The following are examples of words to describe sounds often made by people. . These bring to life what a sneeze sounds like (achoo) or how cute children sound when laughing (giggle). The rhythm and length of the above lines, along with the use of “hissing” sounds, create a picture of a snake in the minds of the readers. A loud sucking sound made while drinking or eating. A series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear or pain. The word boing, for example, is simply a sound effect, but one that is very useful in making writing or storytelling more expressive and vivid. This creates clarity for audiences to fully comprehend and relate to the situation at hand. Sound of a car horn or that of a wild goose. The bow-wow theory suggests that human language developed from an imitation of sounds in nature. In addition to the sounds they represent, many onomatopoeic words have developed meanings of their own. There are many examples of onomatopoeia for kids that are not only fun to say but will make the concept clear and easier to understand. Dawid Gabarkiewicz / EyeEm / Getty Images. Sonund of fastening with a zip or something done fast. A loud, harsh, or discordant noise made by a bird. How onomatopoeia works: Most of the words that describe the sounds made by animals and birds have been formed by an imitation of the sound itself. Laughing lightly and repeatedly in a silly way. The sound of the ball going back and forth. -, The tires of her car halted with an extremely loud, He hit his head against the wall with a loud, Derek is warming himself up in front of the, The pots and pans fell to the floor with a. English. The following examples have been grouped according to how they are used. A sound made by something striking or falling into liquid. 2. 2. Moreover, a simple plain expression does not have the same emphatic effect that conveys an idea powerfully to the readers. Onomatopoeia: Definition and Examples. Onomatopoeia Definition. Following this was a metallic poof sometimes followed by the clatter of silver dollars coming down through the funnel to land with a happy smash in the coin receptacle at the bottom of the machine.”, â (Rod Serling, “The Fever.” Stories from the Twilight Zone, 2013), “He saw nothing and heard nothing but he could feel his heart pounding and then he heard the clack on stone and the leaping, dropping clicks of a small rock falling.”, â (Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1940), “Hark, hark!Bow-wow.The watch-dogs bark!Bow-wow.Hark, hark! Collision sounds – Collisions can occur between two or more objects. The sound made by abruptly plucking a string of a stringed instrument. To learn about common sound categories and letter combinations of onomatopoeia, check out some more examples of onomatopoeia. The use of onomatopoeic words helps create emphasis. Onomatopoeia can use real words, made-up words, or just letters used to represent raw sounds (as “Zzzzzz” represents someone sleeping or snoring). A whistling or buzzing sound made by something moving fast through the air. As Malcolm Peet and David Robinson point out in "Leading Questions": Onomatopoeia is heard throughout the world, though different languages may use very different sounding words to represent the same sounds. Onomatopoeia definition is - the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (such as buzz, hiss); also : a word formed by onomatopoeia. What is an onomatopoeia? A hissing sound produced by bubbles of gas. This isn’t an exhaustive list of onomatopoeic words, but it’s a good start to understanding this literary device. Onomatopoeia is frequently employed in literature. The following is an onomatopoeia word list with notes on the origins of onomatopoeic words. Used to attract attention, express doubt, warning, etc. A soft sucking sound such as that made by treading heavily through liquid or mud. I hearThe strain of strutting chanticleerCry, ‘cock-a-diddle-dow! But if you wanted to take onomatopoeia a step further you could alter the word, or even make up a new word, to describe the sound. An "onomatope" is a particular word that imitates the sound it denotes. Many times, you can tell what an onomatopoeic word is describing based on letter combinations contained within the word. But keep in mind that onomatopoeia may be used differently in both speech and writing examples, depending on the message the author wishes to convey. Onomatopoeia is a stylistic device used to imitate a given sound associated with what it is referred to. Hence, the reader cannot help but enter the world created by the poet with the aid of these words. . (usually imitated). All Rights Reserved. A series of short, quick high-pitched sounds. I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry, ‘cock-a-diddle-dow! A rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds. It can also help to add a touch of fun or emotion to a piece. 5. Exclamation that expresses a strong reaction of relief, or of disgust at a smell. !- "On the Ning Nang Nong," Spike Milligan, Fell like a cannon-shot,Burst like a thunderbolt,Crash'd like a hurricane,Broke thro' the mass from below,Drove thro' the midst of the foe,Plunged up and down, to and fro,Rode flashing blow upon blow,- "The Charge of the Heavy Brigade," Alfred Tennyson, OhCRASH!myBASH!it'sBANG!theZANG!FourthWHOOSH!ofBAROOM!JulyWHEW!- "The Fourth," Shel Silverstein, Hear the sledges with the bells-Silver bells!What a world of merriment their melody foretells!How they tinkle. Animal sounds are one of the most common forms of onomatopoeia. You may also see short sentences. This concept is best understood through example. Onomatopoeia appeals to the sense of hearing and writers use it to bring a story or poem to life in the reader's head. Onomatopoeia definition: An onomatopoeia a word whose sound imitates its meaning. So in this article, we will discuss the significance of onomatopoeia in literature and other narratives. Onomatopoeia, pronounced on-uh-mat-uh–pee–uh, is defined as a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. They are words that mimic, resemble or suggest the sound that they describe. A dull sound made by heavy metal objects striking together. The sound of hitting someone or something. We notice, in the following examples, the use of onomatopoeia gives rhythm to the texts. We'll stick with English here: Onomatopoeia is a fun, linguistic tool used in literature, songs and advertisements. Onomatopoeia, on the other hand, helps readers to hear the sounds of the words they reflect. In some cases, authors even combine words to create an onomatopoeic effect rather than using the actual onomatopoeic words. This creates an aural effect that represents the visual object being described in the statement. ‘Kablam!’ – This Nickelodeon cartoon implies a crash or collision of two objects. A continuous deep, resonant sound like distant thunder. Cutting something with scissors or shears. For more examples, check out this onomatopoeia word list for kids. So, remember that onomatopoeic words try to capture a sound and, therefore, can bring language alive in the reader or listener's imagination. Onomatopoeia is when a word describes a sound and actually mimics the sound of the object or action it refers to when it is spoken.