What Is Assonance? | Definition & Examples

Assonance is a literary device that uses the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words (e.g., “the need for speed”). Assonance enhances the emotional and aesthetic quality of writing, often making it more rhythmic or “catchier.”

What is assonance?

Assonance is the repetition of nearby vowel sounds within a sentence. This literary device is often used in poetry and song lyrics but also in various other types of writing, from prose to advertisements.

Assonance can create a sense of harmony within words by establishing an almost musical rhythm and flow. Assonance can enhance writing whether you read the words aloud or silently in your head.

For example, the sentence “She feels the heat beneath her feet” repeats the long “e” sound in nearby words. Even though the spelling of the long “e” sound differs in each word (e.g., “e,” “ea,” “ee”), it is pronounced the same.

Assonance is similar to rhyme, but there are two main differences. The first is that assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds, whereas a rhyme can contain vowel and consonant sounds. The second is that assonance can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of the word, while rhyming requires the repeated sound to occur at the end of the word.

What is the purpose of assonance?

Assonance is used to enrich writing and through:

• Building mood. Like sibilance and alliteration, assonance can evoke specific feelings and emotions. For example, repeated long vowel sounds (e.g., the oo in moon) can impart a sense of calm, while repeated short vowel sounds (e.g., the i in kit) can impose a sense of tension.
• Creating rhythm. Like rhymes, assonance can be used to create rhythm within written, spoken, or sung words. Including rhythm in writing can make it more memorable or “catchy,” which is why assonance is often used in song lyrics and poetry.
• Adding artistic flair. Using assonance in writing takes skill, but it adds a layer of artistry to writing. It’s a stylistic choice that can elevate any type of writing, including prose, poetry, lyrics, comedy, spoken word, and even advertisements and corporate catchphrases.

Assonance examples

Assonance is used in common everyday phrases, even if we don’t realize it.

Assonance is also used in advertisements and sales copywriting for the “catchy” quality that helps the slogan “stick” in the consumer’s head.

Assonance vs. alliteration

Assonance and alliteration are both literary devices that repeat sounds in nearby words to enhance the auditory quality of language. However, they differ in two ways.

Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound, and it can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of the word (e.g., “go slow”).

Alliteration, on the other hand, is the repetition of a consonant sound, but the repeated sound must be at the beginning of the word (e.g., frogs frolicked in the fragrant flowers).

Assonance vs. consonance

Assonance and consonance are both literary devices that use the repetition of sounds in nearby words to enhance the listener’s auditory experience. In both assonance and consonance, the repeated sounds can be at the beginning, middle, or end of the word.

The main difference between assonance and consonance is the type of sound that’s being repeated.

In assonance, only vowel sounds are repeated (e.g., Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

In consonance, only consonant sounds are repeated (e.g., “he claims to know the classics”).

Frequently asked questions about assonance

What is the difference between assonance and rhyme?

There are two main differences between assonance and rhyme.

Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in nearby words and can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a word (e.g., “She needs to feed the sheep”).

Rhyme is the repetition of a vowel or consonant sound, but it must be at the end of the word (e.g., “The cat sat on the flat mat”).

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What is the difference between consonance and assonance?

Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning, middle, or end of the word (e.g., “The wild winds whisked the leaves away”).

Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound at the beginning, middle, or end of a word (e.g., “The smooth grooves of the music moved me”).

Scribbr’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you clearly express your ideas in your writing.

What is the difference between assonance and alliteration?

Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in nearby words and can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of the word (e.g., “We keep the keys in the green jeep”).

Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words (e.g., “Big brown bears bounce between boulders”).

Scribbr’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you clearly express your ideas in your writing.