Figurative Language Flashcards

Grade 3 · English · Flashcards

Study the main types of figurative language with definitions and examples.

Flashcards

Figurative language: Words used in a creative, non-literal way to make writing more vivid and interesting
Simile: Compares two things using 'like' or 'as' — example: 'The boy was as tall as a tree'
Metaphor: Compares two things by saying one IS the other — example: 'The playground is a jungle'
Personification: Gives human feelings or actions to non-human things — example: 'The stars winked at us'
Idiom: A phrase whose meaning differs from the literal words — example: 'Spill the beans' means to reveal a secret
Literal language: Language that means exactly what it says, with no creative comparison
Hyperbole: A strong exaggeration for effect — example: 'I have a million things to do'
Alliteration: Repeating the same beginning consonant sound — example: 'Silly Sally sells seashells'
Onomatopoeia: A word that imitates the sound it describes — examples: buzz, crash, hiss, sizzle
Image: A picture or feeling created in the reader's mind through descriptive or figurative language
'Like' or 'as': The signal words that indicate a simile is being used in a comparison
Comparison: Showing how two things are similar; the basis of both similes and metaphors
Non-literal: Language that does not mean exactly what the words say; the foundation of figurative language
Context clues: Words or phrases around an unfamiliar expression that help you figure out its meaning