Alliteration is the repetition of the same starting sound in words that are next to each other. This can be a consonant sound, like the "p" in "Peter," or a vowel sound if the words do not begin with consonants. It is often used as a literary device. A common example is "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
Historical use
The word alliteration comes from the Latin word littera, which means "letter of the alphabet." It was first created in a Latin dialogue by the Italian scholar Giovanni Pontano in the 15th century. Pontano used the term to describe examples where the repeated letter does not begin a word or a stressed syllable, such as in the phrase ex áe r e r igéntem.
Alliteration was used in early poems, including Old English works like Beowulf, Middle English poems like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Old Norse writings like the Poetic Edda, and in Old High German, Old Saxon, and Old Irish texts. It was also used in classical Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit poetry to highlight connections between ideas.
Today, alliteration is used in poetry across many languages, such as German, Mongolian, Hungarian, American Sign Language, Somali, Finnish, and Icelandic. It appears in music lyrics, magazine and newspaper article titles, advertisements, business names, comic strips, television shows, video games, and in the names and dialogue of cartoon characters.
Examples of use
Poets can highlight certain words in a line of poetry by using alliteration. They can also use alliteration to create a smooth, rhythmic feeling. In the following lines of poetry, notice how alliteration helps emphasize words and create rhythm:
Alliteration can also affect the mood of a poem. When a poet repeats soft, musical sounds, the mood may feel calm or respectful. When a poet repeats harsh, rough sounds, the mood may feel tense or exciting. In this poem, the repetition of the s, l, and f sounds helps create a quiet, peaceful mood:
Alliteration has been used in many types of public speaking and communication. It can also be used as a tool in speeches to influence how an audience feels. For example, repeating the letter "s" might suggest danger or make people feel tricked. Other sounds can also cause people to feel positive or negative emotions. Alliteration helps make the emotions or attitudes in a message stronger.
An example is in John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, where he used alliteration 21 times. The last paragraph of his speech is shown here:
"Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on Earth God's work must truly be our own." — John F. Kennedy
When translating texts, the emphasis from alliteration can sometimes be lost. For example, in the Greek version of Luke 10:41, the repetition of sounds is used when Jesus repeats Martha's name and adds an alliterative description: Μάρθα Μάρθα μεριμνᾷς (Martha, Martha, merimnas). This detail is not clearly shown in English translations like the NKJ or NRS, which say, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things."