In Greek and Latin poetry, a choriamb (pronounced "kor-ee-AMB") is a rhythmic pattern made up of four syllables arranged in the order long-short-short-long (— —). This pattern combines a trochee (a long syllable followed by a short one) and an iamb (a short syllable followed by a long one). Choriambs are one of two basic rhythmic patterns that do not appear in spoken language, unlike patterns used in sung or lyrical poetry. The choriamb is sometimes considered an important part of Aeolic verse because the long-short-short-long pattern appears there, though calling it a "choriamb" can be confusing.

In the rhythm of English and other modern European languages, the term "choriamb" is sometimes used to describe a four-syllable pattern with the stress order strong-weak-weak-strong (again, a trochee followed by an iamb). Examples include phrases like "over the hill," "under the bridge," and "what a mistake!"

English prosody

In English, a choriamb can be seen in the first four syllables of iambic pentameter verses, as shown in Keats' "To Autumn."