Definition

A unit of rhythm in poetry that has one strong beat followed by a weak beat, like in the word 'season'.

Example

In the poem, the use of a trochee gives it a strong, rhythmic feel.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a trochee?

Yeah, isn't it a type of metrical foot in poetry?

Exactly! A trochee has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.

That's cool! I love learning about different poetic structures.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Trochee → It is derived from the Greek word "τροχός" (trochos), meaning wheel, and the suffix "-ee" which indicates a person or thing. The term originally referred to a metrical foot in poetry that has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one, resembling the motion of a wheel rolling.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wheel ('trochos') rolling smoothly, where the first push is strong ('stressed') and the next is lighter ('unstressed'). This helps you remember that a trochee is a poetic foot with a strong syllable followed by a weak one.

Visually Confused Words