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English Quiz - Onomatopoeia (Questions)

A word whose sound mimics the noise or action it represents is called an onomatopoeic word. For example: 'baa', 'woof', 'miaow/meow', 'clang', 'hiss' and 'thud'. How many more can you think of?

Many writers and poets use onomatopoeia in their work. There are obvious and well-known ones (which you will find in this quiz), but there is always room for new ones that haven't been thought of before. See if you can come up with some of your own in your writing and speech ~ that way, you can impress your friends and English teacher! If you use alliterative words too, all the better. If you've forgotten, alliteration is when two words or more begin with the same sound, such as the whispering wind.

Okay! Make some noise and do this 11-plus quiz!

1. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A donkey.
[ ] woof
[ ] meow
[ ] heehaw
[ ] hiss
2. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A mouse.
[ ] swoosh
[ ] squeak
[ ] splash
[ ] sob
3. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A clock.
[ ] thud
[ ] ticktock
[ ] thump
[ ] tsk
4. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
The leaves of a tree.
[ ] rustle
[ ] ratata-tat
[ ] rattle
[ ] roar
5. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A dog.
[ ] meow
[ ] baa
[ ] oink
[ ] woof
6. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
The tyres of a car that suddenly brakes.
[ ] slurp
[ ] slap
[ ] screech
[ ] slam
7. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A snake.
[ ] haha
[ ] hiccup
[ ] hum
[ ] hiss
8. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
An old door slowly moving back and forth in the wind.
[ ] clang
[ ] clap
[ ] creak
[ ] crunch
9. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A bomb exploding.
[ ] boing
[ ] boom
[ ] beep
[ ] baa
10. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A piece of paper being torn.
[ ] rip
[ ] rattle
[ ] roar
[ ] ring
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English Quiz - Onomatopoeia (Answers)
1. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A donkey.
[ ] woof
[ ] meow
[x] heehaw
[ ] hiss
A donkey brays: it never prays!
2. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A mouse.
[ ] swoosh
[x] squeak
[ ] splash
[ ] sob
It only does these other things in cartoons
3. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A clock.
[ ] thud
[x] ticktock
[ ] thump
[ ] tsk
If your clock is tsking, you probably get up late in the mornings
4. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
The leaves of a tree.
[x] rustle
[ ] ratata-tat
[ ] rattle
[ ] roar
The rustling of leaves
5. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A dog.
[ ] meow
[ ] baa
[ ] oink
[x] woof
If you got this wrong ...
6. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
The tyres of a car that suddenly brakes.
[ ] slurp
[ ] slap
[x] screech
[ ] slam
Tyres screech! Americans spell it: 'tire'
7. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A snake.
[ ] haha
[ ] hiccup
[ ] hum
[x] hiss
Have you ever heard a snake hiccup?
8. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
An old door slowly moving back and forth in the wind.
[ ] clang
[ ] clap
[x] creak
[ ] crunch
Audiences clap - not doors!
9. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A bomb exploding.
[ ] boing
[x] boom
[ ] beep
[ ] baa
Zebedee said, "Boing." (The Magic Roundabout)
10. Which onomatopoeic word most appropriately describes the sound made by the given word or situation?
A piece of paper being torn.
[x] rip
[ ] rattle
[ ] roar
[ ] ring
Let's hope it doesn't roar