Page 169 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)

81 Onomatopoeic words

A What are onomatopoeic words?

Onomatopoeicwordsarethosewhichseemtosoundliketheirmeaning.Themostobviousexamples
areverbsforthenoiseswhichanimalsmake.

cowsmoo catsmeowandpurr lionsroar beesbuzz smallbirdstweet

B Letters, sounds and their associations

CertaincombinationsofsoundshaveparticularassociationsinEnglish.

• gr- atthebeginningofawordcansuggestsomethingunpleasantormiserable,e.g.
Shewasgroaningwithpain.[makeadeepsoundforcedoutbypainordespair]
Everyonewasgrumblingaboutthequalityofthefood.[complaininabad-temperedway]
Don’tbesogrumpy![bad-tempered]
Theteachergrowledangrilyattheboys.[makeadeep,threateningsound,likeanangrydog]

• cl- atthebeginningofawordcansuggestsomethingsharpand/ormetallic,e.g.
Click on‘login’toenterthewebsite.[make a short sharp sound]
Therewasaloudclangasthemetalbarhitthestonefloor.[makealoudringingnoise]
Horsesgoclip-clopontheroad.

• sp- atthebeginningofawordcansuggestwaterorotherliquidsorpowders,e.g.

Shesplashedwateroverherfacetowakeherselfup.[causealiquidtoflyaboutindrops]
Themeatwashorribleandshespatitout.[sendliquidorfoodoutfromthemouth]
Ineverusehairsprays.[tospray=sendliquidthroughtheairintinydropseitherbythewindorsome
instrument]
Hesprinkledsugaronhisbreakfastcerealandateitquickly.[scattersmalldrops]
Waterwasspurtingoutofthebrokenpipe.[comeoutinasuddenburst]

• wh- atthebeginningofawordoftensuggeststhemovementofair,e.g.
Hewhistledandthehorserantowardshim.[ahigh-pitchednoisemadebyforcingairorsteamthrough
a small opening]
Suddenlyalargeinsectwhizzedovermyheadandscaredme.[makethesoundofsomethingrushing
through air]
OldMrBankswheezedasheclimbedthestairs.[breathenoisilyespeciallywithawhistlingsoundinthe
chest]

• -ash attheendofawordcansuggestsomethingfastandviolent,e.g.
smash [break violently into small pieces] dash [move fast or violently] crash [suddenly strike
violently and noisily] bash [strike heavily so as to break or injure] mash [make soft or pulpy by
beating or crushing] gash [a long deep cut or wound]

asmashedwindow acarcrash sausagesandmashedpotato

168 English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate