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Onomatopoeia

By Gerald Erichsen, About.com

Definition: The formation or use of words that are intended to sound like the what they represent.
Also Known As: Onomatopeya in Spanish. The Spanish word can also be used to refer to an onomatopoeic word.
Examples: Examples of English onomatopoeia include "buzz," "moo," "hiss" and "swish." Examples of Spanish onomatopoeia include quiquiriquí (the sound of a rooster crowing), achís (the sound of a sneeze), miau (meow) and pataplum (the sound of an explosion).

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