Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Onomatopoeia Words: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Onomatopoeia Words is a free printable English worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children meet words that sound like the noise they describe. They say each sound aloud, choose a word to match, and write it down. It takes about 15 minutes and needs only a pencil.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Give page 1 to your child and keep page 2, which has notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.
What is on the sheet
Children read short lines about everyday sounds. Each line gives a clue, such as an animal, an object or something happening, and leaves a gap for the sound word. Children say the noise aloud, think about which word fits, then write it in the space. The lines are playful, so children enjoy making the noises. Writing each word also gives practice with spelling by listening for the sounds inside it.
- A bee makes a ... sound.
- A drum goes ...
- A pig says ...
- A puddle goes ... when you jump in.
- A clock goes ...
- A door shuts with a ...
- A fizzy drink goes ...
- A cat goes ...
How the sheet builds sound word skills
Listen first
Children say the noise out loud before they write anything. Hearing the sound helps them choose the right letters.
Link sound to word
They match a noise to a written word. This shows that writing can capture what we hear.
Spell by sounding out
Writing each word means listening for its sounds in order and choosing letters to match.
Use words in context
Each line is a short sentence. Children see how a sound word fits into real writing.
What is onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia (say it on oh mat oh PEE ah) means a word that sounds like the noise it names. When you say the word, your mouth makes something close to the real sound. Words like crash, whoosh and drip work this way. Children often use them without knowing it, especially when they tell stories or play pretend games.
Writers use sound words to help readers hear what is happening. You will find them in comics, picture books, poems and stories. Year 2 children are learning to build their vocabulary and to make their writing more interesting. Sound words are an easy and fun way in, because children can test each one by saying it aloud.
Fun facts about sound words
- The word onomatopoeia comes from Greek words.
- Comics are full of sound words, often written in big, bold letters.
- People who speak different languages often write the same animal sound in different ways.
- Not every word about sound is a sound word. The word loud does not sound like a noise.
- Poets use sound words to help readers hear a poem in their heads.
Skills and curriculum link
- Vocabulary
- Spelling by sounding out
- Writing words and sentences
- Listening carefully
- Reading aloud
What children will be able to do
- I can spot words that sound like what they mean.
- I can read and write words such as bang, splash and buzz.
- I can use a sound word in my own sentence.
Helping your child with sound words
- Say it firstMake the noise together before writing. A silly voice helps. Children often find the word once they hear the sound.
- Listen for the soundsSay the word slowly and stretch it out. Ask which sounds they can hear at the start, middle and end.
- Try more than one spellingSound words can be spelt in several ways. Praise a sensible try, then compare it with page 2.
- Use real noisesTap a table, scrunch paper or close a door gently. Real sounds make the words feel useful.
Key words
- OnomatopoeiaA word that sounds like the noise it names.
- Sound wordAnother way to say onomatopoeia. It is a word you can hear as well as read.
- ImitateTo copy something. Sound words imitate real noises.
- SentenceA group of words that makes sense on its own. It starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
- SpellingWriting the right letters in the right order to make a word.
- VocabularyAll the words a person knows and uses.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Read the first line aloud together. Make the sound and talk about which word might fit.
- Let your child write the word in the gap. Help with spelling by saying the sounds slowly.
- Work through the rest. Ask your child to say each word in an exciting voice.
- Check with page 2 and come back another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say the noise and ask your child to copy it. Then ask what sound the word starts with and help them write the first letter. Build the rest of the word together, one sound at a time. Try a few lines now and leave the others for later.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to write a sentence that uses two sound words, such as a story about a noisy morning. Then they can read it aloud with actions. Or they can invent a brand new sound word for a noise and explain why it fits.
Make it a game
Take turns to act out a sound word without saying it. Everyone else guesses the word and then writes it on a scrap of paper. The player who guesses correctly first gets a point. The first to reach five points wins.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes the name of the thing, such as the animal, instead of the noise it makes.
Try thisAsk, "What does it sound like?" Make the noise together, then write the word that matches the sound.
Watch forA child spells a sound word differently from page 2.
Try thisPraise the careful sounding out. Compare the two spellings and talk about which letters are different. Sound words can often be spelt in more than one way.
Watch forA child writes a describing word such as loud or quiet instead of a sound word.
Try thisExplain that a sound word is the noise itself. Ask them to make the noise with their voice and then write what they said.
Talk about it
- Which sound word did you most enjoy saying?
- Can you think of a sound word for a noise you heard today?
- What sound word could you use for rain?
- Why do you think sound words are used so often in comics?
- How would you write the sound of a door creaking open?
- Can you say a sound word in a loud voice, then a quiet one?
Take it off the page
Sound walk
Walk round the garden, park or house and listen. Write down a word for each noise you hear. Read your list aloud when you get back.
Comic strip
Draw a three box comic about a noisy day. Add big sound words in the pictures. Colour in the letters to match the noise.
Sound word story
Tell a short story together. Every time a noise happens, pause and let your child supply the sound word. Then write down the story with the sound words in bold.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Make the noises together and keep it light. About 15 minutes is plenty. Praise careful listening and sensible spelling attempts, not only correct answers.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It fits work on vocabulary, spelling and writing at Key Stage 1. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a poetry book or a comic and hunt for more sound words. Work through the sheet at the kitchen table or on the sofa. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters or a quick revisit a few weeks later.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this, children learn to say, blend and write simple words by listening to the sounds inside them. They also read short sentences and begin to write their own. Sound button work and reading aloud together are good preparation for this sheet.
After this, children can use sound words in longer pieces of writing, such as stories and poems. They start to choose words that make writing more vivid. Later they meet other ways writers use language to create pictures and sounds in the reader's mind.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which word on the sheet sounds like the noise it describes?
- What sound word could you use for rain?
- What sentence can you write that uses a sound word?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Onomatopoeia Words for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Children who are a little younger or older can also use it, with help or extra challenge from the notes on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise recognising and writing words that imitate sounds. This supports vocabulary, spelling and writing. They also practise listening carefully and reading short lines aloud.
- What is onomatopoeia in simple words?
It is a word that sounds like the noise it names. When you say it aloud, it copies the real sound. Children can test any word by asking whether it sounds like the thing it describes.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Some children will be quicker and some will want to talk about each sound. Page 2 has ideas to make it shorter with help or longer with a stretch task.
- What if it feels too hard?
Say the sound and ask your child to copy it, then help them write the first letter. Build the rest of the word one sound at a time. Do a few lines now and finish the rest another day.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 includes support, stretch and answers for the adult.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so you can print again for brothers, sisters or revision.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.