What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is when authors use words in creative ways to make their writing more interesting. It helps you imagine what’s happening by comparing things, exaggerating, or using expressions that don’t mean exactly what they say.

Types of Figurative Language

• Simile: compares two things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion")
• Metaphor: says something is something else (e.g., "time is a thief")
• Personification: gives human traits to things (e.g., "the leaves danced in the wind")
• Hyperbole: uses exaggeration (e.g., "I've told you a million times!")

Why It Matters

Understanding figurative language helps you enjoy stories more and figure out what the author really means.

Everyday Connections

People use figurative language all the time, like saying, "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!" They don't mean it literally—they're just really hungry.