Onomatopoeia: meaning, definitions and examples

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onomatopoeia

 

[ หŒษ’nษ™หŒmรฆtษ™หˆpiหษ™ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

literary device

Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which a word imitates the natural sounds associated with the objects or actions it refers to. Common examples include words like 'buzz', 'sizzle', and 'bang'. This literary device is used to create a more engaging and vivid experience for the reader. Onomatopoeia can enhance the sound and rhythm of language, making it a valuable tool in poetry and prose.

Synonyms

echoism, sound symbolism

Examples of usage

  • The 'buzz' of the bee filled the air.
  • She heard the 'clang' of the metal hitting the ground.
  • The fire 'crackled' as it burned brightly.
  • In the comic, the hero made a 'boom' sound when he landed.

Translations

Translations of the word "onomatopoeia" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น onomatopeia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคงเฅเคตเคจเฅเคฏเคพเคคเฅเคฎเค•เคคเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Lautmalerei

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ onomatopoeia

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพะฝะพะผะฐั‚ะพะฟะตั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ onomatopeja

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ“ฌ้Ÿณ่ชž

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท onomatopรฉe

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ onomatopeya

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ses taklidi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์˜์„ฑ์–ด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุตูŠุบุฉ ุตูˆุชูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ onomatopie

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ onomatopรฉia

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‹Ÿๅฃฐ่ฏ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ onomatopeja

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hljรณรฐlรฝsing

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะดั‹ะฑั‹ัั‚ะฐะผะฐะปั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒœแƒแƒ›แƒแƒขแƒแƒžแƒ”แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ onomatopeya

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ onomatopeya

Etymology

The term 'onomatopoeia' originates from the Greek words 'onoma', meaning 'name', and 'poiein', meaning 'to make' or 'to do'. This reflects the concept of creating a name or word that mimics the sound associated with the object or action it describes. The use of onomatopoeic words dates back to ancient languages and can be found in various cultures around the world. Its effectiveness in evoking sounds makes it a popular device in literature, especially in poetry, children's books, and comic strips. The formal recognition of onomatopoeia as a literary device became prevalent during the Renaissance, when writers began to explore more expressive forms of language. Over time, the acknowledgment of onomatopoeia expanded beyond literature into everyday speech, influencing the way people describe sounds in daily conversation. Today, it remains a crucial component of both spoken and written language, highlighting the interplay between sound and meaning.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,163, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.