JAMB UTME Prep•13 Sept 2026• 3 min read

Figures of Speech for JAMB English – Explained with Examples

Understand figures of speech for JAMB English with simple explanations and examples — the way they actually show up in JAMB questions.

A figure of speech is language used in a non-literal way to create a specific effect — and JAMB tests around 10-15 of these regularly. Here's exactly how they show up and how to identify them fast.

What Are Figures of Speech?

Figures of speech are words or phrases used beyond their literal meaning to make writing more vivid, persuasive, or memorable. In JAMB English, you'll usually be given a sentence and asked to identify which figure of speech is being used, or asked to identify the meaning of an idiomatic expression.

How JAMB Tests This

JAMB English typically asks:

Identify the figure of speech used in a given sentence
Choose the correct example of a named figure of speech from four options
Interpret the meaning of a figurative sentence

Below are the figures of speech that appear most often, with clear definitions and examples.

The Most Commonly Tested Figures of Speech

1. Simile

A comparison between two different things using "like" or "as." Example: "Her smile was as bright as the sun."

2. Metaphor

A direct comparison between two things without using "like" or "as" — it states one thing is another. Example: "Time is a thief."

3. Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."

4. Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally. Example: "I've told you a million times."

5. Metonymy

Referring to something by a word closely associated with it, rather than its own name. Example: "The crown announced new laws" (crown = monarchy/king).

6. Synecdoche

Using a part of something to represent the whole (or the whole to represent a part). Example: "All hands on deck" (hands = sailors/people).

7. Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it describes. Example: "The bees buzzed around the flowers."

8. Irony

Saying something that means the opposite of what's literally stated, often for effect. Example: "What a beautiful day," said during a heavy storm.

9. Euphemism

A mild or indirect expression used in place of a harsh or blunt one. Example: "He passed away" instead of "he died."

10. Oxymoron

Two contradictory terms used together. Example: "Deafening silence."

Worked Example: Identifying Figures of Speech

Question: "The classroom was a zoo during the break." What figure of speech is used?

Answer: Metaphor. The classroom is directly being called "a zoo," without using "like" or "as," to describe how chaotic and noisy it was. This is a direct comparison — the definition of a metaphor.

Try It Yourself

Identify the figure of speech in each sentence:

"The stars danced in the night sky."
"This bag weighs a ton!"
"The pen is mightier than the sword."

Answers:

Personification (stars given the human ability to dance)
Hyperbole (exaggeration — the bag doesn't actually weigh a ton)
Metonymy (pen = writing/words, sword = violence/war)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing simile and metaphor — remember, if "like" or "as" is present, it's a simile; if not, it's a metaphor
Mixing up metonymy and synecdoche — metonymy uses an associated word, synecdoche uses a part of the actual thing
Overlooking hyperbole in formal-sounding sentences — exaggeration can still be dressed in serious language

Continue practicing with our JAMB English past questions or explore common mistakes students make in JAMB English essay writing. For the full subject breakdown, visit the JAMB English guide.