What does motif mean?
Word: Motif
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Motif means a small design used as decoration, often repeated, such as a peacock on a scarf. It can also be an idea or tune that runs through a story or a piece of music.
Synonyms: design, pattern
How do you spell motif?
Syllables: mo - tif
Tricky part: The second syllable has a long 'ee' sound, yet children who write it as they hear it add letters it does not need. A longer word looks very like this one, so read the sentence before you choose.
Watch out for: moteef, moteaf, motief
Memory tip: That long 'ee' sound is carried by a single i, the same lone letter that says 'ee' in police and machine.
Motif in a sentence
Example 1: Each page of the school magazine has a small leaf motif in the corner.
Example 2: My grandmother's silk scarf has a peacock motif running along its border.
Example 3: The author uses a locked door as a motif in the novel.
Fun Fact
One of the best-known motifs in the world is the curved teardrop shape called paisley. It is named after a Scottish town whose weavers copied the patterned shawls of Kashmir.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Twins
Choose the option that fills both blanks correctly:
1. The potter pressed a lotus ___ into the side of each clay cup. 2. Felix's ___ for joining the debating club was to become a more confident speaker.
a) motif/motive
b) 'motive' in both
c) motive/motif
d) 'motif' in both
Show answer
a) motif/motive. A shape pressed into clay as decoration is a motif; the reason behind what Felix did is his motive.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) midriff
b) motiff
c) tariff
d) cliff
Show answer
b) motiff. Tariff, midriff and cliff really do end with a double letter; the word for a repeated design has just one f.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
tfomi 12345
a) 43125
b) 43152
c) 41352
d) 34152
Show answer
b) 43152. Taking the letters in the order 4, 3, 1, 5, 2 gives the word for a repeated design.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. motive 2. motif 3. motion 4. motor
a) 3214
b) 2134
c) 2314
d) 2341
Show answer
c) 2314. All four share mot, so the next letters decide: the words with i come before motor, and among those f, o and v settle the order.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where would you be most likely to notice a motif?
a) in the answers to a maths test
b) on the tiles of a bathroom wall
c) on the timetable for a school bus
d) in the total on a shop bill
Show answer
b) on the tiles of a bathroom wall
2. If a film has a musical motif, what would you expect to notice?
a) a short tune that keeps returning
b) a loud song played once at the end
c) no music in any of its scenes
d) a completely new tune in every scene
Show answer
a) a short tune that keeps returning
