endwords

Endwords are the final words of lines in poetry, lyrics, or other verse forms. In traditional verse, the endword of a line participates in the poem’s rhyme scheme and can influence the rhythm and musicality of the text. Endwords are often the most salient audible cues in establishing patterning, as rhyme is typically organized by the endings of consecutive lines.

In poetry analysis, endwords are examined to identify rhymes, near rhymes, and rhyme schemes (for example, AABB or ABAB). They can also affect thematic linkage, as repeated or similar endwords can reinforce motifs or images across a stanza. Endwords may be influenced by punctuation; while punctuation marks can guide reading, the endword is usually considered the final word before punctuation in the printed line.

Beyond verse, the term can be used informally to describe the last word of a sentence or clause in prose, which can affect emphasis, cadence, or transition between ideas. In computational linguistics and natural language generation, endwords are used in rhyme-detection algorithms, prosody models, and automated poetry systems to ensure line endings align with desired phonetic or semantic patterns.

Related concepts include rhyme, meter, end-stopped lines, and phonology. Endwords are a practical focal point for studying how word choice at line endings shapes the sonic and structural impression of a poem. Example: a four-line stanza with endwords light, bright, night, delight demonstrates a consistent endword rhyme sequence.