Onomatopoeia is word that mimics the sound of the object or action it refers to. When you pronounce a word, it will mimic its sound.
Onomatopoeia: Sounds Animals Make
- Arf
- Baa
- Bark
- Bow-wow
- Buzz
- Cackle
- Caw
- Chatter
- Cheep
- Chirp
- Cluck
- Cock-a-doodle-doo
- Coo
- Cuckoo
- Eeyore
- Gobble
- Growl
- Hee-haw
- Hiss
- Honk
- Hoot
- Howl
- Maa
- Meow
- Moo
- Neigh
- Oink
- Peep
- Prattle
- Purr
- Quack
- Ribbit
- Roar
- Screech
- Snarl
- Tweet
- Warble
- Whimper
- Whine
- Whinny
- Woof
- Yelp
- Yip
- Yowl
Onomatopoeia: Sounds People Make
- Achoo
- Ahem
- Argh
- Bawl
- Belch
- Blab
- Blurt
- Boohoo
- Chat
- Chomp
- Chortle
- Eek
- Gargle
- Gasp
- Giggle
- Grunt
- Guffaw
- Huh
- Hum
- Humph
- Hush
- Knock
- Moan
- Mumble
- Munch
- Murmur
- Mutter
- Phew
- Snap
- Slap
- Slurp
- Smack
- Sniff
- Snore
- Snort
- Ugh
- Whisper
- Whoa
- Yawn
- Yikes
More Onomatopoeia Examples
- Bam
- Bang
- Bash
- Beep
- Blah
- Blare
- Bling
- Boing
- Boink
- Boo
- Boom
- Brrr
- Bubble
- Buck
- Bumble
- Bump
- Burp
- Choo-choo
- Chuckle
- Clap
- Cough
- Clang
- Clank
- Clash
- Clatter
- Click
- Clickety-clack
- Clink
- Clip clop
- Clunk
- Crackle
- Crash
- Creak
- Croak
- Crunch
- Ding dong
- Drip
- Fizz
- Fizzle
- Flick
- Flip
- Flutter
- Glug
- Groan
- Grrr
- Gurgle
- Hiccup
- Ha-ha
- Ho ho ho
- Jangle
- Jingle
- Ka-boom
- Kerplunk
- Mmm
- Ooze
- Ow
- Pant
- Ping pong
- Pitter patter
- Plink
- Plop
- Pluck
- Poof
- Pop
- Pow
- Puff
- Rattle
- Ring
- Ruff
- Rumble
- Rustle
- Sizzle
- Slash
- Slip
- Slither
- Slop
- Smash
- Snip
- Splash
- Splat
- Splatter
- Splish
- Splosh
- Sputter
- Squawk
- Squeak
- Squeal
- Squelch
- Squish
- Swoosh
- Thud
- Thump
- Thwack
- Tick tock
- Tic-toc
- Tinkle
- Trickle
- Tsk
- Vroom
- Waffle
- Wallop
- Whack
- Wham
- Whip
- Whir
- Whiz
- Whoop
- Whoosh
- Yadda
- Yow
- Zap
- Zing
- Zip
- Zoom
Onomatopoeia in Literature
With a cluck-cluck here,
And a cluck-cluck there
Here a cluck, there a cluck,
Everywhere a cluck-cluck – Old Macdonald – Nursery Rhyme
Horsey horsey don’t you stop
Just let your feet go clippetty clop
The tail goes swish and the wheels go round
Giddy up, we’re homeward bound. – Nursery Rhyme
Few are vampires. None flit through the mirror.
Where they flutter at evening’s a queer
Tonal hunting zone above highest C.
Insect prey at the peak of our hearing
Drone re to their detailing tee: – “Bat’s Ultrasound” by Les Murray
So its Ning Nang Nong
Cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
Trees go ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!! – “On the Ning Nang Nong” by Spkie 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 by Alfred Tennyson
Oh
CRASH!
my
BASH!
it’s
BANG!
the
ZANG!
Fourth
WHOOSH!
of
BAROOM!
July
WHEW! – “The Fourth” by Shel Silverstein
Hear the sledges with the bells-
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle. tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight, – ‘The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe
To see more example of onomatopoeia, check out these 5 Examples of Onomatopoeia.
