An internal combustion engine capable of improving cleaning efficiency by preventing an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gas to lessen the deterioration of the catalyst. The internal combustion engine includes a convergent section, a divergent section, and a branch section. The branch section branches a shock wave, propagating in a downstream direction at a higher velocity than exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust path from a combustion chamber when an exhaust valve is opened, from a portion of the exhaust path which is upstream with respect to the divergent section, and propagates the shock wave back to the exhaust path. The exhaust gas is caused to pass the convergent section and to collide against the shock wave between the branch section and the divergent section, so as to increase the pressure of the exhaust gas in the convergent section. Such exhaust gas is caused to pass the divergent section to generate a new shock wave and to decrease the temperature of the exhaust gas. A catalyst of an exhaust cleaning device is provided in a portion of the exhaust path which is downstream with respect to the divergent section.