Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
pom pi pi

pom pi pi

9.9
A short, simple beat that keeps the rhythm in songs
  • noun
  • /pɑm pi pi/
  • Baby Talk
translation icon : pom pi pi
  • The children's song begins with a catchy pom pi pi that repeats throughout the melody.

Examples

  • The drummer tapped out a pom pi pi that got everyone clapping along.

  • During the parade, the marching band kept a steady pom pi pi on their snare drums.

  • The children sang a fun pom pi pi song.

  • Can you hear the pom pi pi from the band?

  • The children's song begins with a catchy pom pi pi that repeats throughout the melody.

  • During the parade, the marching band kept a steady pom pi pi on their snare drums.

  • The drummer tapped out a pom pi pi that got everyone clapping along.

Synonyms

bomp
vspom pi pi
3 8.4

A soft thumping sound often heard in music or play

is more imitative and less forceful than that strong percussive thump
pitty-pat
vspom pi pi
1 9.9

In a light, quick way that sounds like small steps or a heartbeat

is generally stronger and meant for melodic imitation rather than soft tapping
pit-a-pat
vspom pi pi
1 8.9

In a quick, light, repeated way like a small heartbeat

is usually stronger and more songlike rather than being a soft tapping sound
oompa
vspom pi pi
9.7

A lively, bouncy rhythm used in brass or folk music

is broader and usually used as a simple imitated beat in songs
oompah
vspom pi pi
8.4

Having a strong repeated brass beat that makes people want to dance

is more general and playful often used for imitation in children's songs

Surface Forms

pom pi pi singular
pom pi pis plural

Morphology

pom + pi + pi

The string 'pom pi pi' is clearly onomatopoeic/reduplicative and evokes a rhythmic beat, so learners can often infer its meaning from its sound-pattern and repetition even though the individual syllables are not lexical English words. Because its interpretability relies on sound symbolism and cross-linguistically common rhythmic reduplication rather than compositional meanings of known constituents, the expression is partially but not fully predictable.

Etymology

Pom pi pi may come from people copying the quick drum noises pom, pi, pi when they play or sing, like one strong hit followed by two light taps. That's why pom pi pi is used to mean 'a short, catchy beat' or 'a rhythmic sound'.