Onomatopoeia — Definition and Examples
What is onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word that mimics or resembles the sound of the thing it describes. Words such as buzz, poof, and wham sound like their meaning, making them onomatopoetic. Onomatopoeia can be real words, made-up words, or just letters used to represent sounds (e.g., mmm, eek).
In poetry, the meaning of onomatopoeia extends beyond the imitation of a sound.
Poets often string words together using alliteration, consonance, and assonance . In doing so, they create sound effects identified as onomatopoeia.
Sound words list
The following chart categorizes onomatopoetic words based upon the sound they make:
| Air | Animal | Impact | Mechanical | Vocal | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| flutter | bark | bam | beep | ahem | bloop |
| gasp | buzz | clank | boing | giggle | drip |
| swish | chirp | crash | clang | growl | drizzle |
| swoosh | cluck | crunch | honk | gulp | splash |
| waft | hiss | knock | vroom | gurgle | spray |
| whiff | honk | screech | zap | eek | sprinkle |
| whoosh | howl | slap | mumble | ||
| whizz | purr | smash | murmur | ||
| whip | ribbit | thud | squeal | ||
| tweet | thump | whimper |
Overall, onomatopoeia is typically found within poetry, children's literature, comic books, and advertising.
Poetry: Poets provide their readers with the ability to truly visualize a scene through the combination of onomatopoeia and imagery, which allows them to leads tap into multiple senses.
"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe: Oh, the bells, bells, bells! / What a tale their terror tells / Of Despair! / How they clang, and clash, and roar!
Children's Literature: Children's authors often use onomatopoeia to enhance the language and maintain the attention of young readers, as the device helps bring the story to life.
"Mr. Brown Can Moo – Can You?" by Dr. Seuss: "He can sound like a clock – he can tick, he can tock. He can sound like a hand on a door – knock knock.
Comic Books: With comic books dependent upon the visual aspects of the story, onomatopoeia increases the realism of the action.
Pow! Whack! Boom!
Advertising: Incorporating onomatopoeia allows businesses to make their products more memorable.
Rice Krispies: Snap, crackle, and pop
Onomatopoeia examples
The following examples incorporate the use of onomatopoeia:
Poetry
"The Pied Piper of Hamelin" by Robert Browning: "Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering, / Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering."
"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe: While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping / As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. / ‘Tis some visitor,' I muttered, ‘tapping at my chamber door – Only this and nothing more.”
"Cynthia in the Snow" by Gwendolyn Brooks: "It hushes / It shushes; It flitter-twitters; and whitely whirs away."
Children's Literature
"The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter: "After a time he began to wander about, going lippity—lippity—not very fast, and looking all around."
"The Little Engine that Could" by Watty Piper: "Chug, chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-dong. The little train rumbled over the tracks."
"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault: "Chickachickaboomboom! / Will there be enough room?"
Comic Books
Wolverine's metal claws extending: "I'll be sure to catch him. Snikt!"
Spiderman shooting his webs: "Thwip, thwip."
Thor slamming his hammer: "Kraka-ba-boom!!!"
Advertising
Alka Seltzer: Plop, plop, fizz, fizz
Mazda: Zoom-Zoom
Campbell's Soup: Mmm, Mmm good.
Product Names: Slurpee, Cap'n Crunch, Ziplock, Pop-Tarts