We’ve got 219 rhyming words for can »
What rhymes with can?
kæn; unstressed kəncan
This page is about the various possible words that rhymes or sounds like can.
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Popularity rank by frequency of use
How popular is can among other rhymes?
Word Cloud
A graphical representation of the words that rhyme with can.
5/2,886 songs found
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I never thought I could get satisfaction from just one man
But if anyone can keep me happy, you’re the one who can -
I am doing the best I can
To get the people that I need
I’m asking you to be my right hand man -
But there’s only one man
Who can give us a command so we can -
I’m doing the best I can
I ain’t no perfect man -
Loves the way that Jesus can
He proved His love for me when He died on Calvary
He gave His life for fallen man
5/689 poems found
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When Nag, the wayside cobra, hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can, -
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can. -
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can. -
She loves me all that she can,
And her ways to my ways resign;
But she was not made for any man, -
And rosed, as maidens can,
For a brief span.
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Citation
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1 syllable:
anne,
ban,
Blancs,
bran,
cann,
Cannes,
clan,
cran,
Dan,
Dann,
douane,
douanes,
duan,
fan,
flan,
Fran,
gan,
Gand,
gran,
Hahn,
Han,
hwan,
Jan,
jann,
Kahn,
khan,
Klan,
kran,
Lan,
man,
Mann,
nan,
pan,
panne,
plan,
ran,
rann,
San,
scan,
Schwann,
scran,
Shan,
span,
swan,
tan,
tann,
than,
Thanh,
van,
wan,
whan,
yan
2 syllables:
began,
cabane,
Cezanne,
chapin,
Cheyenne,
couchman,
cyan,
Derain,
Diane,
Dianne,
divan,
enfin,
Fontanne,
gaulin,
gayman,
harpin,
inspan,
Iran,
japan,
Joann,
Joanne,
Jourdan,
lapan,
Lausanne,
liane,
Macmahon,
moulin,
outman,
outran,
outspan,
pian,
preplan,
quillman,
randan,
ratan,
rattan,
redan,
reman,
Renan,
replan,
Rodin,
Roxane,
saran,
sedan,
Spokane,
Sudan,
Susanne,
Suzanne,
tarpan,
tisane,
trepan,
unman,
Yunnan
3 syllables:
Arakan,
carryanne,
Couperin,
Desmoulins,
embonpoint,
fellowman,
harmattan,
intertan,
Laurencin,
Limousin,
Marianne,
Maritain,
minivan,
overran,
rataplan,
Turkestan,
Turkistan
4 syllables:
catamaran
Pure Rhymes
– 163 rhymes
Words that have identical vowel-based rhyme sounds in the tonic syllable. Moreover, that tonic syllable must start with a different consonantal sound.
an
ban
blan
bran
cann
chan
clan
dan
dann
duan
fan
flan
gan
gran
han
kan
lan
man
nan
pan
plan
ran
scan
shan
span
tan
than
van
whan
began
cyan
divan
harpin
moulin
pecan
rattan
sedan
tin can
harmattan
minivan
overran
catamaran
Ann
Anne
Ariane
Bann
Bhutan
CSPAN
Caen
Cahn
Cannes
Cezanne
Chapin
Chauvin
Cheyenne
Couchman
Cruzan
Diahann
Diane
Dianne
Doran
Dupin
Duran
Dyan
Dyane
Fayanne
Flann
Fran
Gaulin
Georgann
Gloriane
Grahn
Iran
Jaan
Jahn
Jan
Jann
Japan
JoAnn
Joanne
Jourdan
Kazakhstan
Klan
Lausanne
Leann
Liane
Lianne
Liliane
Louanne
MacMahon
Mann
Marianne
Maryann
Maryanne
Maupin
McCann
McMahon
McShan
Moran
Outman
Quillman
Rann
Rodin
Rosanne
Roseanne
Roxanne
Ruthann
San
Saran
Soloman
Spann
Spokane
Stan
Sudan
Susann
Susanne
Suzanne
Tann
Thanh
Tran
Yan
Japan
Quran
Qur’an
Koran
Quran
Koran
Qur’an
Rhianne
American plan
- hit the fan
- as one man
- best man
- company man
- dirty old man
- feel like a new man
- for no man
- hatchet man
- he man
- hired man
- iron man
- lady’s man
- leg man
- man to man
- man’s man
- marked man
- new man
- right hand man
- straw man
- the man
- time and tide wait for no man
- to a man
- yes man
- down the pan
- flash in the pan
- American plan
- game plan
- lay away plan
- spick and span
- better than
- less than
- more than
- no sooner than
End Rhymes
– 124 rhymes
Words that have a pure rhyme on their last syllable only.
Calahan
Callaghan
Callahan
Near Rhymes
– 2008 rhymes
Words that «almost» rhyme on the vowel-based rhyme sound of the stressed syllable like: be/eat or maybe/shapely.
bans
can’s
cans
clans
crans
fan’s
fans
hands
hans
krans
man’s
mans
pans
plan’s
plans
sans
scans
span’s
spans
tans
trans
vans
pecans
sedans
tin cans
minivans
Ann’s
Anne’s
Benz
Caen’s
Cannes
Chan’s
Cheyenne’s
Cheyennes
Dan’s
Diane’s
Frans
Franz
Gans
Han’s
Iran’s
Jan’s
Japan’s
Japans
Klan’s
Klans
Kranz
Mann’s
Mannes
McCann’s
Nan’s
Pan’s
Roseanne’s
Stan’s
Sudan’s
- change hands
- clean hands
- devil finds work for idle hands
- hang heavy on one’s hands
- in one’s hands
- into one’s own hands
- join hands
- off one’s hands
- on one’s hands
- play into one’s hands
- safe pair of hands
- show of hands
- sit on one’s hands
- soil one’s hands
- take off one’s hands
- take one’s life in one’s hands
- take the law into one’s own hands
- throw up one’s hands
- tie one’s hands
bang
chang
clang
dang
drang
fang
gang
hang
klang
lang
mang
pang
rang
sang
slang
spang
sprang
whang
harangue
big bang
meringue
Ang
Chiang
Huang
Hwang
Kang
Kuomintang
Lange
Liang
Nanchang
Pyongyang
Shenyang
Siang
Stang
Strang
T’ang
Tang
Vang
Wang
Yang
Zhang
- chain gang
- road gang
- care a hang
- go hang
- let go hang
Mosaic Rhymes
Rhymes made up of more than one word. For instance, «jealous» and «tell us» or «shaky» and «make me.»
One-syllable words do not have mosaic rhymes.
- Dictionary
- C
- Can
- Rhymes
Two-syllable rhymes
- drip pan — a shallow metal pan used under roasting meat to receive the drippings.
- duran — Roberto [ruh-bair-toh;; Spanish raw-ber-taw] /rəˈbɛər toʊ;; Spanish rɔˈbɛr tɔ/ (Show IPA), born 1951, Panamanian boxer.
- floor plan — a diagram of one room, apartment, or entire floor of a building, usually drawn to scale.
- front man — a performer, as a singer, who leads a musical group.
- game plan — a carefully thought-out strategy or course of action, as in politics, business, or one’s personal affairs.
- ground plan — Also called groundplot. the plan of a floor of a building.
- harpin — any of several horizontal members at the ends of a vessel for holding cant frames in position until the shell planking or plating is attached.
- hit man — a hired killer, especially a professional killer from the underworld.
- iran — a republic in SW Asia. About 635,000 sq. mi. (1,644,650 sq. km). Capital: Teheran.
- japan — a constitutional monarchy on a chain of islands off the E coast of Asia: main islands, Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. 141,529 sq. mi. (366,560 sq. km). Capital: Tokyo. Japanese Nihon, Nippon.
- jourdan — Jean Baptiste [zhahn ba-teest] /ʒɑ̃ baˈtist/ (Show IPA), Count, 1762–1833, French marshal.
- lausanne — a canton in W Switzerland. 1239 sq. mi. (3210 sq. km). Capital: Lausanne.
- less than — to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact.
- lucianne — a female given name.
- maryann — a female given name.
- mcmahon — Sir William. 1908–88, Australian statesman; prime minister of Australia (1971–72)
- moulin — a nearly vertical shaft or cavity worn in a glacier by surface water falling through a crack in the ice.
- old man — a father, usually one’s own: His old man’s letting him have the car for the prom.
- outman — to surpass in manpower.
- outran — simple past tense of outrun.
- pecan — a tall hickory tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the southern U.S. and Mexico, cultivated for its oval, smooth-shelled, edible nuts: the state tree of Texas.
- petain — Henri Philippe Omer [ahn-ree fee-leep aw-mer] /ɑ̃ˈri fiˈlip ɔˈmɛr/ (Show IPA), 1856–1951, marshal of France: premier of the Vichy government 1940–44.
- point man — the lead soldier of an infantry patrol on combat operations.
- rattan — Also called rattan palm. any of various climbing palms of the genus Calamus or allied genera.
- red man — a contemptuous term used to refer to a North American Indian.
- rodin — (François) Auguste (René) [frahn-swa oh-gyst ruh-ney] /frɑ̃ˈswa oʊˈgüst rəˈneɪ/ (Show IPA), 1840–1917, French sculptor.
- rosanne — a female given name.
- roxanne — a female given name.
- saran — a thermoplastic copolymer of vinylidene chloride and usually small amounts of vinyl chloride or acrylonitrile: used as a fiber, for packaging, and for making acid-resistant pipe.
- sea fan — any of certain anthozoans, especially Gorgonia flabellum, of the West Indies, in which the colony assumes a fanlike form.
- sedan — a city in NE France, on the Meuse River: defeat and capture of Napoleon III 1870.
- spokane — a city in E Washington.
- straight man — an entertainer who plays the part of a foil for a comic partner.
- straw man — a mass of straw formed to resemble a man, as for a doll or scarecrow.
- stunt man — a man who substitutes for an actor in scenes requiring hazardous or acrobatic feats.
- sudan — a region in N Africa, S of the Sahara and Libyan deserts, extending from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.
- susanne — a female given name, form of Susanna or Susannah.
- suzanne — a female given name, French form of Susanna or Susannah.
- tien shan — a mountain range in central Asia, in China and Kirghizia. Highest peak, Pobeda Peak, 24,406 feet (7439 meters).
- wild man — a person who is uncivilized; a savage.
- young man — a male in early manhood.
- battle plan — the strategy to be used in a military engagement.
- began — Began is the past tense of begin.
- best man — The best man at a wedding is the man who assists the bridegroom.
- bhutan — a kingdom in central Asia: disputed by Tibet, China, India, and Britain since the 18th century but most closely connected with India; contains inaccessible stretches of the E Himalayas in the north. Official language: Dzongka; Nepali is also spoken. Official religion: Mahayana Buddhist. Currencies: ngultrum and Indian rupee. Capital: Thimbu. Pop: 725 296 (2013 est). Area: about 46 600 sq km (18 000 sq miles)
- cave man — a prehistoric human being of the Stone Age who lived in caves
- cezanne — Paul (pɔl). 1839–1906, French postimpressionist painter, who was a major influence on modern art, esp cubism, in stressing the structural elements latent in nature, such as the sphere and the cone
- con man — A con man is a man who persuades people to give him their money or property by lying to them.
- cruzan — a native or inhabitant of St. Croix.
- cyan — a highly saturated green-blue that is the complementary colour of red and forms, with magenta and yellow, a set of primary colours
- diane — a feminine name: dim. Di; var. Dianne
- divan — a sofa or couch, usually without arms or back, often usable as a bed.
- doran — an electronic device for determining range and assisting navigation, employing the principle of the Doppler effect.
Three-syllable rhymes
- ariane — Rocketry. a French-built, three-stage, liquid-propellant rocket for launching satellites into orbit around the earth.
- better than — superior to
- conjure man — (in the southern U.S. and the West Indies) a conjurer; witch doctor.
- fancy man — a woman’s lover.
- french sudan — former name of Mali.
- georgann — a female given name.
- harmattan — (on the west coast of Africa) a dry, parching land breeze, charged with dust.
- hatchet man — a professional murderer.
- holdup man — a person who commits an armed robbery.
- isle of man — Isle of, an island of the British Isles, in the Irish Sea. 227 sq. mi. (588 sq. km). Capital: Douglas.
- java man — the fossil remains of Homo erectus found in Java.
- kazakhstan — a republic in central Asia, NE of the Caspian Sea and W of China. 1,049,155 sq. mi. (2,717,311 sq. km). Capital: Akmola.
- ku klux klan — U.S. History. a secret hate group in the southern U.S., active for several years after the Civil War, which aimed to suppress the newly acquired rights of black people and to oppose carpetbaggers from the North, and which was responsible for many lawless and violent proceedings.
- ladies’ man — a man who strives especially to please women and to attract their attention and admiration.
- leading man — an actor who plays the principal male role in a motion picture or play.
- luggage van — a railway carriage used to transport passengers’ luggage, bicycles, etc
- macmahon — Marie Edmé Patrice Maurice [ma-ree ed-mey pa-trees moh-rees] /maˈri ˈɛd meɪ paˈtris moʊˈris/ (Show IPA), Count de (Duke of Magenta) 1808–93, president of France 1873–79.
- marianne — the French Republic, personified as a woman.
- minivan — a small passenger van, somewhat larger than a station wagon, typically with side or rear windows and rear seats that can be removed for hauling small loads.
- miracle man — a person who performs or appears to perform miracles.
- moving van — a large truck or trailer used for transporting furnishings from one residence or office to another.
- muffin man — (formerly) an itinerant seller of muffins
- other than — additional or further: he and one other person.
- overran — simple past tense of overrun.
- party man — a person belonging to a political party, especially one who adheres strictly or blindly to its principles and policies.
- peking man — the skeletal remains of Homo erectus, formerly classified as Sinanthropus pekinensis, found at Zhoukoudian, near Peking, China, in the late 1930s and early 1940s and subsequently lost during World War II.
- pension plan — a systematic plan created and maintained, as by a corporation, to make regular payments of benefits to retired or disabled employees, either on a contributory or a noncontributory basis.
- peter pan — the hero of Sir James M. Barrie’s play about a boy who never grew up.
- piltdown man — a hypothetical early modern human, assigned to the genus Eoanthropus, whose existence was inferred from skull fragments that were allegedly found at Piltdown, England, in 1912 but were exposed as fraudulent through chemical analysis in 1953.
- solo man — an early human being of the upper Pleistocene, known from skull fragments found in Java.
- warming pan — a long-handled, covered pan, usually of brass, filled with live coals or hot water for warming a cold bed.
Four-or-more syllable rhymes
- alluvial fan — a fan-shaped accumulation of silt, sand, gravel, and boulders deposited by fast-flowing mountain rivers when they reach flatter land
- attention span — the period of time during which someone’s attention is held by something in particular
- catamaran — A catamaran is a sailing boat with two parallel hulls that are held in place by a single deck.
- commission plan — (in the US) a system of municipal government that combines legislative and executive authority in a commission of five or six elected members
- company man — an employee who puts allegiance to the company for which he works above personal opinion or friendship
- confidence man — A confidence man is a man who persuades people to give him their money or property by lying to them.
- customer’s man — registered representative.
- family man — a man who has a spouse and one or more children.
- government man — (in the 19th century) a convict
- heidelberg man — the primitive human being reconstructed from the Heidelberg jaw.
- installment plan — a system for paying for an item in fixed amounts at specified intervals.
- medicine man — (among North American Indians and some other aboriginal peoples) a person believed to possess magical or supernatural powers; shaman.
- neanderthal man — a member of an extinct subspecies of powerful, physically robust humans, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, that inhabited Europe and western and central Asia c100,000–40,000 b.c.
- property man — a member of the stage crew in charge of the stage properties
- remittance man — a person who is supported abroad chiefly by remittances from home.
- renaissance man — a cultured man of the Renaissance who was knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields.
- rhodesian man — an extinct Pleistocene human whose cranial remains were found at Kabwe, in Zambia: formerly in some classifications Homo rhodesiensis but now considered archaic Homo sapiens.
Four-or-more syllable rhymes
- american plan — a hotel rate in which the charge includes meals
- delivery van — a small van used esp for delivery rounds
- retirement plan — a systematic plan made and kept by an individual for setting aside income for his or her future retirement.
- utility man — a worker expected to serve in any capacity when called on.
Four-or-more syllable rhymes
- organization man — a person who subordinates his personal life to the demands of the organization he works for
Four-or-more syllable rhymes
- modified american plan — (in hotels) a system of paying a single fixed rate that covers room, breakfast, and one other meal, usually dinner. Abbreviation: MAP.
One-syllable rhymes
- ahn — Eye dialect of on.
- an — An is used instead of ‘a’, the indefinite article, in front of words that begin with vowel sounds.
- ane — one
- ann — a common girl’s name
- anne — Princess, the Princess Royal. born 1950, daughter of Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; a noted horsewoman and president of the Save the Children Fund
- ban — To ban something means to state officially that it must not be done, shown, or used.
- bran — Bran is the outer skin of grain that is left when the grain has been used to make flour.
- caen — an industrial city in NW France. Pop: 112 790 (2008)
- cannes — a port and resort in SE France: developed in the 19th century from a fishing village; annual film festival. Pop: 72 939 (2008)
- chan — Zen (def 1).
- clan — A clan is a group which consists of families that are related to each other.
- dan — a small buoy used as a marker at sea
- fan — an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.
- flan — Spanish Cookery. a dessert of sweetened egg custard with a caramel topping.
- fran — Francis Asbury («Fran») born 1940, U.S. football player.
- gan — simple past tense of gin3 .
- gran — grandmother.
- han — a dynasty in China, 206 b.c.–a.d. 220, with an interregnum, a.d. 9–25: characterized by consolidation of the centralized imperial state and territorial expansion. Compare Earlier Han, Later Han.
- jan — a male given name, form of John.
- jan. — January
- joanne — a female given name.
- klan — Ku Klux Klan.
- lan — a system for linking private telecommunications equipment, as in a building or cluster of buildings.
- man — Unix manual page
- mann — Heinrich [hahyn-rik;; German hahyn-rikh] /ˈhaɪn rɪk;; German ˈhaɪn rɪx/ (Show IPA), 1871–1950, German novelist and dramatist, in the U.S. after 1940 (brother of Thomas Mann).
- nan — Not-a-Number
- pan — an international distress signal used by shore stations to inform a ship, aircraft, etc., of something vital to its safety or to the safety of one of its passengers.
- plan — a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance: battle plans.
- ran — simple past tense of run.
- san — Storage Area Network
- scan — to glance at or over or read hastily: to scan a page.
- shan — a group of Mongoloid tribes in the hills of Burma.
- span — the act of causing a spinning or whirling motion.
- stan — a male given name, form of Stanley.
- tan — to convert (a hide) into leather, especially by soaking or steeping in a bath prepared from tanbark or synthetically.
- than — in relation to; by comparison with (usually followed by a pronoun in the objective case): He is a person than whom I can imagine no one more courteous.
- van — Value Added Network
Download Article
Download Article
Spoken word is a great way to express your truth to others through poetry and performance. To write a spoken word piece, start by picking a topic or experience that triggers strong feelings for you. Then, compose the piece using literary devices like alliteration, repetition, and rhyme to tell your story. Polish the piece when it is done so you can perform it for others in a powerful, memorable way. With the right approach to the topic and a strong attention to detail, you can write a great spoken word piece in no time.
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1
Choose a topic that triggers a strong feeling or opinion. Maybe you go for a topic that makes you angry, like war, poverty, or loss, or excited, like love, desire, or friendship. Think of a topic that you feel you can explore in depth with passion.[1]
- You may also take a topic that feels broad or general and focus on a particular opinion or perspective you have on it. For example, you may look at a topic like “love” and focus on your love for your big sister. Or you may look at a topic like “family” and focus on how you made your own family with close friends and mentors.
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2
Focus a memorable moment or experience in your life. Pick an experience that was life changing or shifted your perspective on the world in a profound way. The moment or experience could be recent or from childhood. It could be a small moment that became meaningful later or an experience that you are still recovering from.[2]
- For example, you may choose to write about the moment you realized you loved your partner or the moment you met your best friend. You can also write about a childhood experience in a new place or an experience you shared with your mother or father.
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3
Respond to a troubling question or idea. Some of the best spoken word comes from a response to a question or idea that makes you think. Pick a question that makes you feel unsettled or curious. Then, write a detailed response to create the spoken word piece.
- For example, you may try responding to a question like “What are you afraid of?” “What bothers you about the world?” or “Who do you value the most in your life?”
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4
Watch videos of spoken word pieces for inspiration. Look up videos of spoken word poets who tackle interesting subjects from a unique point of view. Pay attention to how the performer tells their truth to engage the audience. You may watch spoken word pieces like:
- “The Type” by Sarah Kay.[3]
- “When a Boy Tells You He Loves You” by Edwin Bodney.[4]
- “Lost Voices” by Darius Simpson and Scout Bostley.[5]
- “The Drug Dealer’s Daughter” by Sierra Freeman.[6]
- “The Type” by Sarah Kay.[3]
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1
Come up with a gateway line. The gateway line is usually the first line of the piece. It should sum up the main topic or theme. The line can also introduce the story you are about to tell in a clear, eloquent way. A good way to find a gateway line is to write down the first ideas or thoughts that pop into your head when you focus on a topic, moment, or experience.[7]
- For example, you may come up with a gateway line like, “The first time I saw her, I was alone, but I did not feel alone.” This will then let the reader know you are going to be talking about a female person, a “her,” and about how she made you feel less lonely.
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2
Use repetition to reinforce an idea or image. Most spoken word will use repetition to great effect, where you repeat a phrase or word several times in the piece. You may try repeating the gateway line several times to remind the reader of the theme of your piece. Or you may repeat an image you like in the piece so the listener is reminded of it again and again.[8]
- For example, you may repeat the phrase “The first time I saw her” in the piece and then add on different endings or details to the phrase.
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3
Include rhyme to add flow and rhythm to the piece. Rhyme is another popular device used in spoken word to help the piece flow better and sound more pleasing to listeners. You may follow a rhyme scheme where you rhyme every other sentence or every third sentence in the piece. You can also repeat a phrase that rhymes to give the piece a nice flow.[9]
- For example, you may use a phrase like «Bad dad» or «Sad dad» to add rhyme. Or you may try rhyming every second sentence with the gateway line, such as rhyming «The first time I saw him» with «I wanted to dive in and swim.»
- Avoid using rhyme too often in the piece, as this can make it sound too much like a nursery rhyme. Instead only use rhyme when you feel it will add an extra layer of meaning or flow to the piece.
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Focus on sensory details and description. Think about how settings, objects, and people smell, sound, look, taste, and feel. Describe the topic of your piece using your 5 senses so the reader can become immersed in your story.
- For example, you may describe the smell of someone’s hair as «light and floral» or the color of someone’s outfit as «as red as blood.» You can also describe a setting through what it sounded like, such as «the walls vibrated with bass and shouting,» or an object through what it tasted like, such as «her mouth tasted like fresh cherries in summer.»
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End with a strong image. Wrap up the piece with an image that connects to the topic or experience in your piece. Maybe you end with a hopeful image or with an image that speaks to your feelings of pain or isolation.
- For example, you may describe losing your best friend at school, leaving the listener with the image of your pain and loss.
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Conclude by repeating the gateway line. You can also end by repeating the gateway line once more, calling back to the beginning of the piece. Try adding a slight twist or change to the line so the meaning of it is deepened or changed.
- For example, you may take an original gateway line like, “The first time I saw her” and change it to “The last time I saw her” to end the poem with a twist.
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Read the piece aloud. Once you have finished a draft of the spoken word piece, read it aloud several times. Pay attention to how it flows and whether it has a certain rhythm or style. Use a pen or pencil to underline or highlight any lines that sound awkward or unclear so you can revise them later.[10]
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Show the piece to others. Get friends, family members, or mentors to read the piece and give you feedback. Ask them if they feel the piece feels like it represents your style and attitude. Have others point out any lines or phrases they find wordy or unclear so you can adjust them.[11]
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Revise the piece for flow, rhythm, and style. Check that the piece has a clear flow and rhythm. Simplify lines or phrases to reflect how you express yourself in casual conversation or among friends. You should also remove any jargon that feels too academic or complex, as you do not want to alienate your listener. Instead, use language that you feel comfortable with and know well so you can show off your style and attitude in the piece.[12]
- You may need to revise the piece several times to find the right flow and meaning. Be patient and edit as much as you need until the piece feels finished.
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Memorize the piece. Read the piece aloud several times. Then, try to repeat it aloud without looking at the written words, working line by line or section by section. It may take several days for you to memorize the piece in its entirety so be patient and take your time.[13]
- You may find it helpful to ask a friend or family member to test you when you have memorized the piece to ensure you can repeat every word by heart.
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Use your voice to convey emotion and meaning to the audience. Project your voice when you perform. Make sure you enunciate words or phrases that are important in the piece. You can also raise or lower your voice using a consistent pattern or rhythm when you perform. Try speaking in different registers to give the piece variety and flow.[14]
- A good rule of thumb is to say the gateway line or a key phrase louder than other words every time you repeat it. This can help you find a sense of rhythm and flow.
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Express yourself with eye contact and facial gestures. Maintain eye contact with the audience when you perform the poem, rather than looking down or at a piece of paper. Use your mouth and face to communicate any emotions or thoughts expressed in the poem. Make facial gestures like a look of surprise when you describe a realization, or a look of anger when you talk about an injustice or troubling moment.[15]
- You can also use your hands to help you express yourself. Make hand gestures to the audience to keep them engaged.
- Keep in mind the audience will not really be paying attention your lower body or your legs, so you have to rely on your face, arms, and upper body in your performance.
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Practice in front of a mirror until you feel confident. Use a mirror to get a sense of your facial expressions and your hand gestures. Maintain eye contact in the mirror and project your voice so you appear confident to the audience.
- Once you feel comfortable performing to the mirror, you may decide to perform for friends or family. You can also perform the spoken word piece at a poetry slam or an open mic night once you feel it is ready to share with others.
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Add New Question
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Question
Must there be a rhythm?
No. The goal should be to write natural-sounding speech. Most people do not naturally employ rhythm in their speech.
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Question
What if I have no mirror at home for practicing?
You can practice with a friend or family member instead. Then, ask them to review your performance and offer constructive criticism.
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Question
Why is rhyme important to the rhythm of the spoken word?
Actually, rhyme is not especially important in speech patterns, although it can certainly be used to comic or fanciful effect. If this question has been taken from a test, you should simply respond with whatever your teacher or textbook has told you about spoken rhyme.
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About This Article
Article SummaryX
To write spoken word, start by coming up with a gateway line, which sums up the main topic or theme and is typically the first line of the piece. As you write, work some repetition into your piece to reinforce the main ideas or images. You should also include rhyme to add flow and rhythm to the piece. Additionally, incorporate sensory details, such as how things felt, smelt, or tasted, to help draw your listener into the world you’ve created. Finally, end with a strong image that will stay with your audience or repeat the gateway line for closure. To learn how to end your spoken word piece, keep reading!
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Akinwumi Shulammite
Oct 24, 2022
«It’s inspiring, when I saw this article I became more curious about the spoken word that I want to practice and…» more