alliterare

Alliterare is a term used in linguistics and literary studies to describe the use of alliteration as a stylistic device. In Italian, the verb alliterare means to employ alliteration, while the noun allitterazione denotes the device itself. In English-language contexts, the corresponding verb is alliterate and the noun is alliteration. The core feature is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words or stressed syllables.

This repetition creates rhythm, emphasis, and cohesion. It can cross word boundaries or occur within phrases, and while consonants are most commonly repeated, alliterative patterns can vary in length or complexity. Alliteration is often used in poetry, slogans, headlines, and tongue twisters because it adds mnemonic appeal and sonic unity, and it can help foreground a theme or character voice.

In historical usage, alliteration is central to many early Germanic poetry traditions, most notably in Old English verse, where it serves as a structural device linking half-lines. In Romance languages, including Italian, allitterazione exists but is generally less dominant as a formal metrical element, though it appears in poetry and contemporary prose. In modern practice, alliteration remains common in advertising and branding due to its memorability. Examples include English phrases like "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" and Italian lines such as "La luna luminosa lambisce le luci lucide."

See also: alliteration, allitterazione.