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Descriptive Language

Question

What is an Onomatopoeia?

3 years ago

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250 Replies

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Dolores Haley


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250 Answers

Amy C Profile Picture
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It’s a word which represents the sound the word makes- I.e bang

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Sara Sadegh-Tehrani

When words sound like the noise being described such as:

Crash

Boom

Splash

Bzzz

Poof

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Lily B Profile Picture
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A word that sounds like what it represents - crash

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Rachel Fearon

Hi there, the dictionary definition of Onomatopoeia is: "The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named". To better understand this, think of old-fashioned comic books; when, for example, Batman would fight, you would see Onomatopoeia words like "KAPOW!" to represent the audible impact of a blow. 

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Helena Weblin

A word used to show a noise for example: crash or bang

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Lovely Sarkar

Onomatopoeia is a word in the form of a sound that it is associated with. For example, meow, cuckoo, boom, etc.

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Kaci Jarvis

Onomatopoeia is used to describe language associated with/resembling a sound.


Examples are:

'woosh,' 'bang,' 'splash,' 'hiss'

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Roisin B Profile Picture
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It is a word that phonetically sounds like it's meaning for example 'howl', 'screech'

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Ray Pope

Onomatopoeia occurs when the pronunciation of a word sounds like the action which it describes. Examples are "buzz", the sound of bees; the "swish" of a curtain being drawn; "sizzle" the sound of bacon frying.

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Jonothon-Paul Jones

Hi Dolores,


Onomatopoeia are words that describe sounds, such as,


"bark" - this word describes the sound that a dog makes.


"quack quack" - this word describes the sound that a duck makes.


"woosh!" - the sound of something moving very fast.


"clap" - the sound of hitting the palms of your hands together.


There are many words that describe sounds. Try to write down three 'sound words' to help you remember the meaning of Onomatopoeia. Writing down meanings of words by hand in a notebook or workbook is a great memory technique.


Another good memory technique to remember what an Onomatopoeia is, just think of the question: "Which sound does a dog make?"


I hope this is helpful to you!


- Jonothon-Paul Jones.

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Vicki L Profile Picture
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Onomatopoeia is when a word sounds the same as the noise that it makes e.g. bang, crash

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Mathew P

Hi Dolores, Onomatopoeia refers to words that are written how they sound. For example β€˜whoops’ or β€˜bang’. They are useful in describing sounds through language.

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Anna S Profile Picture
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Bang! Crash! Thud! Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it means.

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Theadora F Profile Picture
Theadora F Verified Sherpa Tutor βœ“

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Onomatopoeia is when a word sounds like what it names or represents. For example, words like "boing", "clap" or "cuckoo" are all onomatopoeic vocabulary. As a literary or artistic choice, onomatopoeia can create a sense of vividness and immediacy, adding a textural dimension to writing through a conscious and playful patterning of sound.

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Nadine Pegley

Onomatopoeia is when the word sounds like it's description. For example "snap, crackle and pop!"

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