What is Assonance?

Assonance is also called ‘vowel rhyme’. Assonance is the repetition of a pattern of similar sounds within a sentence.

Example of Using Assonance with sound

Do you like blue? - (Using ‘o’, ‘ou’, ‘ue’).

He received three emails today.- (Using ‘e’, ’ ei ’ee’ and,’e’)

The sailor said ‘hey’ to Mae in passing – (Using ‘ai’, ‘ey’ and, ‘ae’)

Assonance is used in poetry to create different effects. It is used to produce a form of rhyme throughout the whole sentence not just within the verse.

Why don’t you try writing a poem using assonance and enter it into one of our poetry competitions.

For information on poetry terms other than an adjective visit our poetry glossary – poetry terms.