Editing Ideophone (section)

==Examples==
{{No citations section|date=April 2025}}

===[[Japanese language|Japanese]]===
{{main|Japanese sound symbolism}}
The Japanese language has thousands of ideophones, often called ''mimetics''. The constructions are quite metrical 2-2, or 3-3, where [[Mora (linguistics)|morae]] play a role in the symmetry. The first consonant of the second word of the reduplication [[rendaku|may become voiced]] if phonological conditions allow. Japanese ideophones are used extensively in daily conversations as well as in the written language.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
* ''doki doki'' ({{lang|ja|ドキドキ}}) – heart-pounding
* ''kira kira'' ({{lang|ja|キラキラ}}) – glittery
* ''shiin'' ({{lang|ja|シーン}}) – silence
* ''niko niko'' ({{lang|ja|ニコニコ}}) – smile
* ''jii'' ({{lang|ja|じー}}) – stare
* ''run run'' ({{lang|ja|ルンルン}}) – cheerful

===[[Tamil language|Tamil]]===
The Tamil language uses many ideophones, both in spoken (colloquial) and in formal usage. Ideophones are called irattaik kilavi (இரட்டைக் கிளவி) in Tamil grammar.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
* ''sora sora'' ({{lang|ta|சொறசொற}}) – rough (the sound produced when rubbing back and forth on a rough surface)
* ''vazha-vazha'' ({{lang|ta|வழவழ}}) – smooth, slippery
* ''mozhu-mozhu'' ({{lang|ta|மொழுமொழு}}) – smooth (surface)
* ''kozhu-kozhu'' ({{lang|ta|கொழுகொழு}}) – plump
* ''kozha-kozha'' ({{lang|ta|கொழகொழ}}) – slimy, gooey
* ''busu-busu'' ({{lang|ta|புசுபுசு}}) – soft and bushy
* ''kaNa-kaNa'' ({{lang|ta|கணகண}}) - warm, hot
* ''giDu-giDu'' ({{lang|ta|கிடுகிடு}}) – quickly, fast
* ''Tak-Tak'' ({{lang|ta|டக்டக்}}) - quickly, rapidly
* ''maDa-maDa'' ({{lang|ta|மடமட}}) – quickly, fast
* ''masa-masa'' ({{lang|ta|மசமச}}) – sluggish, lethargic
* ''viru-viru'' ({{lang|ta|விறுவிறு}}) – energetically (also, spicy)
* ''choda-choda'' ({{lang|ta|சொதசொத}}) – marshy, waterlogged
* ''paLa-paLa'' ({{lang|ta|பளப்பள/பளபள}}) – glittering, shiny
* ''veDa-veDa'' ({{lang|ta|வெடவெட}}) – shaking, trembling
* ''chuDa-chuDa'' ({{lang|ta|சுடச்சுட}}) – piping hot
* ''mAngu-mAngu'' ({{lang|ta|மாங்குமாங்கு}}) – laboriously
* ''gara-gara'' ({{lang|ta|கரகர}}) – crunchy (as in food), gravely (as in voice)
* ''gaba-gaba'' ({{lang|ta|கபகப}}) - wolfing down food
* ''doLa-doLa'' ({{lang|ta|தொளதொள}}) - hanging loose (as in loose fitting)
* ''taLa-taLa'' ({{lang|ta|தளதள}}) - lush (as in a lush plant/orchard)
* ''toNa-toNa'' ({{lang|ta|தொணதொண}}) - annoyingly incessant

===Xhosa===

In [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], as in closely related Zulu, ideophones can convey very complex experiential impressions or can just strengthen meanings of other words. The ideophone is often introduced using the verb {{lang|xh|thi}} {{gloss|say}}.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Using {{lang|xh|thi}}:
* {{lang|xh|cwaka}} – to be silent
:: {{lang|xh|Lixesha lokuthi cwaka}}. 'It is time to be silent.' [literally: 'It is time to say {{lang|xh|cwaka}}.']
* {{lang|xh|gqi}} – to suddenly appear
:: {{lang|xh|Bathi gqi abelungu eAfrika}}. 'The white people suddenly arrived in Africa.' [Literally: 'The white people said {{lang|xh|gqi}} in Africa.'])

Without using {{lang|xh|thi}}:
* {{lang|xh|ncam}} – exact
{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=xh|Andazi '''ncam'''.|{I do not know} IDEO|'I do not know exactly.'}}
* ''bhuxe'' – to stand motionless
{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=xh|Ndime '''bhuxe''' phambi kwakhe.|{I stood} IDEO before him.|'I stood motionless before him.'}}