Poetry Terminology

Ordinary, informal language that may include slang words.

• onomatopoeia

• colloquial language

• dialect

• adjectives

A form of language or pronunciation that is specific to an area or geographical location.

• stanza

• rhyme

• onomatopoeia

• dialect

When two or more words have the same suffix or similar sounding endings.

• rhyme

• onomatopoeia

• adverb

• simile

A word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others.

• metaphor

• colloquial language

• portmanteau

• rhyme

A group of lines within a poem.

• rhyme

• stanza

• adjective

• portmanteau

Comparing one thing to another using like or as.

• portmanteau

• onotomatopoeia

• simile

• accent

Directly comparing one thing to another for an extended period of time.

• portmanteau

• stanza

• extended metaphor

• hyperbole

Exaggeration for effect.

• hyperbole

• extended metaphor

• colloquial language

• dialect

A phrase or expression that does not have a literal meaning.

• hyperbole

• portmanteau

• idiom

• dialect

A recurrent word or phrase.

• idiom

• hyperbole

• extended metaphor

• repetition