trimetre

Trimetre is a term with limited contemporary use in English. The more common spelling for the poetic measure is trimeter. In some non-English languages, trimetre appears as trimètre or similar, usually referring to the same concept or a language-specific variant.

In poetry, a trimeter line consists of three metrical feet. The feet and stress pattern depend on the chosen meter, with iambic and trochaic trimeter being among the most common forms. Trimeter lines are shorter than tetrameter lines and can contribute to a brisk or lyrical pace; they are found in various traditions, including ballad stanzas and certain classical or modern verse. Poets may use trimeter alone or as part of a longer stanzaic pattern, often in combination with other line lengths for contrast.

Etymology and variants: The word combines tri- meaning three with -meter from Greek metron. The form trimetre appears chiefly in non-English publications as a direct loanword or transliteration, and in some historical texts. Outside of poetry, the term is rarely used in English; when encountered, it generally refers to the same idea or is simply an alternate spelling.

See also: Meter (poetry), Trimeter.