56 Fun Onomatopoeia Examples

Using onomatopoeia is a fun way to add pizzazz to your writing! Whether using animal sounds, actual sounds, or sound effects, figurative language is a great way to add value to writing. By bringing sounds to life, in the form of onomatopoeia, you can add an interesting twist to plain writing. Examples of onomatopoeia words are great to use in catchy songs or to bring a poem to life. This list of 55 examples of onomatopoeia is a great resource for your writing folder! 

1. Klank

The word klank can help your reader visualize what is happening by applying a sound they know and recognize, to a situation that you have described. You could use this to help dramatize a scene in your writing or add sound effects to something that is more suited to nonfiction. 

Learn More: Learn Podium School

2. Sizzle 

Writing content might get boring if you are working on the same topic all the time. Kick boring content to the curb by adding some onomatopoeia to the words on your page! This will add detail and help paint a better picture for your reader! Use sizzle to describe food that is piping hot as it is cooking. 

Learn More: Learn Podium School

3. Bang

Thunder-related words, like bang and boom, help create a feeling of eeriness that will encompass a person as they hear it. Natural sounds like thunder and rain are great to use when working with onomatopoeia. 

Learn More: Become a Writer Today

4. Boom

Adding simple words to your writing can actually add great value; especially in descriptive writing. Using these words needs to be strategic and not overused so that they maintain their uniqueness and continue to evoke the feelings and emotions you are looking for from your reading audience. Use boom to describe thunder or other loud and deep sounds. 

Learn More: Twinkl

5. Splash 

Add words like splash to your writing to help readers envision the feeling of water. Whether it is for dripping or splishing and splashing, onomatopoeias like this are great for adding a more realistic feel to your writing. 

Learn More: Twinkl

6. Wham

Wham is a sound word that will add feeling and action to your writing. This onomatopoeia is a great one to use when you’re looking to add a sudden blast of action to your writing. 

Learn More: Think Written

7. Ribbit

Onomatopoeia in nature is actually very common. The sounds of many animals can be interpreted as onomatopoeia. Just like the ribbit of this frog, there are much everyday life sounds that are also great for adding sound effects to writing. 

Learn More: Think Written

8. Thump

Thump! When you hear this word, you think of something falling and making a sound as it hits the ground. This would be a great sound word to use when describing an event like this taking place. Help students remember sound effects words, like this one, to add detail and make their writing more realistic. 

Learn More: Word Tips

9. Whir

Have you ever heard of a helicopter starting up? The whirring of the blades as it prepares to take off? Using the word whir is a great sound effect that will help paint a picture for your readers and what you are describing to them. This sound is also good to use for operating electronics, like the vacuum or the washing machine. 

Learn More: Owlcation

10. Fizz

Popping the top on a can or bottle of a carbonated drink is a quick way to hear this sound word in action. Fizz is a great word to include when writing about science as chemical reactions cause a physical change and you hear a slight fizz. 

Learn More: Owlcation

11. Kaboom 

Loud, blasting sounds accompany the need to use the sound word, kaboom. Use this word when describing very loud booming sounds. 

Learn More: Writers Write

12. Clap 

When you hear the phrase, “a round of applause” you immediately will think about people who are clapping. Using this onomatopoeia is helpful when describing an event that is deserving of applause. The word clap can also be used to describe thunder or other loud sounds. 

Learn More: Grammar Monster

13. Gulp

When someone is scared or caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing, you can audibly hear them gulp! This sound word is perfect for writing about suspenseful moments that would help paint a picture of this type of scenario happening in your writing. 

Learn More: Drawings Of…

14. Bop

Picture someone playing the drum; as their hands hit the drum head, you can hear each little or big bop. This sound word can also be used to describe something else that brings a hit; like a bop on the head or a bop with a bat and ball. 

Learn More: Drawings Of…

15. Splat 

When you hear the word splat, you probably have a mental image of something dropping or spilling and making a mess. Encourage students to use onomatopoeias like this to add variety. to their writing. 

Learn More: Pandora Post

16. Achoo

A great sneeze brings about the sound of an achoo. This is the sound your body makes when you make sneeze. This is another sound word that’s great for adding some sound depth to jazz up your writing and keep it from getting boring. Add this word when describing someone who is sick. 

Learn More: Pandora Post

17. Quack 

Become a master of onomatopoeia by including natural sounds made by animals in your writing. The effects of onomatopoeia with animal sounds will add depth and dimension to your writing by helping the animals come to life. 

Learn More: Your Dictionary

18. Splish 

Real-world sounds are great examples of onomatopoeia and are sure to help liven up your writing. The effects of onomatopoeia like these are great for bringing real-world sounds to life and helping paint a better picture for your readers. No more boring content with this onomatopoeia to describe this actual sound. 

Learn More: Your Dictionary

19. Meow

Natural sounds, like the meow of a cat, can enhance written pieces by creating a sense of vivid imagery. This vocal imitation is a great way to paint a picture of what you want your reader to see. 

Learn More: Thought Co.

20. Smack

As fast-falling objects hit the pavement, they land with a smack! This is a great sound word to use to describe something making contact with something else. Whether it is a hand across the face or an object dropped from a high distance, this sound word will describe the impact. 

Learn More: 7 ESL

21. Beep

When the microwave finishes heating, you hear a beep. Use beep to describe this and other sounds made by electronics as they finish their cycle. You can also use this sound effect to describe a car’s horn. 

Learn More: 7 ESL

22. Roar

The deep and rumbling roar of a lion can be deafeningly loud! You can use this word to describe the forceful and attention-grabbing sound that the lion gives to make his presence known. 

Learn More: Grammarly

23. Ring

When you hear the word ring, you may automatically think of a phone needing to be answered. You can use it to describe that or a bell that makes the same sound. Use this word to describe a phone or bell ringing.

Learn More: Scientific Editing

24. Boing

A spring that is held down and has had pressure applied to increase the force is released and you hear a boing sound as it expands. This sound could also help describe the sound effect of a character or animal jumping. 

Learn More: Scientific Editing

25. Aargh

If you think about pirates, you’ll think about the word aargh. This is a common example that can be used to describe the sound that pirates make when they are speaking and showing emotion. This word is sure to spice up boring content about pirates and treasure!

Learn More: Poetry 4 Kids

26. Crackle

Have you ever poured milk over rice cereal and heard the crackle? You can hear a crackle of thunder, or a crackle of fireworks as they fizzle out. You can create this sound when you crinkle up paper as well. 

Learn More: Kids Love To Know

27. Hoot

An owl hooting in a nearby tree is the exact noise you hear when he calls out in the darkness. Using hoot to describe it is a great way to incorporate sound effects into your writing and add details to your nature-themed writing and in using onomatopoeia in sentences. 

Learn More: My English Routine

28. Gurgle

The flow of water can produce several different sounds. The faster the water, the more the sounds change. As it slows down, the sound then changes too. You can hear a gurgle of water when it empties into a small space. This can be a quiet, light sound or a louder sound. 

Learn More: Scribophile

29. Knock

A quick rap at the door results in the sound of a knock, knock, knock. In addition to using your knuckles to knock on the door, a knocking sound can be made with one object against another by repeating a hitting motion. 

Learn More: Scribophile

30. Pop

When a balloon pops, you hear a great, big POP. This sound word can also describe other things being popped; like a tire on a car or a blister on a foot.  

Learn More: Pro-Writing Aid

31. Oink 

A cute, pink piglet is separated from its mom and begins to oink. This sound is made to signal to its mom that something is wrong. The sound effect is exactly like the word used to describe the sound; therefore making it a great onomatopoeia!

Learn More: Pro-Writing Aid

32. Creak

Picture a creepy old house and a scary figure approaching the old wooden steps. With each footstep treading up the stairs, you can hear the creak of the wood. The steps are old and tired and make a creaking sound as each one has pressure applied to it. 

Learn More: Curve Breakers Test Prep

33. Howl 

A wild dog howls at the moon or other animals. A pet dog may do this sometimes too. If you listen to the deep and soulful sound of a howl, you may notice that it sounds much like the word used to describe it. 

Learn More: Soundproof Living

34. Oops

If you have ever made a mistake, you may have used the word oops. This word helps paint a picture of making a mistake. You can use this word to help readers understand that a problem has occurred and the person who made the mistake isn’t feeling so great!  

Learn More: My Assignment Help

35. Waaah

A little baby who is ready for a bottle makes a crying waaah sound over and over until its needs are met. This sound is 100% associated with an upset baby and is a good sound effect to use when describing this.

Learn More: Pinterest

36. Zap

Use zap in your writing to show the quick and immediate effect of something. Think of a zap of electricity hitting a character’s finger and sending a jolt through their body. 

Learn More: Think Written

37. Crash

Crash is a good word to use in a high-action situation. When a car crash occurs, there is a crash of metal and debris. This, and other onomatopoeias,  add value by providing more detail and clarity. 

Learn More: Games 4 ESL

38. Zonk

Add this one to your list of onomatopoeia examples. Zonk is a good word to use to describe when a character falls asleep. You may have heard this in a cartoon and watched as the character fell over, fast asleep.  

Learn More: Yoda London

39. Pow

When fireworks explode or a gun is discharged, you may hear the pow of the sound it makes. 

Learn More: Teach Wire

40. Whirl 

Whirl is a sound associated with a movement of air. You can hear the whirl of a spinning top as it cuts the silence of a quiet room or a motor cranking up and getting ready to run. You can hear the whirl of a propeller on an airplane as well. 

Learn More: The Chief Storyteller

41. Vroom

Think about cars revving their engines and getting ready to take off. The loud and rumbling vroom that accompanies this event is also great to use when describing races or other loud car sounds. 

Learn More: Australian Curriculum Lessons

42. Poof

Just as something randomly appears, you can imagine hearing a quick and quiet poof. When watching magic tricks and seeing something disappearing under the turn of a magic wand, you can almost visualize the puff of smoke and the poof as the magician calls out the magic words. 

Learn More: Blend Space

43. Whoosh

The whoosh you hear when you let the air out of a tire, or when a gust of air blows through, is a great way to help readers feel sensory events within your writing. Adding this sound word is helpful in describing things that are losing pressure or air and making a soft wind-like sound as it happens. 

Learn More: Study.com

44. Chirp

A little bird’s chirp is a great sound to include when writing about events that take place in the natural world or during the Spring when new babies are coming to life.

Learn More: Google

45. Swoosh

The basketball goes perfectly through the hoop and net and a swoosh makes the crowd erupt with cheer! Another way to include this word in your writing is when you are writing about air being let out of something, you may hear the rush of air swoosh out. 

Learn More: Pinterest

46. Plop

Plop is a great word to use when trying to imitate cooking sounds. This is great for describing pancake batter being dropped into a pan or liquid plopping into a cup or glass dish. This type of figurative language is great for adding character to your kitchen-based writing. 

Learn More: English Grammar Lessons

47. Clunk

Using an onomatopoeia-like clunk is a good way to express a sound that will match the action. This would be beneficial to include when writing about things that are noisy and create specific sounds.

Learn More: Quora

48. Buzz

If you ever have your cell phone on vibrate, you may set it down and hear it buzz if it rings. This onomatopoeia is good for describing the pulsing sounds of electronics or a timer that makes a buzzing sound instead of a beep. 

Learn More: Love English

49. Bonk

When you think about the word bonk, you may often think about something being dropped on someone’s head. Hearing the bonk sound as a flower pot drops on someone’s hat or hearing a baseball bat bonk someone on their head is a great example of how to use this word. 

Learn More: Writers.com

50. Jingle

Jingle is a word that conveys the air of a light sound. This onomatopoeia is a great one to help readers hear exactly the sound you wish to create. You can imagine the sound of bells as you hear this word. It is a light sound that helps the reader envision what is happening. 

Learn More: Feeding Trends

51. Thud

Words like thud are good for adding sound effects to events. By adding more dimension and depth to what is happening, you can help readers make connections and build interest in your writing. 

Learn More: Feeding Trends

52. Crack

When describing actions, be sure to give as much detail as possible when trying to help your reader envision what you are saying. Crack; when describing cracking an egg, is a great way to help readers envision an egg cracking open. 

Learn More: Classroom Poems

53. Slurp

Choose words that help add some real-world sounds to your writing. Use slurp when describing the action of a person drinking or finishing a bowl of soup. The effects of words like this will help describe the sounds and actions shown when a person is greedily or messily drinking or eating. 

Learn More: Pinterest

54. Hiss

Onomatopoeias that demonstrate light sounds, animal sounds, and other real-life sounds make great additions to any writing! Check out an onomatopoeia list and pick some words that can fit with your writing and add some real-life sounds! 

Learn More: English Live

55. Tick Tock 

Tick-tock may usually evoke one thought; telling time, but using this onomatopoeia is a great way to draw readers in. The effects of onomatopoeia in writing can totally change the purpose for writers and the outcome for readers. Use tick-tock to describe the sound a clock makes as it passes time. It is a light sound. 

Learn More: Masterclass

56. Clang 

Fun and exciting words, like onomatopoeias can really enhance boring content and bring some pizzazz to writing by livening it up so that readers take more interest. Use the word clang to describe metal hitting together and causing a clanging sound. 

Learn More: Study.com