English

>

GCSE

Descriptive Language

Question

What is an Onomatopoeia?

2 years ago

·

215 Replies

·

10258 views

D

Dolores Haley


215 Answers

B
Beth

Hello Dolores,


Onomatopoeia is a literary effect where a word sounds like a sound you are trying to describe.


For example:

Bang

Pop

Buzz

Splash


I hope that helps :)

Rebecca Profile Picture
Rebecca Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Experienced Head of English|Examiner|Moderator|Literacy Coordinator

It is a word that evokes the sound it is associated with. For example: I love to SPLASH in the water.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
M
Matthew Corcoran

An Onomatopoeia is a word that is used to convey the sound it is describing, eg bang, thud, clap, crackle, plop etc

R
Robert Osborne

A word that is spelt how it sounds. Phonetically.

F
Francesca La Piccirella

A word that when pronounced resembles the sound of its actual meaning. E.G. ‘bang!’

G
Ginevra D'agostino

Hi dolares! To answer your question simply, Onomatopoeia is when a word is spelt how it sounds; an example would be "cuckoo" or "sizzles". If you'd like a more detailed answer, its when the word format phonetically resembles how it sounds, hope this helps :)

Kirsty H Profile Picture
Kirsty H Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

English Language and Literature KS3, GCSE and A Level

Hi Dolores, onomatopoeia are words that produce sounds. For example, 'boom', 'bang', 'crash'. Onomatopoeia is excellent for creating sound imagery so that your reader can easily imagine the sounds in a description or narrative.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Naomi R Profile Picture
Naomi R Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Academic English and ESL tutor with 3+ years experience

Onomatopoeia is when words are used to mimic sounds. For example, the word "moo" is onomatopoeia for the sound a cow makes.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Hamza H Profile Picture
Hamza H Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

English tutor with a BA in English Literature & Creative Writing.

An onomatoepoeia is a word or phrase indicating a sound of some description has been made, e.g. CRASH, BANG, BOOM

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Hannah F Profile Picture
Hannah F Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Passionate Primary school teacher and English specialist to GCSE.

Onomatopoeia is when a word makes the sound it describes, for example:

bang, crash, splash, bark, woof.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Lena H Profile Picture
Lena H Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

A friendly and patient tutor with over 8 years of teaching experience

Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech, or words and phrases, that sound like their meaning. An example is “buzz.” When we picture a bee in our minds, the sound that the bee makes sounds similar to the word for it: “buzz.” Other examples of onomatopoeia include “ding dong” or “boom!”

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
F
Fatima Aamir

It is a literary technique used by writers that imitates the sound made by the object.

For example, "He made a 'CLAP' noise with his hands to gain the attention of the class".

Here, the onomatopoeia is the 'CLAP', as the word sounds like the sound that was made.

J
Jacob Mckean

Onomatopoeia might look and sound like a Harry Potter spell, however it is not as complicated as it sounds. Put simply, onomatopoeia means a word that replicates a sound. Examples are the easiest way to understand this concept. For example, 'bang' is a word but when saying it also replicates a noise. The same can be said for 'snap', 'roar' or 'meow'. It doesn't even have to be a dictionary defined word, 'zzzz' to describe sleeping comes to mind.

I
Irene De Sá

An onomatopoeia is the formation of a word that is used to represent a sound. Onomatopoeia can also be used to represent sounds that animals and people make for example “moo” “splat” “meow” “pop”.

Jackie Profile Picture
Jackie Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Anything I can do, you will learn to do better, let's make a success!

Onomatopoeia is used as a literary effect. It is basically the sound associated with a word. A simple example for this is 'buzz'. However, there are many examples that can be used to enhance writing. 'The ringmaster swung his whip'.

Bitesize have some excellent resources to support with teaching this skill.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.

Think you can help?

More English GCSE Questions
Sherpa Badge

Need a GCSE English tutor?

Get started with a free online introductions with an experienced and qualified online tutor on Sherpa.

Find a GCSE English Tutor