# Mora

/ˈmɔɹə/ (US) · /mˈɔːɹɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mora
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a unit of time used in poetry and language to measure the length of a sound. It helps people understand the rhythm of a word or a line of verse.

For teachers: a unit of phonological weight or duration used in prosody to determine syllable length. Typically used in the analysis of quantitative verse or languages like Japanese.

## Examples

- A short syllable usually counts as one mora.
- In Japanese phonology, the word 'Nippon' is composed of four distinct morae, which dictates its rhythmic timing.
- Linguists distinguish between light and heavy syllables by counting the number of morae they contain, a distinction crucial for understanding stress patterns in classical Latin poetry.

## Usage notes

- The plural form is either 'moras' or the Latinate 'morae'.

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