What term describes the repetition of consonant sounds within words rather than at the beginning of them?

• A. Consonance
• B. Litote
• C. Euphony
• D. Irony

Answer: (A)

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within nearby words, not at the beginnings. This creates a subtle musicality and rhythm by echoing the same consonant sounds inside or at the ends of words, rather than starting them with the same letter. For example, in a phrase like “pitter-patter,” the repeated consonant sounds add a sense of movement and texture without relying on initial sounds. This differentiates it from alliteration, which focuses on same-starting sounds, and from assonance, which repeats vowel sounds. Other terms like litote or irony describe different figures of speech entirely, so consonance is the term that best fits the description given.