The simplest onomatopoeia definition is a word that imitates the sound it refers to, so saying the word almost lets you hear the thing. Buzz, hiss, splash, crunch and tick-tock are all onomatopoeia.
The term also names the technique of using such words in writing. Poets, comic artists, advertisers and children's authors all lean on it, because sound words make a scene feel loud, wet, fast or crisp without extra description.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
A word formed to imitate a sound; the use of such wordsPart of speech
Noun (plural: onomatopoeias)Pronunciation
on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh (six syllables)Word forms
onomatopoeic or onomatopoetic (adjective), onomatopoeically (adverb)Origin
Late Latin from Greek onomatopoiia, "making of a name"; in English from the 1570sField
Literary device; also studied in linguisticsRegister
Technical term, common in school English
Onomatopoeia definition and meaning: two kinds
To define onomatopoeia more fully, it covers words whose sound mirrors a real noise. Linguists often split them into two groups:
- Pure sound words. The word is the noise: boom, clang, sizzle, purr, meow, achoo.
- Names taken from a sound. A thing is named after the noise it makes. The cuckoo bird and the ping pong ball are well known cases.
Some words only suggest a sound through their letters, such as slither or murmur. Writers count these as onomatopoeic too, though the link is looser.
A bank of sound words by category
| Source | Words |
|---|---|
| Animals | moo, oink, woof, hiss, chirp, quack, buzz, purr |
| Water | splash, drip, gurgle, plop, slosh |
| Impact | bang, thud, crash, smash, whack, clatter |
| Human body | hiccup, giggle, achoo, gulp, mumble |
| Machines and objects | beep, click, whirr, tick-tock, vroom, ding |
| Air and fire | whoosh, crackle, sizzle, swish, pop |
Onomatopoeia in sentences
- The bacon sizzled in the pan while the kettle began to whistle.
- With a loud thud, the textbook hit the floor and the class jumped.
- Rain went drip, drip, drip from the broken gutter all night.
- Our teacher asked us to add onomatopoeia to make the storm poem feel louder.
- The comic panel showed one huge word, KAPOW, as the hero landed his punch.
A Greek word about making names
During the 1570s English borrowed it, by way of Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, literally "the making of a name or word". It joins onoma, name, and poiein, to make, the same verb that sits behind poet and poem. The adjectives are later: onomatopoetic turns up in the 1820s, and onomatopoeic follows in the 1830s. Both are correct today, though onomatopoeic is more common.
Why sound words differ between languages
If onomatopoeia simply copied nature, every language would use the same words. It does not. An English dog says woof, a Spanish one says guau and a Japanese one says wan wan. An English rooster crows cock-a-doodle-doo, while in French it is cocorico. Each language fits a sound into its own patterns of letters and syllables, so these words are part copy, part habit. That is a nice reminder that even the most natural seeming words are shaped by culture.
How writers use it
In poetry, onomatopoeia works alongside alliteration and rhythm to create sound effects. In stories it builds imagery that reaches the ear, not just the eye. Advertisers use crunch and fizz to make snacks and drinks feel fresh. In comics, giant sound words show action. A little goes a long way; too many can make serious writing feel childish. You can compare it with other devices such as simile and personification in grammar and writing.
Spelling tips
The spelling trips up many students. Break it into chunks: ono + mato + poeia. The ending is poeia, with o, e, i, a in that order, and it is said PEE-uh. A memory trick: "one mat, oh, poe I a". The plural is onomatopoeias, but most people simply say "examples of onomatopoeia".
Frequently asked questions
What is the definition of onomatopoeia for kids?
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes. When you say buzz, you sound a bit like a bee. When you say splash, you sound like water being hit.
Is onomatopoeia a figure of speech?
Yes. It is usually listed as a literary device or figure of speech, because it uses the sound of words to create an effect.
Can a sentence be onomatopoeia?
The term usually describes single words, but a line packed with sound words, such as "the fire crackled and popped", is said to use onomatopoeia.
Is laugh an onomatopoeia?
Not really. Laugh does not sound much like laughter. Words like giggle, chuckle, cackle and ha ha are much closer to the noise and are often counted as onomatopoeia.
What is the adjective for onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeic is the usual adjective, as in "an onomatopoeic word". Onomatopoetic is also correct but less common.
How do you say onomatopoeia?
Many American speakers say something like ah-nuh-mah-tuh-PEE-uh: six beats, loudest near the end.