Metric feet

A metric foot is a collection of two or three syllables. There are six types of metric feet used commonly by English poets, and they are differentiated by where the stresses lie.

Two syllable feet

iamb

an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (e.g. instead)

trochee

a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (e.g. platter)

spondee

two stressed syllables (e.g. football)

pyrrhic

two unstressed syllables (usually not found in one word)

Three syllable feet

anapest

two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (e.g. intercept)

dactyl

a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (e.g. laughable)