Onomatopoeia
Definition: Onomatopoeia are words that sound like the objects they name or the sounds those objects make.
Zip goes the jacket.
“Zip” is an onomatopoeia word because it sounds like a jacket being zipped up.
When you zip a zipper, “zip” is the sound it makes.
Can you find it?
• The burning wood crackled and hissed; now and again an owl hooted somewhere in the darkness.
• The car creaked forward once the old engine began to wheeze reluctantly.
• The burning wood crackled and hissed; now and again an owl hooted somewhere in the darkness.
• The car creaked forward once the old engine began to wheeze reluctantly.
Mechanical Onomatopoeia
• Buzz• Beep• Whirr• Click
• Clack• Clunk• Clatter• Clink
Fast Motion Onomatopoeia
• Boing• Varoom• Vroom• Whoosh• Swish
• Swoosh• Zap• Zing• Zip• Zoom
Musical Onomatopoeia
• Twang• Oompah• Plunk• Ting• Ding• Ring• Ping
• Clang• Bong• Jingle• Jangle• Honk• Toot• Rap
• Tap• Boom• Rattle• Plunk• Hum• Clap• Snap
Food and Eating Onomatopoeia
• Food may crackle or sizzle and oil may splatter.
• When we pour something to drink, it may go splash, kerplunk, or gush, but hopefully it won’t drip.
• When we open a soft drink, it will probably fizz.
• When it’s time to eat, we’re likely to nibble, munch, gobble, and crunch.
Action Onomatopoeia
• Pow• Bif• Bam• Whomp• Thump
• Smash• Zowie• Bang• Wham
Animal Onomatopoeia
• meow (cat)• moo (cow)• neigh/whinny (horse)• bark/woof/bow-wow
(dog)• oink (pig)
• roar (lion)• tweet (bird)• cluck (hen)• peep (chick)• cock-a-doodle-doo
(rooster)
Match the following sentences to the onomatopoeia that describes them.
1. A plate being dropped on the floor.2. A balloon being burst.3. A gun being shot.4. Someone eating Rice crisps. 5. A light being switched on. 6. A fierce dog. 7. A small bell being rung.
A. TINKLEB. BANGC. SMASHD. GROWLE. POPF. CRUNCHG. CLICK
Match the following sentences to the onomatopoeia that describes them.
• A plate being dropped on the floor.• A balloon being burst.• A gun being shot.• Someone eating Rice crisps. • A light being switched on. • A fierce dog. • A small bell being rung.
• SMASH• POP• BANG• CRUNCH • CLICK• GROWL• TINKLE
How do we use Onomatopoeia in Poetry?
The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe 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;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so
musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells,
bells,
Bells, bells, bells--
From the jingling and the
tinkling of the bells.
Hear the mellow wedding bells
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their
harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!
From the molten-golden
notes,
And all in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens,
while she gloats
On the moon!
To the rhyming and the chiming of
the bells!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony
voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells--
Write down each word in the following poem that could be considered “onomatopoeia.”
Marching Bandboom! boom!bang the drumta-diddy-ta!here they come
pah! pah!trombone grandbright silver soundin marching band
ting! ting!triangle ringsharp and highsound in sky
wrreee! wrree!whistle blowMajoretteleads the row
wah! wah!bagpipes moanwheel aroundand head for home
Marching Bandboom! boom!bang the drumta-diddy-ta!here they come
pah! pah!trombone grandbright silver soundin marching band
ting! ting!triangle ringsharp and highsound in sky
wrreee! wrree!whistle blowMajoretteleads the row
wah! wah!bagpipes moanwheel aroundand head for home
Cafeteria
Boom!Went the foodtrays. Clap! Clap!Goes the teacher.Rip! Went the plastic bag.Munch! Munch!Go the students.
Slurp!!!Went the straws.WhisperIs what half the kidsin the roomare doing.Crunch! Crunch!gothe candy bars.
Cafeteria
Boom!Went the foodtrays. Clap! Clap!Goes the teacher.Rip! Went the plastic bag.Munch! Munch!Go the students.
Slurp!!!Went the straws.WhisperIs what half the kidsin the roomare doing.Crunch! Crunch!gothe candy bars.
Your Turn!
• Write a 3 stanza poem using onomatopoeia. You may choose one of the following topics or create your own:
• A day at the amusement park• A day at the zoo• The gymnasium• Watching a parade• Caught in a rain storm• The traffic downtown