rain!", "pitter, patter").

Alliteration vs. consonance vs. assonance

As a sonic device, alliteration relies on sound. Other common sonic devices include onomatopoeia, rhyme, consonance, and assonance.

How to use alliteration

Just because words in a phrase or sentence may start with the same letter, that doesn’t make it alliterative. ‘She cuts celery in the kitchen‘ doesn’t have the same ring (the ‘ring’ being the alliteration). The soft ‘c’ in celery sounds more like an s than the c in carrots. And so, the alliterative effect is attenuated.

Again, when it comes to alliteration, the effect is something we hear rather than see or read (even if we hear it in our minds when we read). Another point to keep in mind is that words don’t need to be directly next to each other to be considered alliterative. While alliterative words will often appear right next to each other in writing, this is not invariably the case, and there is no exact rule which states how near or far words need to be in order to form an alliteration. The best way to detect an alliteration is simply to try and hear it (if you can’t hear it, it’s probably not there).

Alliterations give a fun way to add a sense of whimsy and musicality to all forms of writing and speech. They’re extremely popular with brand names because they make them catchy and stick in our heads, as we see with brand names Kit Kat and PayPal. Alliteration is popular in poetry, songwriting (especially rap music), speeches, playwriting, and children’s books. A few examples of children’s books that notably feature alliteration are:

• Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke by Pamela Duncan
• Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut by Margaret Atwood
• The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens

Alliterative tongue-twisters

A good cook could cook as many cookies
as a good cook who could cook cookies cooks.

The sun, the sand, and the sea.

A black bug bit a big black bear.
But where is the big black bear that the big black bug bit?

Show Shawn Sharon’s shabby shoes.

Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.
The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooed shilly-shallied south.

Alliterative brand names

Alliterative sayings and phrases

Many common phrases and sayings we use in everyday life use alliteration. Take a look:

Alliteration in literature

Alliteration appears in various forms of literature, from poetry and prose to advertising slogans and speeches. In poetry, it can elevate the musicality and rhythm of verses. In prose, it can have a stylistic effect, drawing attention to specific elements of a narrative. Some famous literary works that feature alliteration include Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary.

This is the first line of the poem. See how the words ”while,” ”weak,” and ”weary” begin with the ”w” sound and are close to the alliteration.

The history of alliteration

Alliteration is a literary device with a long and storied history. It’s been used in various forms across different cultures and languages. The term “alliteration” itself comes from the Latin word “alliteratio,” which means “repeating the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.”

It dates back to ancient times, with Old English and Old Norse poets often employing this technique to add musicality and memorability to their oral traditions. In Norse sagas, alliteration played a crucial role in preserving and passing down stories from generation to generation.

Origin of the word

1650s, “repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of words in close succession,” from Modern Latin alliterationem (nominative alliteratio).

In review

Alliteration is a poetic and literary device that involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words within close proximity. This repetition can occur at the beginning of words in a phrase, sentence, or line of poetry. The primary goal of alliteration is to create a pleasing and memorable rhythm, which can enhance the overall impact of the text. As a major literary device, alliteration is used in writing to enhance or achieve any/all of the following:

• Sound and Rhythm: Alliteration adds a musical quality to the text. When read aloud, it creates a pleasing and harmonious flow that further engages the reader or listener.

• Emphasis: It can be used to emphasize specific words or ideas. By repeating consonant sounds at the beginning of words, writers can draw attention to particular elements of a sentence or verse.

• Memory and Memorability: Alliteration helps make text more memorable. The repetition of sounds can make phrases and sentences easier to recall, which is why it’s often used in slogans, marketing, and branding.

• Aesthetic Appeal: Alliteration enhances the overall aesthetics of a text. It can make language more vibrant and engaging, making the writing more enjoyable for the reader.

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