8 Best Words For The Sound Of Fire (Onomatopoeia)

Fire makes noise, and it might help to know of some good words we can use to describe this noise. We’ll run you through some of the best onomatopoeia choices there are so that you can start describing the sound of fire better in your writing.

Which Words Can Describe The Sound Of Fire?

There are some really great ways to demonstrate the sound of fire in writing. Why not give one of the following a try:

• Crackle
• Sputter
• Snap
• Roar
• Pop
• Rustle
• Sizzle
• Patter

The preferred version is “crackle.” It works well to show that sparks are flying out of the fire. The sound usually refers to the noise that the sparks make both when they leave the fire and when they land somewhere close by.

Crackle

“Crackle” is one of the best ways to describe the sound of a fire. When referring to fire-based sounds, we can talk about the noise of the flames, the sparks, or the connection of the fire with the world around it. “Crackle” does a great job in all these cases.

Also, “crackle” is widely regarded as the best word to refer to the sound of fire. That’s why we rate it as the best option when it comes to describing the sound.

• The crackling flames are getting all over the floor. Make sure they don’t burn out our new carpet.
• I love the crackling sound, but I’m not sure it’s going to last for much longer. Look, the fire is going out.
• The crackling is very relaxing for me. Just close your eyes for a second, and you might feel it too!

Sputter

“Sputtering” is a good way to be a bit more specific about the sound that fire makes. It works well because it shows that fire is random and doesn’t typically stick to one sound or rule as it burns. “Sputter” shows that many things are spat out of the fire all the time.

• Sputtering flames are one of my favorite noises. I can never stop listening to fires when people start them up.
• If you like sputtering fire, you’d probably like to open up that furnace and listen to the sounds inside.
• I’m not sure that the sputtering of this fireplace is supposed to be soothing. It sounds like there’s something wrong with it!

Snap

“Snap” works specifically for the sparks that come out of a fire. You don’t typically use this word to refer to fire as a general sound, but more the sparks that are noticeable when flying out of the fire.

• If the fire could stop snapping for one minute, that would be great! I need some peace and quiet to think.
• You’re not listening to it snap, are you? It would be much better if you could just hear it for a second.
• The snapping flames are too much for me to bear. I need to get out of here before I go crazy!

Roar

“Roar” is reserved for the largest of fires. Not all fires roar because they need to be quite large before getting close to this sound. Nevertheless, if you can hear a low, grumbling roar from your fire, it makes sense that this word is your best bet for describing it.

• The fire roared loudly into the night. It was enough to keep most of us awake, which was a shame.
• We should have listened to it roaring. It might have been trying to give us a sign.
• The roaring fire is enough to send anyone to sleep. I love those noises so much!

Pop

“Pop” is another good way to refer to the sparks that pop out of a fire. The pops are related to smaller sparks that you might be able to catch out of the corner of your eye.

• Pop! The sparks flew out of the fire. Pop! There they went again, and there I lay, waiting for more.
• I couldn’t help but stare at the fire as it popped away. It was a great feeling for me.
• I love the popping sound. I don’t know why anyone would be put off by it!

Rustle

“Rustle” works well to show that fire is lively. If there are lots of noises coming out of it, and you can’t quite place any individual sound, “rustle” is a good overall noise to refer to. It allows us to be more general with the onomatopoeia choice.

• The fire rustled throughout the evening. It made a good backdrop for some of our campfire songs.
• I like the sound of the rustling flames. It’s really soothing, and I wish I could fall asleep right now.
• The fire keeps rustling, but I’m not sure I like it. I’ve never found fire to be a relaxing element!

Sizzle

“Sizzle” works best for specific types of fires. For example, a gas cooker might have a “sizzle” sound when the fire is turned on. You wouldn’t always expect fires to “sizzle” when you simply started a campfire.

The “sizzle” is much closer to a prolonged hiss. That’s why it’s better to refer to gas-based fires above anything else here.

• The sizzling of the flames was a little too much for me, so I backed away from it before it got worse.
• There has been a large sizzling noise coming from that campfire. I’m not sure that’s healthy!
• It’s sizzling through the night. Just let it run its course, and it’ll be over soon!

Patter

“Patter” is an interesting choice. It’s a much gentler way to refer to the sound of fire. It typically refers to the sparks that get thrown away from a fire (mainly the smaller ones that don’t have much of an impact on the world around them).

• The pattering of the flames was enough to soothe me, and I went straight to sleep.
• It kept pattering through the night. I’m so glad they decided to leave the fire on.
• It’s pattering more than I thought it would be. I’m not sure how I feel about sleeping so close to it now!