Onomatopoeic Words
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Onomatopoeic Words | English A1 Level (Beginner / Elementary)
17 Word
Buzz
Definition: A low, continuous humming or murmuring sound.
- The buzz of the bees filled the garden.
- She could hear the buzz of the crowd.
- Understanding buzz can help in describing sounds.
Bang
Definition: a sudden loud noise
- There was a loud bang when the door closed.
- He heard a bang outside and went to check.
- The bang startled everyone in the room.
Hiss
Definition: A sound made by forcing air through a narrow opening, often used by snakes.
- The snake made a loud hiss when it felt threatened.
- She heard a hiss coming from the kettle as it boiled.
- A hiss can indicate a warning in the animal world.
Clap
Definition: To strike the palms of the hands together to make a sound.
- The audience will clap at the end of the performance.
- She gave a loud clap to show her approval.
- He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
Splash
Definition: To scatter liquid in droplets; a sound made by something hitting liquid.
- She made a splash when she jumped into the pool.
- The paint made a colorful splash on the canvas.
- He heard a splash as the stone hit the water.
Beep
Definition: a short, sharp sound
- The alarm will beep at 7 AM.
- He heard a beep from his phone.
- The microwave makes a beep when food is ready.
Crash
Definition: To collide violently with something; to fall suddenly.
- The car crash caused a major traffic jam.
- She heard a loud crash in the kitchen.
- Understanding how to react to a crash is important for safety.
Thud
Definition: A heavy, dull sound made when something falls or hits the ground.
- There was a loud thud when the book dropped.
- He heard a thud from the other room.
- The thud of the ball against the floor echoed.
Pop
Definition: To make a short, quick sound; a genre of music.
- The balloon will pop if you squeeze it too hard.
- She loves to listen to pop music.
- He heard a pop sound when the bubble burst.
Drip
Definition: To fall or let liquid fall in small drops.
- The rain began to drip from the roof.
- She noticed a drip from the faucet.
- Understanding how to manage a drip can prevent waste.
Rustle
Definition: to make a soft, crackling sound
- The leaves rustle gently in the wind.
- He heard the rustle of paper as she turned the pages.
- She loved the rustle of the corn in the field.
Tick
Definition: A small parasitic arachnid that feeds on the blood of animals and humans; can also refer to a sound made by a clock.
- He found a tick on his dog after the hike.
- The tick made a soft ticking sound as it moved.
- Understanding ticks is important for preventing disease.
Whack
Definition: To hit something with a sharp blow.
- He gave the ball a whack with the bat.
- She whacked the pinata until it broke.
- The teacher asked him not to whack his desk.
Roar
Definition: a loud, deep sound made by a lion or other large animal
- The lion's roar could be heard from far away.
- He imitated the roar of a dinosaur.
- Understanding roar helps in describing sounds.
Meow
Definition: The sound a cat makes.
- The cat let out a soft meow.
- She laughed when she heard the kitten's meow.
- Understanding animal sounds can help in communication with pets.
Woof
Definition: the sound a dog makes
- The dog let out a loud woof.
- I heard a woof from the backyard.
- She loves to play with her woofing puppy.
Chirp
Definition: The short, sharp sound made by small birds or insects.
- You can hear the birds chirp in the morning.
- The cricket began to chirp as night fell.
- She loved to listen to the chirp of the birds outside her window.
Onomatopoeic Words | English A2 Level (Pre-Intermediate)
5 Word
Tick-tock
Definition: The sound made by a clock as it measures time; often used to refer to the passage of time.
- The tick-tock of the clock reminded him to hurry.
- She listened to the tick-tock while studying.
- Tick-tock, said the clock, as the deadline approached.
Snap
Definition: To break suddenly with a sharp sound; also to take a quick photo.
- She heard a snap as the branch broke.
- He likes to snap pictures of nature on his hikes.
- The plastic toy will snap if you pull it too hard.
Whirr
Definition: A similar sound to whir, often used for machines or devices.
- The printer made a whirr as it started working.
- He listened to the whirr of the computer fan.
- The whirr of the washing machine filled the room.
Plop
Definition: the sound of something falling into water
- The stone made a loud plop when it hit the lake.
- She heard the plop of the fish jumping out of the water.
- Understanding plop can help describe sounds effectively.
Sizzle
Definition: To make a hissing sound when cooking food at high heat; to be very hot.
- The bacon began to sizzle in the pan.
- He loves the sound of food sizzling on the grill.
- The steak was sizzling when it was served.
Onomatopoeic Words | English B1 Level (Intermediate)
6 Word
Murmur
Definition: A soft, low sound or whisper; to speak quietly.
- I heard a murmur of voices in the hallway.
- She could only murmur a response to the question.
- The crowd began to murmur as the speaker arrived.
Squeak
Definition: A short, high-pitched sound, often made by objects or animals.
- The door made a squeak when it opened.
- She heard a squeak from the mouse in the corner.
- Understanding a squeak can indicate that something needs maintenance.
Whine
Definition: A long, high-pitched sound, often made by someone complaining.
- The dog began to whine when it wanted attention.
- She heard a whine from the child who was tired.
- He tends to whine when things don't go his way.
Crunch
Definition: A loud noise made when something is crushed or broken.
- The crunch of leaves underfoot signaled the arrival of autumn.
- He enjoyed the crunch of the fresh apple.
- The cereal has a satisfying crunch in every bite.
Flutter
Definition: to move lightly and quickly
- The butterfly began to flutter around the garden.
- The leaves started to flutter in the gentle breeze.
- She could see her heart flutter with excitement.
Onomatopoeic Words | English B2 Level (Upper Intermediate)
3 Word
Clang
Definition: A loud, sharp sound, often made by metal hitting metal.
- The bell made a loud clang as it rang.
- He heard a clang when the metal parts collided.
- The clang of the hammer echoed in the workshop.
Crackle
Definition: A sharp, snapping sound, often made by fire or static.
- The fire began to crackle as the wood burned.
- You could hear the crackle of the leaves underfoot.
- She loved the crackle of bacon cooking in the pan.
Rumble
Definition: a low, heavy sound or a fight
- The thunder made a loud rumble in the sky.
- They heard a rumble coming from the distant train.
- The two groups had a rumble over the territory.
Onomatopoeic Words | English C1 Level (Advanced)
5 Word
Whimper
Definition: A soft, low cry or whine, often made by animals.
- The puppy let out a whimper when it wanted attention.
- She heard a whimper from the dog in the yard.
- Understanding whimpering can indicate an animal's needs.
Thump
Definition: A heavy sound made by something hitting a surface; to hit something with force.
- He heard a thump as the box fell.
- She thumped the table to get everyone's attention.
- The thump of the drum set the rhythm for the song.
Gurgle
Definition: To make a bubbling sound, often associated with water or liquids.
- The stream began to gurgle as it flowed over rocks.
- She heard a gurgle from the baby's tummy.
- The coffee maker started to gurgle when it was done.
Clatter
Definition: A loud noise made by objects hitting each other.
- The clatter of dishes in the kitchen was distracting.
- She heard the clatter of the children playing.
- The clatter of the train on the tracks was comforting.
Whir
Definition: A low, continuous sound made by something in motion.
- The fan made a soft whir as it turned.
- She heard the whir of the blender in the kitchen.
- The drone produced a whir while flying overhead.
Onomatopoeic Words | English C2 Level (Proficiency / Mastery)
3 Word
Swoosh
Definition: A sound made by something moving quickly through the air; also used to describe a quick movement.
- He heard the swoosh of the basketball going through the net.
- The swoosh of the wind was calming.
- She made a swoosh with her hand to get attention.
Croak
Definition: The sound that frogs make or to speak in a low, hoarse voice.
- The frog began to croak as the sun set.
- He tried to croak out a song but lost his voice.
- She could only croak a few words after cheering loudly.
Screech
Definition: A loud, high-pitched sound, often made by animals or brakes.
- The tires screeched as the car stopped suddenly.
- She heard a screech from the owl at night.
- Understanding screeching sounds can help in safety awareness.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage of the word . They do not represent the opinions of TranslateEN.com.
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