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{{short description|Metrical foot}}
{{About|the poetry and linguistics concept|the French commune|Troche}}
{{See Wiktionary||troche}}
{{Metrical feet}}
[[File:Trochee (PSF).png|thumb|Trochaic tetrameter in ''[[Macbeth]]'']]
In [[poetic metre]], a '''trochee''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|r|oʊ|k|iː}} {{respell|TROH|kee}}) is a [[metrical foot]] consisting of a [[stressed syllable]] followed by an [[unstressed syllable|unstressed]] one, in [[qualitative meter]], as found in English, and in modern linguistics; or in [[quantitative meter]], as found in Latin and Ancient Greek, a [[heavy syllable]] followed by a light one (also described as a long syllable followed by a short one).<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Trochaic |volume=27 |page=293}}</ref> In this respect, a trochee is the reverse of an [[iamb (poetry)|iamb]]. Thus the Latin word {{langx|la|íbī||there|label=none}}, because of its short-long rhythm, in Latin metrical studies is considered to be an iamb, but since it is stressed on the first syllable, in modern linguistics it is considered to be a trochee.

The adjective form is ''trochaic''. The English word ''trochee'' is itself trochaic since it is composed of the stressed syllable {{IPAc-en|'|t|r|oʊ}} followed by the unstressed syllable {{IPAc-en|k|iː}}.

Another name formerly used for a trochee was a '''choree''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɔːr|iː}} {{respell|KOR|ee}}) or '''choreus'''. 

==Etymology==
''Trochee'' comes from [[French language|French]] {{lang|fr|trochée}}, adapted from [[Latin]] {{lang|la|trochaeus}}, originally from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{langx|grc|τροχός|trokhós|wheel|label=none}},<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150723230158/http://www.myetymology.com/latin/trochee.html Etymology of the Latin word trochee]}}, MyEtymology  (retrieved 23 July 2015)</ref> from the phrase {{langx|grc|τροχαῖος πούς|trokhaîos poús|running foot|label=none}};<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=trochee Trochee], Etymology Online (retrieved 23 July 2015)</ref> it is connected with the word {{langx|grc|τρέχω|trékhō|I run|label=none}}. The less-often used word ''choree'' comes from {{langx|grc|χορός|khorós|dance|label=none}}; both convey the "rolling" rhythm of this metrical foot. The phrase was adapted into English in the late 16th century.

There was a well-established ancient tradition that trochaic rhythm is faster than iambic.<ref name=DS>A.M. Devine, Laurence Stephens, ''The Prosody of Greek Speech'', p. 116.</ref> When used in drama it is often associated with lively situations. One ancient commentator notes that it was named from the metaphor of people running ({{lang|grc|ἐκ μεταφορᾶς τῶν τρεχόντων}}) and the Roman metrician {{langr|la|[[Marius Victorinus]]}} notes that it was named from its running and speed ({{lang|la|dictus a cursu et celeritate}}).<ref name=DS />

== Examples ==

'''Trochaic''' meter is sometimes seen among the works of [[William Shakespeare]]:

{{Poem quote|text=
'''''Dou'''ble, '''dou'''ble, '''toil''' and '''trou'''ble;''
'''''Fi'''re '''burn''' and '''cauld'''ron '''bubb'''le.''
}}<ref>''The Complete Works of William Shakespeare''. London: Abbey Library/Cresta House, 1977.</ref>

Perhaps owing to its simplicity, though, trochaic meter is fairly common in [[nursery rhymes]]:

{{Poem quote|text=
'''''Pet'''er, '''Pet'''er '''pump'''kin-'''eat'''er''
'''''Had''' a '''wife''' and '''could'''n't '''keep''' her.''
}}

Trochaic verse is also well known in [[Latin poetry]], especially of the medieval period. Since the stress never falls on the final syllable in Medieval Latin, the language is ideal for trochaic verse. The {{lang|la|[[dies irae]]}} of the [[Requiem]] mass is an example:

{{Poem quote|text={{lang|la|text=
'''''Di'''es '''ir'''ae, '''di'''es '''il'''la''
'''''Sol'''vet '''sae'''clum '''in''' fa'''vi'''lla''
'''''Tes'''te '''Da'''vid '''cum''' Si'''by'''lla.''
|italic=unset}}}}

The Finnish national epic, {{langx|fi|[[Kalevala]]|label=none}}, like much old Finnish poetry, is written in a variation of [[trochaic tetrameter]].

Trochaic metre is popular in Polish and Czech literatures.<ref>{{langr|cs|Josef Brukner}}, {{langr|cs|Jiří Filip}}, {{langr|cs|Poetický slovník}}, {{lang|cs|Mladá fronta}}, Prague 1997, p. 339–340 {{in lang|cs}}.</ref> {{langr|pl|Vitězslav Nezval}}'s poem [[Edison (Poem)|Edison]] is written in trochaic hexameter.<ref>{{langr|pl|Wiktor J. Darasz}}, {{langr|pl|Trochej}}, {{lang|pl|Język Polski}}, 1-2/2001, p. 51 {{in lang|pl}}.</ref>

===Latin===
{{see|Metres of Roman comedy}}
In Greek and Latin, the syllabic structure deals with long and short syllables, rather than accented and unaccented. Trochaic meter was rarely used by the Latin poets in the classical period, except in certain passages of the tragedies and the comedies.<ref>Gustavus Fischer, "Prosody", ''Etymology and an introduction to syntax'' (''Latin Grammar'', Volume 1), J. W. Schermerhorn (1876) p. 395.</ref> The two main metres used in comedy were the [[trochaic septenarius]] and trochaic octonarius.

== See also ==
{{Wiktionary}}
* [[Monometer]]
* [[Prosody (Latin)]]
* [[Substitution (poetry)]], Trochaic substitution
* [[Prosody (Greek)]]
* [[Trochaic septenarius]]

== References ==
<references />

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[[Category:Metrical feet]]