rhyme

Rhyme is the repetition of similar sounds in two or more words, most often at the end of lines in poetry. The most common form is end rhyme, where the final words of lines share the same sound from the stressed vowel onward. Rhyme also appears within lines (internal rhyme) and across lines (cross-rhyme).

Rhyme types include exact or perfect rhyme, which matches vowel and following consonants (cat and hat). Near rhyme, slant rhyme, or imperfect rhyme, matches only approximate sounds, such as consonant or vowel similarities (shape and keep). Eye rhyme relies on visual similarity rather than pronunciation, as in though and through in some readings.

Rhyme is organized in schemes that map the pattern of end rhymes across a poem. End rhyme patterns include AA, ABAB, or the familiar Shakespearean sonnet form ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Ballads and couplets frequently use structured end rhymes. Internal rhyme places rhymes inside a line or across adjacent lines, adding musicality without relying on line ends.

Rhyme occurs in many languages, though its role varies with phonology and poetic tradition. It is prominent in English, French, Spanish, and other vernacular literatures, but some languages and eras favor meter, syntax, or alliteration over rhyme. Non-alphabetic languages, such as Chinese, use tonal and final-syllable rhyming patterns that differ from English rhyme conventions.

Rhyme serves several functions: it can reinforce meaning, create rhythm, and aid memory. It also influences the texture and authority of a poem, guiding readers toward anticipated endings. Poets may use or abandon rhyme to suit style, mood, or linguistic constraints, making rhyme a flexible and ongoing poetic tool.