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February 16, 2006

Word of the Day -- ONOMATOPOEIA -- From Dictionary.com

June 25, 2006 04:03 PM EDT (Updated: June 25, 2006 04:03 PM EDT)

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onomatopoeia on-ah-mah-to-PEE-ya
noun

The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

Etymology: From the late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomatopoios, coiner of names: onoma, onomat-, name.

Sentence: I always thought that the German word, rusching, pronounced with a rolling "r" at the beginning and meaning the rushing of water in a book, was a perfect example of onomatopoeia.

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Comments: 7

0000-dashiell5-0000 Jun 25, 2006, 4:32pm EDT

A crack spelling word, too. Did you know that Edgar Allan POE is in onomatopoeia. (Announce it with the clang of the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells...).

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Bill's Spirit Jun 26, 2006, 10:36am EDT

Onomatopoeia? Isn't that a town in Mississippi?

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Kevin Weeks Jun 27, 2006, 6:46pm EDT

Oh no. Mato Pia is an extinct volcano.

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Corina Carrasco Aug 18, 2006, 8:41am EDT

ONOMATOPOEIA...I used to love teaching this when I taught grade school. The kids really got into coming up with words for me, like: zap!; zip; pow; whack!; etc. They would spend recess coming up with words and rush into the room asking me if they were onomatoepoeic or not. Fun. Fun. Fun. I love it when students are enthused about their lessons!

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D Q. Aug 22, 2006, 5:33pm EDT

I've always wondered, are "meow" and "neigh" and other animals sounds examples of onomatopoeia?

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Benita K. Oct 31, 2008, 4:12pm EDT

It is certainly a performance word. Love the way it rolls of the tongue. So it's understandable that kids love it, especially when they have an enthused teacher.

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Johnice R. Feb 9, 2009, 8:50am EST

I am constantly onomatopoeiaic when conversing with my Beagles, they seem to enjoy it and I oft wonder if there is a reverse anthropomorphic exchange happening. I know, it is a different perspective, but that is me.

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