Pronunciation: [spˈɒndiː] (IPA) 
The word "spondee" is spelled with two syllables: "spon" and "dee". The first syllable is pronounced as /spɑn/, rhyming with "pawn". The second syllable is pronounced as /diː/, rhyming with "be". In phonetics, a spondee is a metrical unit consisting of two stressed syllables, often used in classical poetry. Interestingly, the word "spondee" itself is a spondee, demonstrating the use of the metrical unit within the word's own spelling.
A spondee is a metrical foot in poetry consisting of two consecutive syllables with equal stress or emphasis. It is considered a basic metrical unit and is often used to create a strong and emphatic rhythm or emphasis within a line of verse. In phonetic notation, it is represented by the symbol "//" or double slashes.
The term "spondee" originates from the Greek word "spondeios," which literally means "libation." This is because in ancient Greek poetry, spondees were associated with ceremonial or solemn occasions and were often used in the rhythmical patterns of hymns and prayers.
In English poetry, spondees are less commonly employed than other metrical feet such as iambs or trochees. However, they can be strategically used to add weight and power to certain words or phrases, conveying a sense of strength, importance, or stability in the verse. Due to its equal emphasis on both syllables, a spondee can create a feeling of balance and emphasis, breaking away from the more regular "rise and fall" pattern found in many other metrical feet.
Overall, a spondee is an important component of poetic meter, offering a distinct rhythmic pattern that can enhance the impact, emphasis, and overall aesthetic appeal of a poem.
A poetic foot consisting of two long syllables.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word spondee is derived from the Greek word spondeios, which means solemn. In Greek and Latin poetry, a spondee referred to a metrical foot consisting of two long syllables. The term was later adopted in English and is used to refer to a metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables, often seen in words like football or sunset.
