80 Onomatopoeia Examples And Example Sentences
There are many onomatopoeia examples in English. Learning these words can really improve your or your students’ writing and can help to bring a story or a poem to life. If you’re not sure what onomatopoeia words are, they are words that describe and mimic the sound of an object or an action. For example, a dog’s bark, a snake’s hiss, etc.
On this page, we have put together many onomatopoeia examples and a list of onomatopoeia words in English. You’ll also find many onomatopoeia example sentences to help you learn how to use these fun words, and some frequently asked questions about onomatopoeia to help you understand what these sound words are all about.
Onomatopoeia Examples
Onomatopoeia Examples: Animal Sounds
The following examples are all sounds that animals make:
- meow – the sound a cat makes
- purr – the sound a cat makes
- woof – the sound a dog makes
- moo – the sound a cow makes
- oink – the sound a pig makes
- cock-a-doodle-doo – the sound a rooster makes
- roar – the sound a bear/lion makes
- hee-haw – the sound a donkey makes
- quack – the sound a duck makes
- hoot – the sound an owl makes
- chirp – the sound a bird makes
- cluck – the sound a chicken makes
- cuckoo – the sound a cuckoo bird makes
- hiss – the sound a snake makes
- neigh – the sound a horse makes
- ribbit – the sound a frog makes
- tweet – the sound a bird makes
Onomatopoeia Examples: Sounds People Make
The following examples are all sounds that people make:
- ahem
- burp
- achoo
- chatter
- gargle
- hiccup
- cough
- hum
- mumble
- chomp
- clap
- snort
- slurp
- groan
- moan
- shriek
- sniff
- tut
- whine
- gulp
- belch
- chatter
- grunt
- giggle
Onomatopoeia Examples: Impact Sounds
The following examples are all impact sounds/collision sounds.
- bang
- thud
- clang
- clap
- ding
- slap
- thump
- boom
- crash
- whack
- clink
- knock
- tap
- ping
- tick
Onomatopoeia Examples: Water Sounds
The following examples are all water sounds / the sound that water makes:
- splash
- dribble
- drip
- drizzle
- sprinkle
- pitter-patter
- squirt
- plop
- spurt
- spit
Onomatopoeia Examples: Food and Cooking Sounds
The following examples are all food/cooking sounds:
- sizzle
- pop
- crackle
- fizz
- snap
- crackle
- bubble
- spit
- glug
- crunch
Onomatopoeia Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences that can give you a better understanding of how onomatopoeia words are used in English.
- The dog barked all night.
- The mouse went squeak as it ran across the room.
- Suddenly, there was a loud thud at the door.
- The waves crashed against the side of the boat.
- The sausages are sizzling in the pan.
- The corn went pop in the microwave.
- The was a loud bang and then everything went dark.
- The audience clapped at the end of the show.
- I heard a huge roar and turned around and saw a bear.
- Water was gushing everywhere.
- The owl hooted all night.
- A loud crack came from the ice.
- Kelly’s teeth chattered as she stood out in the cold.
- A twig snapped under my feet.
- My cat purrs when I stroke it.
- Splash went the water when Chris jumped in.
- Dad burped loudly after dinner.
- The tap dripped water all night long.
- Pitter-Patter went the rain.
- The snake hissed at me as I got closer.
- Mom always hums when she is cooking.
Onomatopoeia FAQ
What Is Onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia refers to the process of creating a word that sounds like or imitates the same sound that the word is describing. Words that are formed via onomatopoeia are also referred to as onomatopoeia. Some common examples of onomatopoeia words include woof, quack, pop, sizzle, meow, and thud.
Are Animal Sounds Onomatopoeia?
Yes, the words used to describe animal sounds are a kind of onomatopoeia. For example, “The dog barked all night”.
What’s The Difference Between Onomatopoeia And Interjections?
Onomatopoeia and interjections are often confused, but they are in fact two different concepts. Onomatopoeia words, such as ‘quack‘, ‘meow‘, and ‘oink‘, imitate the sounds that they describe. Interjections, on the other hand, are words such as ‘ouch‘ that express a sudden burst of excitement or emotion.
What Is The Adjective Form Of Onomatopoeia?
The adjective form of onomatopoeia is onomatopoeic and is used when you want to say something is characterized by onomatopoeia or related to onomatopoeia.
Thanks for reading. I hope you found these onomatopoeia examples useful. Check out our other vocabulary lists for more useful English vocabulary and resources.
