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Spelling sound effects: Onomatopoeia

sfx-words I can’t really say that Shane Black was the first screenwriter to write the sounds in his screenplays but I do have to give him credit for being the most memorable. He captured a rythm that made you almost believe that you heard the sound in your head.

One of my own collections I thought I would share with you is my own collection of sound effects and their spelling… Pretty simple stuff, right? LOL.

No… This isn’t something you’re gonna see on too many other sites but it could be fun. How many of you out there actually spell out your sound effects? And more importantly, are they realistic? Do they work? Do they fit?

I think what’s interesting here is that I don’t see sound effects written out too often in screenplays but in my own humble opinion — if done correctly — enhance the writing.

So without further ado…

Different kinds of HITS:

BA-BOOM BA-DOOM BAM BAMFF BANG BAP BASH BE-BAP BIFF BLAM BLASH BLOOF BOFF BOINK BONG BONK BOOM BOOT BOP BUDOW CHOKK CLANK CLAP CLAP-CLAP CLOMP CLUNK CRASH CREEE-UNCHH CRUNCH DOINK FA-WUMP FACK FAP FLUMP FOMP FONK FOOP FRACK FUMP FWAK FWAP FWOP FWUMP GLOMP JAB KA-BLANG KA-BONG KA-PO KACHAK KA-TAP KANG KERPLUNK KERSPLAT KLONG KLONK KLOP KONK KRAK KRATOOM KREEE-UNCHH KRONCH KRONK KRUNCH KRUNCK KWAP PIK PING PLAP PLOCK PLOINK PLOK PLOP POIK POING POK POKE POP POW PWOP RATTA-TAT-TAT SHAK SHAKKTT SCHTOCK SHOK SHOOM SHTOK SHUDD SHWAK SHWOKK SLAM SLAP SMACK SMASH SPAP SPLACH SPLACK SPLAT SPLATT SPLOSH SPLUNK SOCK TAK TAP THOK THOMP THROMP THRUMP THUD THUDD THUMP THWACK TO-OM TOINK TOK TOMP TONG TONG TUFF TUNK TWAK TWIK TWONG TWONK TWUNK VRONK WABOOM WAK WHACK WHAK WHAM WHAMMO WHAP WHTTT WHOK WHOMP WHONK WHOOP WHOP WHUM WHUMP WONK WUMP ZLONK ZOCK ZOK ZOP

Different kinds of vehicle STOPS:

EEEEERRRP SCHHHHHID SCREEEETCHH SKREEL SKRITCH SQUEAL SQUEEE VREECH Z-EEK

Different kinds of GUNFIRE:

BADOOM BAM BAM-BAM-BAM BANG BLAM BOOM BOOM-CHICK-CHICK BRRAK KABOOM KA-BANG KA-BOOM KER-BLANG KER-POW PEOW PEOW-PEOW PEOW-PEOW-PEOW PHUT POP POW POW-POW-POW RATTA-TAT-TAT TAKA TAKA TAKA

Get the idea? I’m not going to sit here and tell you how they should be used… I won’t tell you that you need to use a specific word for a partcular sound. That’s all up to you but at least now you have a list that you can add to — assuming you don’t already have one — and if you do — nevermind. LOL.

I would only say to consider being consistent when using a particular word for a specific sound. Of course there are different kinds of sounds that are definitely related… Like different kinds of wind or air rushing past you… Of course you wouldn’t use the same word for every instance of wind rushing past you. You use the best word for the kind of wind rushing past you.

Get it?

Download the entire list here in PDF format .

Unk

EDIT: Almost forgot… Please feel free to share your favorite onomatopoeia with us…

EDIT #2: The Don Martin Dictionary (thanks Will!)

Tuesday: 1 July 2008|1801|Under Tricks

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47 Responses to “Spelling sound effects: Onomatopoeia”

Ryan on Tuesday: 1 July 2008|1832

Just when I think I’ve heard it all. You gotta throw this out there and get me all sorts of thinking.

RYAN bangs his forehead against his LAPTOP:
WACK-WACK-WACK-WACK-WACK

Kocked out. Inching his way out of chair — slowly.

THUMP — hitting the CEMENT FLOOR of the local LIBRARY.

Sprawled out on the floor — a little SHIT hustles over to him — laughing…
Unk on Tuesday: 1 July 2008|1834

That’s the idea, isn’t it? LOL.

Unk
wcdixon on Tuesday: 1 July 2008|1854

Shane Black could make things WHOOSH good for sure, but this list feels certainly inspired by the master…Don Martin (from Mad Magazine)
Unk on Tuesday: 1 July 2008|1903

Maybe so… But you know what? I’ve never once in my life read Mad Magazine. LOL.

Many of these are from comic books of course… I certainly do not claim to have made them up although I do think I made a few of them up but how will I ever know for sure?

It’s just a simple share…

Unk
Laura Deerfield on Tuesday: 1 July 2008|2314

A large object catching fire: FFWUUP
Smashing through plate glass: KSHRSSHH
Disappointment that sucks the wind out of you: FWAHOOF
Xadhoom on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|0449

Not to forget Carl Barks, the “godfather” of Duckburgh :-)
cbarks.dk/THEIMITATIVEWORDS.htm
Kevin Lehane on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|0515

I meant to post the link as: http://kevinlehane.com/2008/06/04/sounds-like-one-word/
richard mcnally on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|1226

PEOW and PEOW-PEOW for ricochets are (excuse me) right on target.
richard mcnally on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|1412

Actually the more I think about it, the more I realize what a bang-up job this post represents. I can tell you are a straight-shooter with your tips, my good man. The message you’re conveying reverberates and squawls like Jimi stepping hard on the wah pedal. I’m sure readers of this blog will be clamoring for more tips like this. There’s been deafening silence on this subject for far too long. This post will echo indefinitely.
Joshua James on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|1535

I’ve been a big fan of SPLOOSH!

There’s also the awesome SCHNIK! of Wolverine’s claws coming out.
Ryan on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|2030

What’s a good word for “Spitting”?

Example: A llama spitting.
Unk on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|2217

Ryan,

Here’s the deal…

A llama probably spits differently than a person… Hence, onomatopoeia. You want to be able to spell/pronounce the word the way it SOUNDS to our ear.

If I cough up a wad and spit that out, it might sound a little like:

PHWOOHT

I hopefully just made that up by actually hocking up a wad and unloading it. LOL.

But the question is…

How does a llama spit? More importantly, what does it sound like when a llama spits?

I don’t know but if it was important to me, I’d research it and screw around with the spelling until I felt that I had it down.

Unk
Ryan on Wednesday: 2 July 2008|2335

Good thinking! I like it!
Benny on Thursday: 3 July 2008|0753

Hi Unk,

Just curious.

I have a screenplay about the crazy and sinful world of wresting.

What would be the “sound:onomatopoeia” of a voluptuous female sidekick facesitting/sitting/slamming down hard on a wrestler’s(male) face with her butt.

My script is more of gross out comedy about wrestlers trying to make a living in Detroit. It’s fun!

Best,
Benny
Mike on Thursday: 3 July 2008|0957

Benny,

How ’bout: MMMWUUUUMPFFFF!
Benny on Thursday: 3 July 2008|1123

Let me think about this one.
Starts off great…
Since my script is R-rated, let’s see.

Thanks.

Benny
Unk on Thursday: 3 July 2008|1319

Benny,

Of course I’m no expert so about the only thing I can do is IMAGINE what you’re saying…

PHHHMAAAT!

Yeah… That sounds about right.

Unk
martinb on Thursday: 3 July 2008|1429

A tailor unrolls a bolt of cloth: FWIP-FWAP-SWADAP!
(Don Martin)
Moviequill on Friday: 4 July 2008|0656

from my current script

BOBBY JOE (O.S.)
Give it another go, Dani.

Dani turns the ignition — ZHHHHH ZHHHHH ZHHHHH
ZHHHHH…

BOBBY JOE (O.S.)
Whoa, whoa, whoa…
Spatula on Saturday: 5 July 2008|0924

Wow this brings me back to the Adam West/Burt Ward the Dynamic Duo, Batman (and Robin). I love that show (and movie) SO MUCH; the writers must have used a similar method as above and the editors must have been so coked out that when they read the screenplays they put it right in there. The DOP must have also been on such a heavy trip, every second shot is a dutch angle. So much so, that I’ve renamed “Dutch angles” to “Caesar Romeros”, after their predominant appearance during the Joker scenes. BIFF and ZORK are my all-time punchy-kicky sounds.
Spatula on Saturday: 5 July 2008|0928

This is amazing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zfZMtUy8iQ
Vince DC on Saturday: 5 July 2008|1943

My hand hitting my forehead after reading your post:

SPPEET!

Simply to say: Brilliant.

I’m in the middle of a car racing script and this post, UNK, came just at the right time. I’d run out of sound effects after about the 3rd race. I mean, how many varations of WHOOSH can I come up with?

You just opened a door for me I didn’t think existed. How many times have I busted my head trying to come up with explosion SNDFX?

And DON fucking MARTIN!!!! Jesus, I still have all my MAD magazines from years ago. It didn’t even dawn on me!

Said this before and I’ll say it again, you’re an angel of mercy, UNK. They should make you the patron saint of screenwriters.
MaryAn on Sunday: 6 July 2008|1757

O. M. G. You have splosh but not slosh.. does my character splosh around or slosh around…? Stop making me THINK!!!!!!!
Unk on Sunday: 6 July 2008|2049

MaryAnita,

Leave it to YOU — NOT to find SLOSH… LOL.

Geez… Now I guess I’ll have to edit the pdf file.

Damn… SLOSH is easy too… Hey, SLOSH rhymes with JOSH?

Coincidence?

Unk
Ryan on Sunday: 6 July 2008|2055

LOL

Things just get better and better ’round here. LOL

Spatula… The second I finished reading this post — BATMAN — came into thee ole noggin. Kinda funny you brought that up.
boyer on Monday: 7 July 2008|1624

Should you number your onomatopoeias? Assuming you have more than one per script?
Unk on Tuesday: 8 July 2008|1400

Boyer,

I think you should definitely number them. Then maybe even slip in an extra page in the beginning of the script to let anyone reading it KNOW that you’re using them and what they actually mean just in case they can’t figure it out.

Kinda like a legend.

While you’re at it… Why not include a cast of characters and a wish list of who you want to play each character?

Another completely different way to go would be to place footnotes after each onomatopoeia so the reader can look them up later… But if you do that, you might as well create an index too but don’t worry… The pages within your index won’t be part of your overall page count.

The real problem I see is if you number your onomatopoeias, you might even want to go ahead and make a list of all the props and locations — otherwise, whomever reads the script might think you’re slacking off by not including everything you can think of — kitchen sink not excluded.

Once you get all that accomplished, I have several bridges you just might be interested in at a real discount price but you have to haul them away.

Unk
Ryan on Tuesday: 8 July 2008|1539

LMAO!!!

Wow Unk! I didn’t think of that. I might have to think about that.

Can I my Protagonist and Antagonist have the same name???
Unk on Tuesday: 8 July 2008|1824

Ryan,

AbsoFUCKINGlutely! Why not take it even further and name ALL YOUR CHARACTERS with the same name?

I mean hell, so many movies suck these days anyway, why not write a script that completely fucking confuses everyone from the GET-GO?

And…

Don’t forget to number your onomatopoeias…

Unk
Unk on Tuesday: 8 July 2008|1830

Boyer,

In the spirit of being politically correct today (you caught me on a good day), I just want to make sure you know I am kidding.

There are no stupid questions but there certainly are questions I can kinda make fun of… LOL.

You do NOT want to number them… Just CAP them so we know that they are a sound we need to hear.

Unk
Carlo Conda on Wednesday: 9 July 2008|1528

Unk, we need comment notifications via emial…
Donn on Thursday: 10 July 2008|2058

Would you consider DEAD SILENCE a sound effect? Sure it’s not an onomatopoeia, but how else would you declare it?

(And I also agree with Carlo)
MaryAn on Friday: 11 July 2008|1523

Always glad to be of service, Unk, and yeah, SLOSH rhymes with Josh, the name of my Mom’s half-dead dog with a bladder-control problem. Fitting don’t you think?
boyer on Friday: 11 July 2008|2108

Unk,

I get it. Thanks a lot for making me look like a moron.

Ok.

When I number stuff, should I do it with a “1″ or a “One?” Or a “one?”

Is Hollywood picky that picky? I’m talking about the “O” versus the “o.” If it’s the “1″ I get it, because that’s a number and not grammar. But if it’s “O” versus “o,” are they going to judge me on all that?!

I don’t mean to beat a burning bush, but…
Ryan on Saturday: 12 July 2008|0610

Boyer-
You don’t number things at all.

You capitalize noises that we are to here. Chosen by you… The writer.

Think of senses: If you can see, touch, and hear it then odds it should be capitalized.

Everytime when you hear it… But only the first time when you introduce people, places, and things.

If that is incorrect by anyone. Correct me please.
Ryan on Monday: 14 July 2008|0023

Boyer

You also should get The Screenwriters Bible by David Trottier.

It will help you out tremendously. I believe everyone and anyone NEEDS it.
Susan P. on Tuesday: 15 July 2008|1618

Unfortunately this is a real word but this of Unk’s;

Unk on July 8th, 2008 2:00 pm

sounded to me rather like..

FARKKKKK!
Susan P. on Tuesday: 15 July 2008|1627

Apologies boyer. In my view it is better you ask than not!
…..
I also liked the long spitting PTTTOOOOOOOeeeeee!
Helpful for a camel spit slow mo action.
James on Wednesday: 16 July 2008|1336

“I’ve been a big fan of SPLOOSH!

There’s also the awesome SCHNIK! of Wolverine’s claws coming out.”

You disappoint me Joshua James :(

SNIKT! is Wolverine’s claws. I use it for switchblades in the heat of the moment. (Sounds a little more S&M than it is).

BAMF! — Nightcrawler’s teleportation. Not sure if there’s another use for that one :p.

The one convention, I really dislike is BLAM! for gunshots. I’d prefer BAM! But then people think you are stupid because BLAM! has become synonymous with the comicbook gunshot.

CHA-CHING, KA-CHING –

– have found their way into a few of my scripts when I really want to compress time in a good old fashion smash and grab robbery.

KA-BOOM! — One of my favorites. I like blowing stuff up. :)

Funny seeing RATTA-TAT-TAT as gunfire. I often use RAT-A-TAT in place of a verb for someone typing on the computer keyboard.
Screenwriting Compass on Wednesday: 16 July 2008|1728

Adding these sound effects almost makes the script read as a comic book, which in my eyes is easier to read. But don’t over do it!
Susan P. on Friday: 18 July 2008|0047

Screenwriting Compass’ comment reminds me of doing online research some years back and watching scripts in a BDSM dungeon room and dominants ‘using’ a whip and writing:
CRAAAAaaaaaaaaaccckkkkkkkk!

That got appallingly cliched by the 25th read but the satire was truly fulfilled with a submissive uttering the following in response:

Oh. That hurt!

….
Paper cut anyone? :-)
Susan P. on Friday: 18 July 2008|0048

James..and your Cha-Ching Ka-ching reminded me of a cash register of the old fashioned kind!
Unk on Friday: 18 July 2008|1839

Boyer,

I admit I did have a little fun at your expense so let me say, THANK YOU.

My intent was NOT to make you look like a moron at all… Your comment was kind of hot off the post I made about all those inane questions I get literally every fucking day.

I truly want to help anyone and everyone become a better and hopefully PAID screenwriter but these are not the kinds of questions to ask — rather, these are the kinds of questions to perform research on.

In fact, I’ve said it before and I say it again to anyone who wants to learn about screenwriting… Pick up THE SCREENWRITER’S BIBLE and read it through one time and you’ll know pretty much all the basic information you’ll need to know to start THINKING about writing a screenplay.

It will easily answer all those weird questions that one has about numbering scenes or adding a cast of characters because if you don’t see it mentioned in THE SCREENWRITER’S BIBLE, then, more than likely, it’s not a good idea to do it.

I used your particular comment to HOPEFULLY drive that fact home.

I stand by the phrase, THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS but those questions that can easily be answered by doing some reasearch via the net or simply picking up a book that covers the basics are the very best way to get those kinds of questions answered or people like me would be answering those kinds of questions until the cows come home.

That means ALL THE TIME.

Unk
boyer on Saturday: 19 July 2008|1325

I bought Trotter’s Bible last week. It’s probably the best screen-writing book I’ve bought to date — I would almost say that you should read it AFTER you’ve written part of your first draft and have a good idea of what your screenplay is all about and where it’s going.

I also just read Syd Field’s THE SCREENWRITER’S HANDBOOK. I’d certainly suggest that anyone read this (it offered the first in-depth look at the “back-story” which has helped me tremendously).

HOW NOT TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY by Denny Flinn has been very helpful as well. The great perspective he offers is acknowledging he’s not a “screen-writer” but is someone who has read “tons” of them.

I read Trotter’s BIBLE after the Field and Flinn books. Trotter’s book REALLY brought everything together.

I’ve read books by Goldman and Lumet as well — great books too, but the books I mentioned above are more like work/text books. They’ll definitely help you get on track.
boyer on Saturday: 19 July 2008|1330

Unk,

I was being facetious with regard to numbering onomatopoeias. Though I admit, I AM the guy who asked about numbering scenes (I saw that question posted on another blog as “dumb” questions people ask The Unknown ScreenWriter). Pretty funny.
Ryan on Saturday: 19 July 2008|1653

Boyer,

Something tells me you weren’t the only one asking about numbering scenes. A lot of those “dumb” questions probably came from me.

I’m really shocked I can still access his website with all my idiotic questions. LOL

THE SCREENWRITER’S BIBLE has helped me out tremendously and continues as I have a question. I’m always going through it to get my answers. I go through that more than anything else.
Gorman on Tuesday: 29 July 2008|1315

Wow. I use Onomatopoeia all the time in my writing (and on friendly terms in my pitches) and this list is fantastic. Now it’s time to overkill it.

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Spelling sound effects: Onomatopoeia

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