allitteration

Alliteration is a rhetorical and poetic device defined as the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words or stressed syllables. This repetition can give a line a musical rhythm, enhance emphasis, and aid memory. It is related to, but distinct from, other sound devices: assonance repeats vowel sounds, while consonance repeats consonant sounds in positions other than the initial ones; alliteration specifically targets initial sounds. Note that the spelling “allitteration” is a common misspelling of the term.

The term derives from Latin alliteratio, from alliterare “to begin with the same letter,” and in practice the effect is heard as repeated sounds rather than spelled letters. In English and many other languages, alliteration appears in poetry, nursery rhymes, tongue twisters, and advertising copy. It can occur at the beginning of words (initial alliteration) or within words or across word boundaries (internal alliteration).

Common examples in English include “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” and “She sells seashells by the seashore.” Such examples illustrate how repeated sounds can create cohesion and a memorable cadence.

Historically, alliteration is a key feature of Old English and other medieval verse, where lines often rely on initial sounds to structure the meter. In modern writing, alliteration remains a stylistic option for emphasis, playful language, or branding, though it can feel contrived if overused.

Overall, alliteration is a versatile sound device that leverages the auditory appeal of repeated consonants to shape mood, pace, and memory in language.