Words that sound like what they mean

[bandit957]

Certain words sound like the very things that they mean. I don't mean words like 'bang' and 'boom' that are designed to mimic sounds. I mean words that naturally form over time and just happen to sound like the things they represent.

A good example is 'complain'. The word 'complain' actually sounds like it's complaining. Another word like this is 'republic'. It rolls off the tongue in a way that represents that very type of government. It has a firm, resolute stress on the second syllable.

[texaskdog]

Like when a lion roars or a cat meows?

[Alps]

ceremonious

[Big John]

You mean onomatopoeia?

[US 89]

Like when a lion roars or a cat meows?

You mean onomatopoeia?

I don't mean words like 'bang' and 'boom' that are designed to mimic sounds.

[Beltway]

Burp, belch, puke, spew, regurgitate, upchuck

[kurumi]

Some adjectives sort of sound like themselves: pompous, meticulous, bombastic, serene, etc. But maybe that's just associations they've built up over a lifetime of use.

Japanese has lots of "gitaigo" adjectives that don't mimic sounds but still act like onomatopoeia: fuwafuwa for fluffy, etc.

[mgk920]

Howabout all of those totally perfect Yiddish words....

Mike

[Mr. Matté]

Are these threads getting dumber or just louder?

[MNHighwayMan]

But maybe that's just associations they've built up over a lifetime of use.

This is exactly it. I am certain that if "fuwafuwa" meant "pompous" then we'd be talking about that instead.

[hbelkins]

Phlegm.

[webny99]

Phlegm.

That also looks (on paper) exactly like what it means, which might be another thread altogether.

[bandit957]

Phlegm.

That also looks (on paper) exactly like what it means, which might be another thread altogether.

I like the way the lowercase 'e' looks in words that are funny, because the 'e' looks like it's laughing.