How many lines does Don Pedro have in Much Ado About Nothing?
The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.
The Offbook team
Oct 8, 2026
Don Pedro has about 316 lines in Much Ado About Nothing: 2,456 words in 134 speeches, 11.9% of the play, and the third-largest part. The role speaks in 8 of the 17 scenes, and its longest wait is 3 scenes in a row without a line.
Don Pedro is a busy part, about an eighth of the words spread over many short speeches, mostly in prose. He drives the comic plots, wooing Hero for Claudio and staging the garden trick on Benedick in Act 2, Scene 3. He says little at the broken wedding, and his longest speech, in Act 5, Scene 1, retells Beatrice’s mockery of Benedick.
- Lines
- 316
- Words
- 2,456
- Share of play
- 11.9%
- Speech time
- 18 min
20% of the words are verse. 134 speeches means about 134 cues to learn.
Scene by scene
| Scene | Words | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 1 | 478 | 3.4 |
| Act 2, Scene 1 | 467 | 3.3 |
| Act 2, Scene 3 | 480 | 3.4 |
| Act 3, Scene 2 | 353 | 2.5 |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | 86 | 0.6 |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 493 | 3.5 |
| Act 5, Scene 3 | 57 | 0.4 |
| Act 5, Scene 4 | 42 | 0.3 |
The longest speeches
| Speech | Scene | Words |
|---|---|---|
| “I’ll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy wit the ot…” | Act 5, Scene 1 | 123 |
| “And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that…” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 107 |
| “What need the bridge much broader than the flood?” | Act 1, Scene 1 | 101 |
| “Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new glos…” | Act 3, Scene 2 | 96 |
| “Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing: b…” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 82 |
| “There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it …” | Act 3, Scene 2 | 82 |
| “Why, then are you no maiden. Leonato,” | Act 4, Scene 1 | 60 |
| “Let there be the same net spread for her; and that…” | Act 2, Scene 3 | 58 |
How many lines a day to learn
New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.
| Time until off book | New lines a day |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 32 |
| 3 weeks | 22 |
| 4 weeks | 16 |
| 6 weeks | 11 |
More from Much Ado About Nothing
- How many lines does Benedick have?
- How many lines does Beatrice have?
- How many lines does Leonato have?
- How many lines does Dogberry have?
- Every role in Much Ado About Nothing, by size
Questions actors ask
How many lines does Don Pedro have in Much Ado About Nothing?
About 316 lines: 63 lines of verse and 1,975 words of prose. That is 2,456 words in 134 speeches, 11.9% of the play and the third-largest part.
How long is Don Pedro’s longest speech?
123 words, in Act 5, Scene 1, beginning “I’ll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy wit the other day. I said, thou hadst a fine wit: “True,” says she, “a fine little one.” “No,” said I, “a great wit:” “Right,” said she, “a great gross one.” “Nay,” said I, “a good wit:” “Just,” said she, “it hurts nobody.” “Nay,” said I, “the gentleman is wise:” “Certain,” said she, “a wise gentleman.” “Nay,” said I, “he hath the tongues:” “That I believe,” said she, “for he swore a thing to me on Monday night, which he forswore on Tuesday morning; there’s a double tongue; there’s two tongues.” Thus did she, an hour together, trans-shape thy particular virtues: yet at last she concluded with a sigh, thou wast the properest man in Italy.” At 140 words a minute it runs about 53 seconds.
How long does it take to learn Don Pedro?
To be off book in three weeks, learning five days a week, plan on about 22 new lines a day, plus time to review what you already know. Start with your longest speeches and the scenes with the most cues.
Keep reading
- How many lines does Beatrice have in Much Ado About Nothing?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Benedick have in Much Ado About Nothing?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Dogberry have in Much Ado About Nothing?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Leonato have in Much Ado About Nothing?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.