Pronunciation: [ɛnd͡ʒˈam] (IPA) 
The word "enjamb" is spelled as e-n-j-a-m-b. It is derived from the French word "enjamber" which means "to stride over". In poetry, it refers to the continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /ɛnˈdʒæmb/ where the stress is on the second syllable, and it is pronounced with an open-mid front unrounded vowel (ɛ), a voiced palato-alveolar affricate (dʒ), and a bilabial nasal (m).
The term "enjamb" is a verb originating from the French word "enjamber," meaning "to stride over" or "to straddle." In literature, particularly in poetry and prose, "enjamb" refers to the technique of carrying the sense and meaning of a sentence or phrase beyond the end of one line and into the beginning of the next, without a grammatical pause or punctuation.
This literary device allows the thoughts, ideas, or descriptions to flow seamlessly from one line to the next, creating a sense of continuity and rhythm in the text. By intentionally breaking syntactical units at chosen line breaks, writers can add complexity, suspense, or emphasis to their works. It enables the poet or author to manipulate the reader's interpretation and engagement, as the meaning may change or deepen as the lines progress.
The enjambment technique is commonly employed in poetry, especially in free verse, allowing the writer to establish a unique structure for their lines and maximize the impact of their words. It often enhances the aesthetic quality of a poem and contributes to its overall tone, flow, and imagery. Additionally, enjambment can be used to convey the speaker's emotions, thoughts, or perceptions more profoundly by utilizing the spaces and pauses created by line breaks.
Overall, "enjamb" is a literary technique that breaks with conventional grammatical boundaries, enabling writers to create a more fluid and artistic composition while manipulating the reader's experience and interpretation of the text.
The word "enjamb" is actually a verbal form derived from the noun "enjambment".
"Enjambment" originated from the French word "enjambement", which is a compound formed from the prefix "en-" (meaning "in" or "into") and the noun "jambement" (meaning "straddling" or "a stride"). The word "jambement" itself evolved from the verb "jambe" (meaning "to stride" or "to step over").
In literary terms, "enjambment" refers to the technique of continuing a sentence or clause beyond the end of a line of poetry without a pause or punctuation; instead, the sentence runs over and carries on to the next line.
