Onomatopoeia

Which of the following best defines onomatopoeia?

• A word that imitates the sound it describes

• A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'

• Giving human qualities to non-human objects

• An extreme exaggeration used for effect

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia refers to words that are formed by imitating the sound they represent, like 'buzz' or 'meow'. The other options describe a simile, personification, and hyperbole.

Choose the best onomatopoeia to complete the sentence: The old wooden stairs _______ with every step I took.

• moved

• creaked

• shifted

• held

Answer explanation

'Creaked' is the only word that imitates the sound old wooden stairs make under pressure. The other words describe movement but are not sound words.

Match each object or action to the onomatopoeia that describes its sound.

• Buzz

• A fire in the fireplace

• Plink

• A leaky faucet

• Crackle

• A clock on the wall

• Tick-tock

• A bee flying nearby

Answer explanation

Each word is matched to the object or action that produces that specific sound: a bee buzzes, a fire crackles, a faucet plinks, and a clock tick-tocks.

Sort these words into two groups: Onomatopoeia or Not Onomatopoeia.

Groups:

(a) Onomatopoeia

,

(b) Not Onomatopoeia

• walk

• splash

• whisper

• book

• sizzle

• crash

Answer explanation

The words in the 'Onomatopoeia' category imitate sounds. The words in the 'Not Onomatopoeia' category are an action and an object that do not imitate sounds.

Which word in the following sentence is an example of onomatopoeia? 'The bacon started to sizzle in the hot pan.'

• bacon

• started

• sizzle

• pan

Answer explanation

'Sizzle' is an onomatopoeia because it mimics the sound of food cooking in a hot pan. The other words are nouns or verbs that do not represent sounds.

In the sentence, 'The snake's hiss warned us to stay back,' what is the main effect of using the word 'hiss'?

• It describes the snake's color.

• It makes the scene more vivid by adding a sound.

• It tells us the time of day.

• It shows the snake is friendly.

Answer explanation

The word 'hiss' imitates the sound a snake makes, which helps the reader imagine the scene more clearly and adds a sense of danger, appealing to the sense of hearing.

Match each sentence to the onomatopoeic word that best completes it.

• patter

• The rain began to ______ on the windowpane.

• fizz

• I heard a loud ______ when the dishes fell from the shelf.

• crash

• The soda can opened with a satisfying ______.

• jingle

• The tiny bell on the cat's collar made a soft ______.

Answer explanation

Each onomatopoeic word fits the context of its sentence: 'jingle' for a small bell, 'crash' for falling dishes, 'fizz' for a carbonated drink, and 'patter' for rain.

Which onomatopoeia best describes the sound of a basketball going cleanly through the net?

• thump

• swish

• clang

• pop

Answer explanation

'Swish' perfectly imitates the sound of the net as a basketball passes through it. 'Clang' would be the sound of hitting the rim, while 'thump' and 'pop' are less specific to this action.

Sort these phrases by the type of figurative language they use: Onomatopoeia or Simile.

Groups:

(a) Onomatopoeia

,

(b) Simile

• Her smile was like sunshine.

• He was as quiet as a mouse.

• The engine roared to life.

• The door creaked open.

Answer explanation

'Roared' and 'creaked' are sound words (onomatopoeia). The other two phrases use 'as' and 'like' to make comparisons, which are similes.

The fireworks display ended with a final, loud ____ that shook the ground. Which onomatopoeic word best completes the sentence?

• show

• boom

• light

• shake

Answer explanation

The word 'boom' imitates a loud, deep, resonant sound, like a firework exploding. The other words are related to the context but do not imitate sounds.