What Is Figurative Language?
Figurative language is any use of words that goes beyond their literal, dictionary meaning to create a vivid image, comparison, or emotional effect. When an author writes "the wind whispered through the trees," they do not mean the wind can actually whisper — they are using figurative language to help you feel the scene.
Figurative vs literal
- Literal: "It was raining hard." (Exactly what is happening.)
- Figurative: "It was raining cats and dogs." (Not actual animals — it means it was raining very heavily.)
The main types of figurative language
Simile — A comparison using "like" or "as."
"Her smile was bright as the sun."
Metaphor — A comparison that says one thing is another (no "like" or "as").
"The classroom was a zoo." (It was chaotic and noisy — not literally a zoo.)
Personification — Giving human qualities to something that is not human.
"The stars danced across the sky."
Hyperbole — Extreme exaggeration for emphasis.
"I have told you a million times."
Idiom — A phrase whose meaning cannot be figured out from the individual words.
"Break a leg" means "good luck" — not a wish for injury.
Onomatopoeia — A word that imitates a sound.
Buzz, crash, sizzle, pop, hiss.
Alliteration — The repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words.
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
Why authors use figurative language
Figurative language makes writing:
- More vivid: "The sun melted into the horizon" paints a clearer picture than "The sun set."
- More emotional: "My heart shattered" conveys deeper pain than "I was sad."
- More engaging: unexpected comparisons keep readers interested
- More memorable: a strong metaphor sticks in the reader's mind
How children encounter figurative language
Figurative language is everywhere — not just in poetry and novels. Children meet it in:
- Picture books ("The caterpillar was very hungry" — personification)
- Everyday speech ("I am so hungry I could eat a horse" — hyperbole)
- Song lyrics, advertisements, and sports commentary
A common challenge
Children who are still developing reading comprehension sometimes take figurative language literally. If a child looks confused by "it is raining cats and dogs," help them understand: "The author does not mean real cats and dogs. They are saying it in a fun way to show the rain is really heavy."
Related concepts
- What Is Tone vs Mood?: figurative language helps create tone and mood
- What Is Theme in Literature?: figurative language often reinforces theme
- What Is Point of View in Literature?: the narrator's style of figurative language reflects their voice
- What Are Context Clues?: using surrounding text to decode figurative expressions