Endreime

Endreime, or end rhymes, are rhymes that occur at the ends of lines in a poem. They create a sense of closure and musical cadence by matching the final sounds of successive lines. Endreime are contrasted with internal rhymes, which occur within a line rather than at line ends.

Endreime can be categorized by the precision of the sound match. Perfect or full end rhymes have identical final stressed vowels and following consonants. Slant or near end rhymes depend on partial similarity, such as consonance or assonance rather than a complete rhyme. In addition, theorists distinguish masculine rhymes, where the rhyme falls on a single stressed syllable, and feminine rhymes, where the rhyme continues over two or more syllables with the stress on a later syllable.

Endreime are central to many traditional verse forms and rhyme schemes. Common patterns include ABAB, AABB, or ABCB in stanzas of varying lengths. The use of end rhymes influences pacing, emphasis, and the musical feel of a poem. Poets may adhere to strict schemes or vary them for effect, sometimes using broken or irregular rhymes as a deliberate deviation.

Historically, end rhymes are a defining feature of much Western poetry from medieval traditions onward, and they appear in many non-Western traditions through localized forms. In contemporary poetry and song lyrics, end rhymes continue to provide structure and musicality, even as poets mix in other rhyming devices such as internal rhymes, assonance, and refrains.