Alliteration definition, uses, examples, and links to activities and free resources.
Contents
- Alliteration Definition
- Uses and Examples of Alliteration in English
- Alliteration Activities and Resources for Home or Classroom Use
What is Alliteration?
Alliteration is a language effect that occurs when words that start with the same sound are close to each other in a sentence. For example:
Timmy Tucker tickled a tiger.
Sally slipped on the snow.
Note that although alliterated words start with the same sound, the sounds aren’t always represented by the same letter. For instance, in the sentence below, the same sound is represented by the letter c and the letter s.
Cinderella sat in a seat in the cinema.
And in the following sentence, the same sound is represented by the letter k and the letter c.
Kate had coffee, cake and Kiwi fruit.
It’s also worth remembering that words that start with the same letter don’t always start with the same sound. In the example below, the word ‘thunder’ starts with the letter t, but it doesn’t alliterate with the previous words in the sentence because the t in thunder is paired with h to form the digraph ‘th’.
There was a terrifying tornado, torrential rain, and thunder.
Similarly, the words giraffe and gorilla don’t alliterate because the letter g represents a different sound in each word.
Uses and Examples of Alliteration in English
Alliterated words can be used to create rhythm in a sentence, to gain attention, or to emphasize particular words and make them more memorable. Examples of alliteration are often found in the following settings…
Headlines: alliteration is used in headlines in newspapers, webpages and advertising to grab readers’ attention…
Trump Triumphs in Election
Is Fish Farming the Future of Food?
Hurricane leaves Hundreds Homeless
The Greatest Guide to Making Money
Sizzling Summer Savings!
Poetry: Many poets employ alliteration to create memorable lines:
‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe includes a variety of alliterated words…
“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,”
And later in the poem…
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there
wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams
no mortal ever dared to dream before;”
Tongue Twisters – these short poems are often used to entertain children. They have tricky-to-say sentences that contain many alliterated words. For instance:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Songs often contain alliteration in the lyrics or titles. Examples include:
Manic Monday by The Bangles
Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
They paved paradise
and put up a parking lot by Joni Mitchell
Many common sayings and idioms in English also contain alliteration…
Beating around the bush.
Heart-to-heart.
Bite the bullet.
Bend over backwards.
As right as rain.
To add insult to injury.
Making a mountain out of a molehill.
Trick or Treat.
From time to time.
No nonsense.
Picture perfect.
Busy as a bee.
The best of both worlds.
As cool as a cucumber.
Find your feet.
Fall on your feet.
As good as gold.
Animal Alliteration, Alliterated Alien Names, Alliteration Café and Silly Soup Alliteration.
Click on the following link for a variety of free, fun alliteration worksheets and PowerPoints that will draw kids’ attention towards the sounds in words…
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