Alliteration is a poetic technique in which the initial consonant sounds of words are repeated in close succession. To put it more simply: alliteration is when the beginning sounds of words repeat. It is important to note that alliteration is about the sounds of words, not the letters; therefore, the letter “k” and “c” can be used alliteratively (as in kitchen and cookie), as well as the letter “s” and “c” (as in sparkle and cycle). Also, the words do not need to be directly next to each other in the sentence or stanza to be considered alliterative (although they often are). There is no agreed upon rule governing the distance that alliterative words must share in order for these words to be considered alliteration, but a good guideline to follow is that if you can not detect the repetition of the sounds upon reading the text aloud, then it is unlikely that others would consider the use to be alliterative.
Alliteration
Repeating the same first consonant sounds in a series of words
Here is a list of 101 examples of alliteration in alphabetical order:
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “B” Sound
- 1. Janie read a book by the babbling brook.
- 2. The child bounced the ball at the backyard barbeque.
- 3. The barbarians broke through the barricade.
- 4. He acts silly at times, but he was blessed with a brilliant brain.
- 5. The beautiful bouquet blossomed in the bright sun.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “C” and “K” Sounds
- 6. When the canary keeled over, the coal miners left the cave.
- 7. The captain couldn’t keep the men in the cabin.
- 8. Erin cooked cupcakes in the kitchen.
- 9. My Cadillac was completely crushed in a car crash.
- 10. The candy was killing my cavity.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “Ch” Sound
- 11. Despite their mother’s warnings, the children chose to chew with their mouths open.
- 12. The rich man was so cheap that it was chilling.
- 13. The crowd cheered when the champion hit the challenger with a chair.
- 14. We sat around the campfire and chomped on chunks of charred chicken.
- 15. Change the channel.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “D” Sound
- 16. They would have been on time, if they didn’t dilly-dally.
- 17. He dunked the delicious donut in dairy creamer.
- 18. There is nothing but death in the desert during the day.
- 19. I woke up at school in a slobbery pool; though I used to be dry, now I’m drowning in drool.
- 20. I dreamt of a drip-dropping drain in my dream.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “F” and “Ph” Sounds
- 21. Your friends will flip-flop fast when facing trouble.
- 22. Our financial future fell into a freefall.
- 23. The stuntman flipped from a forty foot Ferris wheel.
- 24. I forgot my flip phone but felt free.
- 25. That’s the first photo of France from the Moon.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “G” Sound
- 26. When the tests were distributed, the guys grimaced and groaned.
- 27. The girl grabbed the golden goose and ran.
- 28. Grass grows greener in the graveyard.
- 29. The ghouls and ghosts greeted the gangly goblins.
- 30. I reached under the desk and grabbed the gross gum.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “H” Sound
- 31. The hummingbirds hovered in heavenly harmony.
- 32. She happily helped the homeless.
- 33. The hecklers hassled the humble harmonica player.
- 34. After Monique dumped Brian, his heart hung heavily.
- 35. Those horses have heavy hooves.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “J” and “G” Sounds
- 36. The gentle giant jumped in jubilation.
- 37. Juggling jack o’lanterns is my job.
- 38. He jabbed the javelin into the jail cell.
- 39. Jellyfish have germs and jarring toxins.
- 40. The gym was jammed with jelly jars and junk.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “L” Sound
- 41. Whenever he lied, he lisped a little.
- 42. The lion licked his lips.
- 43. Feeling rather lazy, he laid low in the lounge.
- 44. We lamented the Lord’s lost labor.
- 45. Her love languished in the limelight.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “M” Sound
- 46. Menacing sounds of mashing metal machines emanated from the mines.
- 47. All of the millionaire’s money only made him more melancholy.
- 48. My mother makes a mouthwatering mincemeat pie.
- 49. There are madmen in the middle of those mountains.
- 50. Most monsters don’t mind making messes.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “N,” “Gn,” and “Kn” Sounds
- 51. My neighbors are not normally noisy.
- 52. I knew that she’d be a natural at kneading the noodle dough.
- 53. The ninjas gnashed their knives and nailed their targets.
- 54. The newt nuzzled in a narrow nook.
- 55. Mom nabbed her niece by the nape of her neck.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “P” Sound
- 56. The prince pressed the royal seal on the purple parchment.
- 57. A paper plane passed over my head.
- 58. The parrot perched upon the pirate’s peacoat.
- 59. Sue went to the party and pretended that she was people person.
- 60. The girls played patty-cake on the park bench.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “R” and “Wr” Sounds
- 61. The red roses were wrapped in ribbons.
- 62. She rarely reads; she’d rather write her own books.
- 63. A radar ring rippled across the monitor.
- 64. Those ravenous research rabbits have gone rabid!
- 65. The reporter wrote about the rebel raid.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “S” and “C” Sounds
- 66. The snake slithered across the sandy seaside.
- 67. My sassy sister slapped the villain silly.
- 68. That’s the sound of someone sipping soup for supper.
- 69. She sniffed and smelled sage and sassafras.
- 70. Seeking sanctuary, they formed a circle of spears.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “Sh” Sound
- 71. She should share her sherbert with her sister.
- 72. A shard of shrapnel shaved her shoulder blade.
- 73. The sheep were schlepping shyly by the shark tank.
- 74. He found a shell that even shimmered in the shade.
- 75. The sheriff wore a shiny star shaped shield.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “St” Sound
- 76. The store clerk stood and stared at me in stupor.
- 77. She stuck the stolen stapler in her suitcase.
- 78. The students threw stones through the stained glass steeple.
- 79. Everything rested on the strength of the steel structure.
- 80. Stern winds strew still waters.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “T” Sound
- 81. The teacher took the troublemakers’ toys.
- 82. They trounced us in the tried and true tradition.
- 83. The tattle-tale tried to tell the teacher.
- 84. Try the turkey tacos; they’re quite tasty.
- 85. The tornado tossed the trailer like a trash can.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “V” Sound
- 86. The vapid vixen vented her various vexations.
- 87. Valiance is a virtue often vacant from these vermin.
- 88. We viewed the verdant valleys vaunted vegetation.
- 89. The ventriloquist varied his voice vociferously.
- 90. Her views on vices were vaguely veiled at best.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “W” Sound
- 91. The wind was whistling through the weeping willows.
- 92. Construction workers whistled at the women.
- 93. We welcomed all the wise men from the West.
- 94. Don’t wage a war of words against the world.
- 95. The waffles worsened while the waiter waited.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “Y,” “Eu,” and “U” Sounds
- 96. In her youth she yearned to wander yonder Europe.
- 97. I’m used to yelling at you yellowbellies.
- 98. Your usefulness was used up yesterday.
- Examples of Alliteration Using the “Z” and “X” Sound
- 99. My zodiac was zooming toward the zenith.
- 100. The xanthous xenophobes were overzealous.
- 101. The player zipped by the zonal defense and zeroed in on the end zone.
Common Core State Standards Related to Alliteration
Anchor Standards
View All CCSS Standards Related to AlliterationCCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4 – Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
V
/ May 14, 2019Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villian by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengence; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
skyler davis
/ April 18, 2019can i please have some help i really need it
Mr. Morton
/ April 29, 2019How can I help you?
joshua
/ March 25, 2019another one is A good cook could cook as many cookies as a great cook could cook so that means a great cook is as good when cooking cookies but any thing else a great cook could cook better this is made by me Joshua Camarena
carter
/ March 1, 2019sam sailed on the sea
Alex Everett
/ February 27, 2019this stuff is really cool but when yall do the k and c do them seperate the letters.
Mr. Morton
/ March 6, 2019But they make the same sound. I am kind of against the letter C, much to Cookie Monster’s chagrin.
jadah
/ February 13, 2019can you help me please
Mr. Morton
/ March 28, 2019Maybe. It depends on what you need.
Giana
/ December 10, 2018these really helped w/ my hw! thank you soooooooooooo much! here is another example with T: Tim takes tigers to torture them- i know its kinda mean but at the same time kinda funny
Suniti pandey
/ June 28, 2018It is good to give practical examples
KELSIE
/ March 1, 2018SARAH SANG on SOME STAGE
RABBITS RUNNING ROUND ROCKS
Emma W.
/ October 3, 2017What about this one?
My sister loves the sea but she ate salt and the salty sea made her sick.
Mr. Morton
/ October 5, 2017You got it!
Layken
/ May 16, 2018can u help me
Mr. Morton
/ June 29, 2018With what?
cchiranjitsingh
/ August 8, 2017Suraj sang the song while sun sees shining on the seashore
JAMIR ARED O. BUCABAL
/ August 2, 2017I LIKE ALLITERATION.I NEVER HAD FUN BEFORE
Yoyo
/ June 14, 2017Great illustration
catherine
/ May 18, 2017I wish teachers could explain in this way.
Shruti
/ March 8, 2017Betty bought some butter but she found the butter is bitter so she tried to make the bitter butter better….
lisa
/ March 7, 2017Here are the ones I did with my classmates:
She sails the sea with snails and slugs.
Musa milks moles and eats mustard.
Doctor Dom dips digger in the dummy and he dies.
Siya sings silly songs and eats snails.
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2017Those are great. Thanks for sharing!
Emily
/ January 11, 2017That was really easy
Joseph G Okello
/ January 2, 2017Must have taken lots of time and effort. Thanks for making my poetry classes alot easier
IDK
/ December 16, 2016This was really helpful but I googled “alliteration poem examples” so was kinda disappointed to find just lists of alliteration, but idk. But, I just used the examples and make up my own so idk.
CAPTAIN CUPQUAKE
/ December 9, 2016Thanks this was a very nice presentation
Cx5Mowery
/ December 8, 2016Big Brown bear blue bull beautiful Baboon blowing bubbles biking backwards bumped black bugs banana boxes and Billy bunnies bread basket and brother Bob’s baseball bus and buster beagles banjo bagpipe bugle band and thats what broke baby birds balloon.
Rory McEvoy
/ November 26, 2016Standing by the window looking out at our snow, this came to mind!
“I was watching fat fluffy flurries falling furiously fast for four hours or more!”
It really snows a lot here in Elliot Lake, Ontario!
Mr. Morton
/ December 6, 2016That’s a nice one. Thanks for sharing.
puro
/ November 16, 2023not a alliteration but has one in it-He sat he said he wished he washed to be along someone one day ‘tiss till dawn from dawn till day will he find love one day what will you say?
Vincent
/ August 18, 2016this is the most helpful website I’ve ever seen!
Erin
/ April 17, 2016I loved that it gives ideas of what alliteration meant. I would highly recommend this link
Cindy Lowe
/ February 6, 2016If you have a blend like “Br” could this example be consider alliteration: Brice bounces a ball. Or do all the words have to start with the “Br” blend like: Brice brings brownies?
Mr. Morton
/ February 9, 2016I think that by definition, “Bryce bounces the ball” is alliteration, but your second example, “Brice brings brownies,” sounds nicer and is a stronger and more clear example of alliteration.
Best wishes!
Princes Hina
/ February 1, 2016Awsome
Alexis
/ December 2, 2015Another one is : Carl’s cookie cost a couple quarters.
Mr. Morton
/ December 2, 2015Oh, I like how you used the ‘q’ sound in quarters. Very nice.
Vandana
/ September 17, 2015Thanks
Vandana
/ September 17, 2015Thanks for wonderful help
Aston
/ August 16, 2015I am learning about alliteration in school so I am my task is to find some Limerick verses on a website and this the best by far
E.Subramanian
/ July 22, 2015I want to share with a funny limerick.
It all started with a perfume that Willy sent
His friend Millicent
It was so old
That they quarreled I’m told
Over the silly scent Willy sent Millicent!
Josh
/ July 10, 2015Really good and helpful thanks
Vikrant Sharma
/ July 3, 2015🙂
Lisa Bates
/ June 2, 2015From my school days…
The ship swayed in the silky sands of the silent sea….
Maryambatool
/ May 25, 2015Very helpful thanks thay are good
Maryambatool
/ May 25, 2015These alliterations are the best and very helpful and easy too
Sophie
/ May 20, 2015such a fabulous website! I love it!
virati
/ May 18, 2015excellent wow but where is the alliteration of A
Mr. Morton
/ May 18, 2015Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds. A is a vowel. You might be looking for assonance.
Vicki
/ April 1, 2017Annie Armstrong artfully attacked Arthur Anderson after an August afternoon assembly.
Mr. Morton
/ April 6, 2017I believe that repetition of the vowel sound is called “assonance,” but I like what you did.
dawit
/ May 15, 2015that is great thanks guys
Rodri
/ March 26, 2015very helpful thanks
arinze favour elizabeth
/ March 12, 2015ONE MORE;
Walter wondered were Winifred was
Shruti Mishra
/ February 24, 2015One more :
Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter so Betty brought more butter to make the bitter butter better.
Mr. Morton
/ March 2, 2015I like that.
Brittney
/ February 9, 2015Thanks this was very helpful
Tyson mtumbuka
/ December 12, 2014Peter piper picked a pecked of picked paper,a pecked of picked paper peter piper picked.
Vicki
/ April 1, 2017Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, then, where’s the peck of pickled peppers, Peter Piper picked?
One black bug bled blue-black blood while the other black bug bled blue.
Seventy-seven swashbuckling sailors, stranded on the silver seas, swiftly swam toward silky smooth shores of shifting summer sands and speckled seashells shining in the silent September sun.
Portly pirates, protecting pretty parrots, prefer perfectly puffy potato pancakes and patient people peacefully playing peek-a-boo with peek-a-poo puppies.
Danielle Jones
/ November 13, 2014this alliteration are excellent for other people to use!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
lou
/ November 3, 2014the champion chargrilled the chicken and he chomped in a champion way
Gino
/ October 1, 2014it so awesome
Emma
/ August 18, 2014Really good and awesome writing
fatima javed
/ May 3, 2014awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
mikayla
/ April 2, 2014NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
karla barahona
/ February 25, 2014Another one Is : Jesús was. Jealous from john becas he went to japan. In. A. Jet…. thanks
Alexis Chavez
/ December 2, 2015Thank you!!!☺