WordVale

onomatopoeia

/ˌɒnəmætəˈpiːə/  ·  say it: AHN·uh·mat·uh·PEE·uh

words that imitate the sound they describe

In Literary English

In more detail

1. (noun) a word that imitates the sound it represents, such as 'buzz', 'hiss', or 'splash'

2. (noun) the use of words that imitate sounds to create a special effect in speech or writing

Examples

• 1. The word 'bang' is an onomatopoeia because it sounds like an explosion.
• 2. The poet used onomatopoeia to make the poem more vivid and interesting to read.

How to use onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia refers both to individual words like 'hiss' or 'bang' that imitate sounds, and to the broader literary technique of using such words for effect. It is commonly discussed in literary and linguistic contexts, particularly when analyzing poetry, children's literature, or comic books.

Common phrases

• use onomatopoeia
• onomatopoeia for
• onomatopoetic word
• create onomatopoeia
• examples of onomatopoeia

Synonyms

sound symbolism · imitative word

Word family

onomatopoetic · onomatopoetically

A common mistake

Learners sometimes misspell it as 'onomatopoeia' with incorrect stress or syllable division; remember it has five syllables: o-no-mat-o-poe-ia.

Nearby in Literary English

motif, novella, ode, parable, parody, pastiche

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained