splosh: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Onomatopoeic
Quick answer
What does “splosh” mean?
A verb describing the sound and action of liquid moving heavily, wetly, or unsteadily, often when being poured, walked through, or falling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A verb describing the sound and action of liquid moving heavily, wetly, or unsteadily, often when being poured, walked through, or falling.
To move or travel with a clumsy, wet, splashing sound; to pour or spill liquid clumsily. Can be used figuratively to describe spending money freely or carelessly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English. In American English, 'splash' is overwhelmingly preferred, though 'splosh' is understood.
Connotations
In British English, it carries a slightly humorous, informal, or childish tone, often describing clumsy or messy wetness.
Frequency
Rare in formal writing in both varieties; occasional in informal speech/narrative in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “splosh” in a Sentence
splosh + [adverb/preposition] (e.g., about, through)splosh + [noun] (e.g., water)splosh + [noun] + [adverb/preposition]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “splosh” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children sploshed happily through the enormous puddle.
- He sploshed a generous measure of cream into his coffee.
- The overloaded gutter sploshed water onto the pavement below.
American English
- The kids splashed through the giant puddle, laughing.
- He poured a generous glug of cream into his coffee.
- The overflowing gutter dumped water onto the sidewalk.
adverb
British English
- The soup landed sploshily on the tray.
- He ran sploshily through the mud.
American English
- The soup landed with a wet splat on the tray.
- He ran with a sloshing sound through the mud.
adjective
British English
- There was a sploshy sound from the clogged drain.
- We made sploshy progress across the waterlogged field.
American English
- There was a splashy, wet sound from the clogged drain.
- We made squelching progress across the soggy field.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Almost never used.
Everyday
Informal descriptive use, especially in spoken British English to describe wet, clumsy sounds.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “splosh”
- Using 'splosh' in formal contexts.
- Overusing it in American English where 'splash' is more natural.
- Spelling as 'sploosh' (which is a more informal variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a real, though informal, onomatopoeic word found in dictionaries. It is more common in British English and is acceptable in informal writing and speech.
'Splash' is more common, general, and can be lighter or sharper. 'Splosh' suggests a heavier, wetter, clumsier, or more voluminous sound and action.
Yes, informally, to mean the sound itself or an act of sploshing (e.g., 'The soup fell with a loud splosh').
It's a recognisable but somewhat dated British informal idiom meaning to spend lavishly. Most speakers would now say 'splash out'.
A verb describing the sound and action of liquid moving heavily, wetly, or unsteadily, often when being poured, walked through, or falling.
Splosh is usually informal, onomatopoeic in register.
Splosh: in British English it is pronounced /splɒʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /splɑːʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to splosh out (on something): (BrE, informal) to spend a lot of money on something indulgent.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'splash' but with a heavier, 'plop'-like middle: S-PLO-SH. Imagine a large, wet potato (a 'spud') falling into water with a 'splosh'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID IS A CLUMSY ENTITY; SPENDING MONEY IS POURING OUT LIQUID.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'splosh' MOST appropriately used?