Oh, onomatopoeia… the word that’s hard to SAY but SO fun to teach!
If your students trip over the name, they’re in good company. Some kids avoid saying it in front of classmates at all. Once they get past the pronunciation, though, this is the figurative language skill that makes kids grin. Crash, splat, sizzle… what’s not to love?
Below you’ll find a kid-friendly definition, how to use onomatopoeia in a sentence, a word list by sound type, 35 onomatopoeia examples in a sentence (sorted by theme), a practice set with answers, and easy ways to practice in 2nd-6th grade or at home.
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes. When you say buzz, pop, or splash, the word itself makes the sound. Writers use onomatopoeia to help readers HEAR what’s happening in a story.
How do you say it? ON-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh. Practice it together a few times as a class. Saying it in a silly voice helps!
Pick a sound word and use it to show what something sounds like. It can work three ways:
| Sound type | Onomatopoeia words |
|---|---|
| Animals | meow, woof, moo, oink, quack, hiss, buzz, chirp, squeak, roar |
| Water | splash, drip, gurgle, slurp, trickle, splish-splash |
| Weather and nature | whoosh, crackle, rumble, howl, pitter-patter |
| Food and kitchen | sizzle, fizz, crunch, pop, munch, gulp |
| Loud noises | bang, crash, smash, clang, thud, slam |
| People | achoo, hiccup, giggle, shh, ahem |
| Machines and vehicles | honk, beep, vroom, zoom, ding, tick-tock |
At first, sound words might not seem like something kids connect with. Then you ask what the cafeteria sounds like at lunch… and the hands shoot up! Sound words are part of things kids already love: comics, sports, cooking, animals, and superheroes. That’s why theme-based sentences work so well.
Pick the theme your students love most. The sound word in each sentence is in bold.
Read each sentence and find the onomatopoeia.
Answer key: 1. popped. 2. Achoo. 3. honked. 4. crackled. 5. Thud. 6. tick-tock.
Homeschooling? The sound walk works anywhere: the backyard, the grocery store, even bath time!
A word that sounds like the noise it names, like buzz, splash, or pop.
ON-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh.
The bees buzzed around the flowers. The bacon sizzled in the pan. Crash! The tower fell. The leaves crunched under my boots. The dog slurped up the water.
It’s usually taught with figurative language (some teachers call it a sound device), right alongside similes, metaphors, idioms, and personification.
Yes! It can be the action (“The bees buzzed”), a describing word (“the buzzing bees”), or a sound on its own at the start (“Buzz! A bee flew by.”).
Figurative language can be tricky to learn, and it may take a little more creative planning (and class time) than some other skills. Kids will keep working with figurative language for years, so this is time well spent!
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Other helpful figurative language posts:
I am Kirsten Tulsian, an elementary educator with nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher and counselor. My passion lies in empowering students to discover their inherent brilliance through the use of engaging, rigorous, and meaningful activities. I look forward to connecting with you!
