Onomatopoeia: Sound Words

Words that make a noise

Some words actually sound like the noise they describe. These are called onomatopoeia (say it: on-o-mat-oh-PEE-ah). It is a big word for a fun idea!

Say these out loud:

• Buzz 🐝
• Splash 💦
• Bang 💥

Can you hear how each word copies a real sound?

Animal sounds

Many animal noises are onomatopoeia:

• A cow goes moo 🐮
• A bee goes buzz 🐝
• A snake goes hiss 🐍
• A duck goes quack 🦆

The word is the sound the animal makes!

Sounds all around us

Onomatopoeia is everywhere, not just with animals:

• The clock goes tick-tock ⏰
• The drum goes boom 🥁
• The bacon goes sizzle in the pan 🍳
• The door goes creak 🚪

Listen carefully today and you will hear dozens of these sounds.

In stories and comics

Writers use sound words to make stories exciting. In a comic, you might see a big CRASH! 💥 or a loud POW! 👊 in bold letters. They pull you right into the action.

The rain went pitter-patter on the roof. ☔

Doesn't that make you feel the rain?

Make your own

Think of something noisy and write the sound it makes:

• A balloon popping → pop! 🎈
• Leaves under your feet → crunch 🍂
• A phone → ring ring 📱

Try writing a short, noisy sentence using two sound words. For example: "The fireworks went bang and whoosh in the sky." 🎆

A quick game

Match the sound to the thing:

• Buzz → Bee 🐝
• Splash → Water 💦
• Beep → Car 🚗

Fantastic!

Now you know that onomatopoeia means a word that sounds like its noise. Make your reading louder by saying these words with feeling!

Next, try Alliteration and Tongue Twisters and Rhyming Words.