Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do words such as “crunch,” “gurgle,” and “splash” use onomatopoeia?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
figure of speech
Front cover of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women.
In the context of rhetoric, onomatopoeia is classified as a figure of sound. It refers to the naming of a thing or action through a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it, or the use of words whose sound suggests their sense.123
Words like “crunch,” “gurgle,” and “splash” function as onomatopoeia by mimicking the natural sounds they describe:23
- Crunch: This word imitates the sound of pressing or grinding something hard until it breaks or bends. Beyond its literal sound, it has evolved to represent metaphorical situations involving pressure, such as a critical shortage or a tight deadline.4
- Splash: This word echoes the sound of an object striking or moving through water, causing displacement. It is also used idiomatically to describe creating a vivid impression.5
- Gurgle: Similar to these examples, this word uses vocal imitation to suggest the bubbling or irregular sound of liquid moving through a constricted space.23
These words demonstrate how language can bridge the gap between abstract symbols and the physical world by using sound to evoke sensory experiences.23