Figures of Sound Vocabulary

repetition of initial consonant sounds

“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Origin: Latin `ad-` (to) + `littera` (letter)

repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words

“The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”

Origin: Latin `assonare` (to respond to), from `ad-` (to) + `sonare` (to sound)

repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the end of words

“Pitter-patter, pitter-patter—the consonance mimics rain.”

Origin: Latin `consonare` (to sound together), from `con-` (together) + `sonare` (to sound)

words that imitate the sounds they describe

“The bees buzzed, the bacon sizzled, the clock ticked.”

Origin: Greek `onomatopoiia` (word-making), from `onoma` (name) + `poiein` (to make)

pleasing, harmonious arrangement of sounds

“The murmuring of innumerable bees—Tennyson's euphony.”

Origin: Greek `euphonia` (sweet voice), from `eu-` (good) + `phone` (sound)

harsh, discordant combination of sounds

“The clash, crash, and clang of construction cacophony.”

Origin: Greek `kakophonia` (bad sound), from `kakos` (bad) + `phone` (sound)

repetition of hissing sounds (s, sh, z)

“The silken, sad, uncertain rustling—Poe's sibilance.”

Origin: Latin `sibilare` (to hiss), from `sibilus` (a hissing)