elevensyllable

Elevensyllable refers to a line of verse that contains eleven syllables. It is not a standard meter in all literary traditions, but it is commonly linked to the hendecasyllable or endecasillabo forms found in various languages. The term hendecasyllable derives from the Greek hendeka, meaning eleven, combined with syllable, while endecasillabo is the Italian equivalent.

In Italian poetry, endecasillabo is the dominant meter and appears in forms such as sonnets and canzoni. Counting follows the natural syllables of Italian words, with some allowances for poetic license, but the line remains fixed at eleven syllables per line. In languages such as English, lines of eleven syllables occur less frequently as a fixed meter; poets may craft hendecasyllabic lines using a variety of stress patterns, often mixing iambic and trochaic feet or relying on irregular accentuation.

Prosodically, elevensyllable lines allow a broader distribution of stresses compared to more regular decasyllabic meters. They can accommodate a caesura or pause, enabling a balance between rhythm and meaning, and are often used when a longer line is desired without resorting to free verse. The form is thus versatile across languages, serving both classical and modern poetry.

Example: An elevensyllable line in English could be: "Upon the quiet shore the ships lie sleeping." This line has eleven syllables.

See also: hendecasyllable; endecasillabo; prosody; meter.