1. Amplitude: This is the maximum displacement of a wave from its resting position. Think of it as the "height" of the wave. A wave with a higher amplitude carries more energy.

2. Wavelength: This is the distance between two corresponding points on successive waves. Imagine the distance between two crests (or troughs) of a wave. Shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies.

3. Frequency: This is the number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time. Think of it as how often a wave "repeats" itself. Higher frequencies correspond to shorter wavelengths.

4. Speed: This is the rate at which a wave travels through a medium. It depends on the properties of the medium the wave is traveling through.

These four properties are fundamental to understanding the behavior and characteristics of all types of waves, whether it's sound waves, light waves, or water waves.