145+ Onomatopoeia Examples to Navigate This Language Arts Unit

You might not realize it, but you encounter literary devices and figures of speech every day in your conversations. While you may have learned about them back in school, it’s completely understandable if you’ve forgotten some details—after all, as busy parents, we have a lot on our minds! For example, when you tell your friend to meet you in “Lucy’s lively living room,” you’re using alliteration. If you mentioned it took you “ages” to get to work, that’s hyperbole, a commonly used figure of speech. One such figure that stands out is onomatopoeia, which refers to words that phonetically imitate the sounds they represent. Think of words like “bang” and “sizzle.” Unsure about what onomatopoeia is or how to pronounce it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

What Is Onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia is a literary device that represents sounds through words. According to Wikipedia, it’s defined as “the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes.”

How Do You Pronounce Onomatopoeia?

The term “onomatopoeia” can look daunting at first glance, but it’s simpler than it seems. It can be pronounced slowly as “ah-nuh-mah-tuh-pee-uh.” If you still feel uncertain, YouTube is an excellent resource for mastering tricky pronunciations, and we recommend checking out this helpful video.

Types of Onomatopoeia

While the basic concept of onomatopoeia is straightforward, there are actually four distinct types:

Real Words That Mimic Real Sounds: These are dictionary words that sound like the noises they make. For example, a cow “moos,” and a clock goes “tick-tock.”
Made-up Words That Represent Real Sounds: These include terms like “pew pew pew” for a laser gun or the “ratatata” of a machine gun, often seen in songs and movies.
Real Words Used As Sounds: This type is a bit trickier. In Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells,” the word “bell” itself doesn’t sound like a bell but is repeated to evoke the sound.
Letters That Mimic Familiar Sounds: A modern example could be “Okayrrr,” mimicking a tongue roll. Another example is “Zzzz!” for a zipper.

Common Onomatopoeia Examples

Here’s a handy list of common onomatopoeic words:

Sound Words

Bam, Bang, Beep, Belch, Bonk, Boom, Boop, Burp, Buzz, Ca-ching, Clack, Clang, Clank, Clap, Clash, Clatter, Click, Clink, Clip-clop, Cough, Crack, Crackle, Crash, Creak, Crinkle, Crunch, Ding, Dong, Drip-drop, Fizzle, Flap, Flop, Flush, Gargle, Glop, Glug, Groan, Grumble, Gulp, Hack, Hiccup, Honk, Hum, Jingle, Knock, Moan, Murmur, Patter, Plop, Pop, Pow, Puff, Rasp, Rattle, Rev, Ring, Rip, Rumble, Rustle, Scream, Shout, Sizzle, Slap, Slurp, Smack, Smash, Snap, Snicker, Sniff, Snort, Splatter, Splash, Spit, Spray, Squish, Swish, Tap, Tick, Thud, Thump, Tock, Toot, Trickle, Vroom, Wail, Whiz, Yap, Yip, Zap, Zip, Zoom.

Animal Sounds

Baa, Bark, Bleat, Bow-wow, Buzz, Chirp, Cluck, Cock-a-doodle-doo, Coo, Croak, Hiss, Hoot, Howl, Growl, Grunt, Moo, Meow, Oink, Peep, Purr, Quack, Rattle, Ribbit, Roar, Screech, Shriek, Squawk, Squeak, Squeal, Tweet, Woof, Yap.

Onomatopoeia in Sentences

The ice clacked as it hit the bottom of the glass.
I love the gentle rip of a hot bagel being pulled apart.
The utensils pinged and clanged as I closed the kitchen drawer.
The champagne cork popped as I removed it from the bottle.
The egg made a sharp crack against the edge of the bowl.
The butter sizzled as it melted in the hot pan.
As she worked on her essay due at midnight, her fingers clacked on the keys.
The cows quietly mooed as they ate.
My grandpa let out a small belch after patting his stomach.
The cold room made my teeth chatter.
I beeped my horn at the car that cut me off.
After eating his burrito, my father’s stomach gurgled.
The mouse squeaked as the eagle chased it.
My father grunted while lifting the couch up the stairs.
When camping, we heard wolves howling.
Since the twins learned to talk, they’ve been yapping nonstop.
Rain trickled down my window.
When she poured paint from the can, it glopped into the tray.
My grandfather groaned as he got out of bed.
The baby hiccuped after her bottle.
I slurped my smoothie because it was my favorite.
I sniffed as I stepped into the garden, triggered by allergies.
I whispered to my sister in the dark that I needed to use the bathroom.
The floorboards creaked as I walked to my parent’s room.

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Summary

Onomatopoeia is a fascinating literary device that imitates sounds through words. It can be divided into four main types: real words that mimic sounds, made-up words representing sounds, real words used as sounds in a literary context, and letters that imitate familiar sounds. Understanding and using onomatopoeia can enhance your writing and communication, making it more vivid and engaging.