Onomatopoeia literally means ‘the name of sound I make’. Onomatopoeic words are imitations of the sounds made by objects or animals. This would include words such as achoo, sizzle, or clang.

If you have ever watched the Batman and Robin show, you should be very familiar with these types of words. They would always pop up on the screen during a fight scene – pop, boom, pow.
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What are some other examples of these words to use in your writing? I have given some examples below of sound words that begin with the letters A-C, but I’m sure these are only the tip of the iceberg.


Horrified Rooster by Michel Veppo

A
achoo – a sneeze
ahem – clearing the throat
arf – sound made by a dog
argh – sound made when frustrated
aroo – sound made by a wolf

B
baa – sound made by a sheep or goat
bam – sound made when two objects strike against each other with force
bang – a gunshot sound
bark – sound made by a dog
bash – sound of a heavy, crushing blow
bawl – sound of crying
beep – sound of a horn or a roadrunner
belch - sound of a burp
blab – sound of talking
blah – sound of nonsense or rubbish
blare – sound of a loud horn
bloop – an underwater sound
blurt – this is when something is unintentionally said
boing – sound of a bounce or spring
bong – a dull sound that resonates, such as from a large bell
bonk – the sound of a hit
boo – a sound of contempt or disapprovel, or a sound that scares
boohoo – sound of weeping or blubbering
boom – sound of an explosion
bow-wow – sound made by a dog
bray – sound made by a donkey
brouhaha – sound of chatter or talk
brrring – sound of a telephone ringing
brrr – sound a person makes when cold
bubble - sound indicating the release of air from water
bumble – this is a sound like the buzz of a bee
bump – sound of a forceful blow, impact, or jolt
burp- sound of a burp
buzz – sound of a bee
bwak – this is probably the sound a large bird would make

C
cackle – the sharp cry of a hen, especially after she has just laid an egg
caw – sound a crow makes
cha-ching –sound of a cash register
chat – sound of talking
chatter – sound of talking
cheep – sound of a baby chick
chirp – sound of a bird
chomp – a noisy chewing sound
choo-choo – sound of a train
chortle – sound of a chuckle
chuckle – sound of a laugh
chump – a noisy chewing sound
clang – the sound of two pieces of metal striking against each other
clank - the sound of two pieces of metal striking against each other
clap – the sound made when the palms of the hands are struck together, or when one object is struck against another object
clash – a loud, harsh noise, like when cymbals strike each other
clatter – a loud, rattling sound made when hard objects strike against each other
click – a slight, sharp sound, as that of a latch
clickety-clack – a swiftly pace succession of alternating clicks and clacks, like the sound made by train wheels moving over the track
clink – a light, sharp ringing sound
clip clop – the sound that is made when a horse trots on pavement
clunk – a sharp, ringing sound
cock-a-doodle-doo – sound a rooster makes
coo – the sound a dove makes
cough – the harsh noise of air being expelled from the lungs or a similar sound
crackle – a, sharp noise that is rapidly repeated
crash - a loud, clattering noise
creak – a sharp, harsh, grating, or squeaking sound
croak – sound a frog makes
crunch – the sound of chewing, crushing, or grinding noisily
cuckoo – sound a cuckoo bird makes

If you know of any onomatopoeic words that begin with the letters A-C that I have left out, please let me know, and I will add them to the list.