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“A comic book says humorous issues; a comic says issues humorous.” — Ed Wynn
If this quote made you smile, you have to be very proud.
Humor is a vital a part of any tradition. Laughing collectively makes us really feel nearer and provides us one thing to share with pals and strangers. It’s additionally a straightforward option to get to know a brand new tradition.
Understanding humor as an English learner is a large step in direction of understanding English like a local. At the moment, due to the Web, jokes in English are throughout us.
Listed below are 11 kinds of jokes in English, all with examples, explanations and audio.
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1. Traditional Jokes
Traditional or conventional jokes are jokes which have been round for some time. They aren’t as in style anymore due to the Web, however they’re nonetheless classics. Conventional jokes often appear like a brief story or a question-and-answer format.
A few of the most well-known conventional jokes embrace:
Rooster crossing the street jokes
Q: Why did the rooster cross the street?
A: To get to the opposite facet!
Clarification: You count on a humorous response to the query, however the reply is actually apparent. That’s the reason this joke is humorous! Of course the rooster is crossing the road to get to the opposite facet. Why else would it not cross the street? Some individuals additionally say “the opposite facet” actually means “dying,” as a result of the rooster will die crossing the street by getting hit by a automotive.
This joke has been reused many instances with different animals and other people. Simply substitute the rooster with something and add an applicable response. For instance:
Q: Why did the duck cross the street?
A: As a result of it was the rooster’s time without work.
Clarification: The duck is doing the rooster’s job of crossing the street!
Listed below are just a few different in style solutions to this age-old query:
A: As a result of she felt prefer it.
Clarification: This reply is simply apparent sufficient to be humorous.
A: To alter the sunshine bulb.
Clarification: This reply refers to a different kind of traditional English joke, known as…
Mild bulb jokes
Mild bulb jokes ask: “How many individuals does it take to screw in a lightweight bulb?”
Altering a lightweight bulb is a fairly straightforward job, and also you don’t often want any assist. These jokes use gentle bulbs as a measure of intelligence (how good somebody is). They use stereotypes of sure kinds of individuals, like legal professionals, blondes or policemen.
Right here’s one in style instance:
Q: What number of policemen does it take to screw in a lightweight bulb?
A: None. It turned itself in.
Clarification: “Turning itself in” can imply that the sunshine bulb screwed (turned) itself in, or that it went to the police station and admitted to committing against the law, so no officers have been wanted.
Listed below are just a few different instance of sunshine bulb jokes:
Q: What number of actors does it take to vary a lightweight bulb?
A: Just one. They don’t like sharing the highlight.
Clarification: In keeping with stereotypes, actors are useless and wish consideration on the stage, so that they don’t need to share the (spot)gentle whereas altering the sunshine bulb.
Q: What number of Jewish grandmothers does it take to vary a lightweight bulb?
A: It doesn’t matter. We will simply sit at nighttime.
Clarification: In keeping with stereotypes, Jewish grandmothers are martyrs, and due to this, they don’t need to be fussed over, so they are going to fortunately sit in a darkish room as a substitute of adjusting the sunshine bulb.
Knock knock jokes
These traditional jokes at all times observe the identical order. Somebody says “knock knock,” and another person responds, “who’s there?”
The knocker then provides a solution of who’s on the door. This may be something, like an animal, a factor and even only a sound. The sound is repeated with the query phrase “who?” after which the knocker delivers the punchline.
Listed below are some examples:
A: Knock knock.
B: Who’s there?
A: Lettuce.
B: Lettuce who?
A: Allow us to in! It’s chilly out right here.
Clarification: “Lettuce” appears like “Allow us to” in English.
A: Knock knock.
B: Who’s there?
A: Figs.
B: Figs who?
A: Repair your doorbell. It’s not working.
Clarification: In spoken English, “figs” sounds lots like “repair.”
A: Knock knock.
B: Who’s there?
A: Nun.
B: Nun who?
A: None of your enterprise.
Clarification: In spoken English, “nun” and “none” sound precisely the identical.
You in all probability is not going to hear many crossing the street jokes, gentle bulb jokes or knock knock jokes. That’s as a result of they’re so previous that everybody has heard them.
You possibly can, nevertheless, inform a conventional gentle bulb joke a couple of fashionable subject, like this one about Apple workers:
Q: What number of Apple workers does it take to vary a lightweight bulb?
A: Seven. One to vary the bulb and 6 to design and promote the T-shirt.
Clarification: This joke makes enjoyable of the way in which Apple runs their enterprise, specializing in design and advertising as a substitute of precise work.
Discover it on-line: There are nonetheless many web sites devoted to traditional jokes. Web sites like Reader’s Digest have big collections of jokes, a few of which discuss fashionable subjects.
2. One-Liner Jokes
A one-liner has just one line or sentence. As a result of they’re so brief, it’s actually vital to grasp each phrase or you possibly can miss the which means.
For some nice examples of one-liners, watch this video of the late comic Mitch Hedberg. Hedberg was a humorist, a kind of comic who stands and tells his jokes in entrance of an viewers.
Stand-up comedians’ jokes are often anecdotes (extra on these subsequent!), however practically all of Hedberg’s routine was made up of one-liners. Take this one, for instance:
“I attempted to stroll into Goal… however I missed.”
Clarification: Goal is a retailer, but it surely’s additionally an object that you simply purpose for. This one-liner is definitely a pun, or a play on phrases. We’ll discuss extra about these later too!
“I simply flew in from New York. My arms are drained.”
Clarification: The joke teller is pretending he flew like a hen, by flapping his arms, as a substitute of on a airplane.
“I don’t endure from madness. I occur to get pleasure from each second of it.”
Clarification: The joke teller is admitting that they’re slightly insane. They’re additionally insisting they prefer it, so that they don’t endure from it—they get pleasure from it!
“So, apparently my smoke alarm can be a meals critic now.”
Clarification: This joke teller is such a nasty prepare dinner that they burn every little thing, which triggers (activates) their smoke alarm, which additionally lets the joke teller know that they’ll’t prepare dinner, identical to a meals critic does.
If you happen to don’t perceive why a one-liner is humorous, attempt wanting up the phrases in a dictionary. Is there multiple which means? Is a phrase used differently?
You can too search Google for any names or references you don’t perceive (for instance, trying to find Goal would clarify that it’s a retailer, in case you didn’t already know that).
Discover it on-line: On X (beforehand generally known as Twitter), the comic Summer time Ray has nice one-liner jokes that use observations about life to make humorous feedback. You can too discover some nice one-liners on Reddit.
3. Anecdote Jokes
An anecdote is a brief story about one thing that actually occurred to you or somebody you understand. They’re humorous as a result of they’re actually true.
To know anecdotes, it’s essential to “put your self in another person’s sneakers,” or think about being the individual within the anecdote. It additionally helps to understand how individuals behave, since anecdotes usually present individuals doing surprising or foolish issues.
Listed below are a few examples:
Clarification: While you order a drink at Starbucks, they write your title on the cup to allow them to name you as soon as it’s prepared. Marc identified that his title is spelled with a “C” as a result of the title is often spelled with a “Ok” on the finish, like “Mark.” As an alternative of writing “Marc,” the clerk wrote Cark… which simply doesn’t make sense!
Clarification: This poor trainer was insulted by their scholar. The scholar was suggesting that the trainer’s magnificence had pale a while in the past, so the assertion “I’m stunning” was clearly prior to now tense and not true.
Discover it on-line: Generally an anecdote turns into so in style that it’s shared amongst many individuals on-line. One instance is from Lindy West, who shared her story of discovering a potential spider’s nest, which implies she posted updates because it was occurring, and the outcome was hilarious.
You’ll find extra anecdotes on Reader’s Digest, the place customers submit their very own humorous brief tales from their lives.
4. Non Sequitur Jokes
That is an particularly enjoyable kind of joke as a result of it makes use of nonsense as its comedic supply!
“Non sequitur” is a Latin time period which means “It doesn’t observe.” A non sequitur is whenever you attempt to join two factors that don’t have anything to do with one another, and there are sometimes hilarious outcomes.
One of the vital well-known non sequitur jokes was written by the writer Lewis Carroll in his ebook “Alice in Wonderland,” when he requested:
“How is a raven like a writing desk?”
There is no such thing as a proper reply right here, as a result of a raven and a desk clearly don’t have anything to do with one another. Many individuals have supplied their very own solutions, and each makes much less sense than the final, like this one:
“As a result of there’s a ‘b’ in each.”
(Neither phrase has a “b” in it, clearly.)
Carroll’s personal reply was:
“Each are N-E-V-A-R put backwards.”
Clarification: “Nevar” is “raven” spelled backwards, and a writing desk shouldn’t be positioned backwards otherwise you gained’t have the ability to write on it.
Don’t attempt to make sense of that, as a result of you possibly can’t! And that’s the purpose—it’s not imagined to make sense.
This type of joke will be irritating for English learners as a result of it’s arduous to inform when a joke is a non sequitur. An excellent signal that one thing isn’t imagined to make sense is when the punchline appears to be a couple of fully completely different topic.
The favored comic Norm MacDonald, who was on the American comedy present “Saturday Night time Dwell” for a few years, was well-known for his non sequitur jokes, a few of that are on this clip:
Discover it on-line: Many memes use non sequiturs, resembling this one. You’ll find different memes on Know Your Meme.
5. Parody Jokes
A parody makes enjoyable of one thing by copying it in a humorous approach.
The favored late evening present “Saturday Night time Dwell” makes use of parodies to make enjoyable of present reveals, films and real-world occasions. Comic Al Yankovic creates parodies of songs by utilizing the identical music however altering the phrases. For instance, Bizarre Al’s music “Cheesy” makes use of the identical music as Pharrell’s “Completely happy.” It even makes enjoyable of the music video.
Understanding a parody often requires realizing the unique supply. You’ll find out the unique by looking Google for “what’s (music, joke, skit, and so on.) a parody of?”
For instance, TL;DR Wikipedia is a hilarious Instagram account that parodies Wikipedia articles into brief, humorous jokes. For instance, for the U.S. vacation of Presidents’ Day:
Clarification: This parody makes enjoyable of the assorted gross sales promotions at mattress shops and automotive dealerships that appear to pop up yearly within the U.S. over Presidents’ Day weekend.
Discover it on-line: There are whole parody web sites on-line, like The Onion, which writes faux tales that appear like information tales. Generally, individuals are fooled into considering they’re actual information articles!
6. Topical Jokes
Due to the Web, we all know what’s going on on this planet as it’s occurring.
Meaning we are able to additionally make enjoyable of something because it’s occurring. Even issues which might be “no laughing matter,” or very severe, can’t escape from the Web’s need to make every little thing humorous.
Topical jokes are made throughout or proper after some large present occasion. They are often controversial, and a few use darkish humor. You may even see a topical joke a couple of tragedy adopted by the phrase “too quickly?” which implies, “is it too quickly to make gentle of this unhealthy factor that occurred?”
Listed below are a few examples:
Clarification: IKEA is a Swedish furnishings retailer that’s well-known for promoting furnishings that you simply assemble (put collectively) by your self. The joke is that even the legal professionals are having bother assembling proof and placing their authorized case in opposition to IKEA collectively. This joke makes use of one thing that’s at present occurring as a setup for a pun.
Clarification: The great deed of the DoorDash supply individual isn’t acknowledged, for comedian impact, despite the fact that they saved the client’s life.
Within the U.S., late evening comedy reveals are the primary supply of topical jokes. Right here’s a monologue from “The Jimmy Kimmel Present,” the place Jimmy tells topical jokes about present occasions:
Discover it on-line: Topical humor is in all places on the Web, particularly on social media web sites the place individuals share present occasions, like TikTok and Fb.
7. Ironic Jokes
An ironic joke is a joke that claims one factor however really means one other factor—often the other.
Check out some examples to see what I imply:
“I want I knew what it’s I’m making an attempt not to consider.”
Clarification: Charlie Brown of the Peanuts is making an attempt not take into consideration one thing, however he can’t even keep in mind what it’s!
“I count on nothing and it’s nonetheless an excessive amount of.”
Clarification: This ironic joke can be from well-known cartoon character Charlie Brown. Right here, he doesn’t count on something to occur. Then, when nothing occurs, it’s nonetheless overwhelming (troublesome to cope with).
Right here’s one other instance that most individuals can relate to:
“The pandemic helped individuals unite all around the globe by holding their distance.”
Clarification: Within the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, most individuals went into lockdown (stayed house and practiced social distancing (staying away from others). As a result of everybody took half on this, individuals felt a lot nearer to one another despite the fact that they have been far aside bodily.
If you happen to don’t perceive an ironic joke, attempt to determine which two components of the joke don’t make sense collectively.
Discover it on-line: This submit from BoredPanda has over 100 ironic jokes—see what number of you perceive!
8. Observational Jokes
An observational joke discusses on a regular basis objects, individuals or conditions. Some of these jokes usually begin with, “Have you ever ever observed…?” or “Do you ever surprise why…?”
Often, the subject of the joke will probably be acquainted to most individuals. Nonetheless, it isn’t one thing they’ve actually thought of earlier than. The joke then factors out the humor.
Right here’s a video instance from comic George Carlin, speaking about “stuff”:
Discover it on-line: Observational jokes usually come up in stand-up comedy performances. You possibly can search YouTube for stand-up comedy performances by individuals like George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld and John Mulaney to listen to extra observational jokes.
9. Character Jokes
Generally, a comic or somebody telling a joke will faux to be a sure kind of humorous character.
The character often has a really clear character trait that’s both amusing, entertaining, annoying or some mixture of the three.
One in style instance comes from late evening tv host Stephen Colbert, who performed a personality (additionally known as Stephen Colbert) on his present “The Colbert Report.” The character was very political and would say issues like:
Clarification: Roe v. Wade is an important courtroom case within the U.S. in regards to the delicate subject of abortion (ending a being pregnant). However the names additionally sound just like the phrases “row” (how you progress a small boat) and “wade” (strolling by water)—two methods you may attempt to get throughout a lake.
A extremely nice instance of character comedy comes from the TV present “Saturday Night time Dwell,” talked about above. This present makes use of plenty of character jokes, particularly throughout the Weekend Replace section. You possibly can check out 20 of the preferred Weekend Replace characters on this video:
Discover it on-line: Once more, “Saturday Night time Dwell” is stuffed with character jokes. You’ll find extra video examples on the official YouTube channel.
10. Puns/Wordplay Jokes
Wordplay is concerned in any joke the place the phrases themselves assist make the joke humorous. Right here’s an instance:
“What do I appear like, an inferior decorator?”
Clarification: “Inferior decorator” appears like “inside decorator”—an individual who designs or decorates the within of a home or constructing. The phrase “inferior,” nevertheless, means low high quality or standing.
Puns are a highly regarded kind of wordplay. These jokes use phrases which have a number of meanings. Right here’s a double pun by well-known British writer Douglas Adams:
Clarification: To “tune a guitar” means to repair the guitar strings so that they make the proper sounds. However “tune a” additionally appears like “tuna,” which is a kind of fish. A “bass” is the phrase for an additional kind of fish, but it surely’s additionally the phrase for an additional kind of guitar.
Many English pick-up traces are literally puns! However watch out utilizing them whenever you discuss to your crush. Individuals often really feel fairly strongly about puns. Some individuals suppose they’re lame and never humorous in any respect, however others discover them completely “punny”… a pun that’s humorous!
Discover it on-line: Pun.me is an entire web site devoted to puns and different kinds of jokes! You may additionally hear puns made by English discuss present hosts or by characters in comedic films or TV reveals.
11. Slapstick/Bodily Jokes
A slapstick is an easy comedic instrument product of two items of wooden. If you happen to “hit” somebody with a slapstick, the wooden items smack collectively and make a loud noise. It appears to be like and sounds just like the individual actually acquired slapped, however in truth, the slapstick gained’t damage them in any respect.
As of late, “slapstick” often refers to a sure sort of bodily comedy. It entails giant, overly enthusiastic and dramatic motion. Usually, this sort of comedy additionally entails individuals preventing or hitting one another.
Right here’s an instance of traditional slapstick, known as “For Heaven’s Sake”:
As a result of slapstick entails bodily motion, there’s often not a lot speaking. That’s true of most bodily comedy, really.
There are many fashionable examples of individuals utilizing and having fun with bodily jokes, too. Check out well-known comic Mr. Bean performing on the opening of the 2012 Olympics in London:
So, even when traditional slapstick comedy isn’t humorous to you, there could also be different kinds of bodily comedy that you simply respect (get pleasure from).
Discover it on-line: Charlie Chaplin was an especially well-known bodily comic from the times of black-and-white movies. You’ll find a group of his clips on YouTube. Equally, you possibly can see extra of Mr. Bean on his YouTube channel.
What Makes a Good Joke?
An excellent joke—fairly merely—makes individuals snicker!
Jokes often have a setup and a punchline. The setup units up, or introduces, the situation or story, providing you with any info it’s essential to perceive the humorous half. The punchline is the humorous half.
There are numerous kinds of jokes, and also you won’t discover all of them humorous. Usually, joke presents info informed in some new or surprising approach. Some use foolish humor whereas others make enjoyable of extra severe topics. Jokes often use both present occasions or common subjects (subjects that everybody can perceive, like marriage, work, college or pals).
Not all jokes are optimistic, both. Some jokes are offensive—they’ll make some individuals really feel unhealthy. Some use stereotypes—basic statements about individuals which aren’t essentially true. Understanding why these jokes are offensive or what makes them humorous (even when you don’t suppose they’re humorous) is an indication that you simply’re nearer to realizing English like a local.
How the Web Has Modified Jokes
Earlier than the Web, jokes have been principally made on TV reveals, by comedians, amongst pals or at events. Now, due to the Web, we’re all comedians! Social media web sites, remark sections and even some information web sites are stuffed with jokes by extraordinary individuals such as you and me.
This has additionally modified the way in which jokes look. Jokes was just a few sentences lengthy. Web jokes are often shorter, they usually can mix phrases with pictures and brief movies, like in memes.
Earlier than the Web, you could possibly arrange a joke by saying one thing like “cease me in case you’ve heard this one earlier than…” On-line, there’s no want to do that. One thing in regards to the Web makes us need to make witty, hilarious feedback.
Be taught English with Jokes
Jokes are a wonderful English studying instrument as a result of they usually have a number of meanings. To know a joke, it’s essential to perceive:
- The vocabulary the joke makes use of
- Completely different meanings of sure phrases
- Cultural or popular culture references
For instance, learn this joke:
“A person walks right into a bar… and breaks his nostril.”
Clarification: Why is that this humorous? As a result of it makes use of the a number of meanings of “bar” in English.
It begins out by establishing a traditional kind of joke (many English jokes start with “a person walks right into a bar,” which means that he walks into a spot to have a drink). Then it makes use of the opposite which means of the phrase “bar.” A bar could be a place the place you go for drinks, or it may be an extended, spherical piece of wooden or steel.
On this joke, you count on the “bar” with the primary definition, so that you suppose that the person is coming into a bar to have a drink… however then how did he break his nostril? He broke his nostril as a result of he walked into the different sort of bar—a bit of steel or wooden—and damage himself!
See how a lot it’s essential to know to grasp only one brief joke?
It’s all proper in case you don’t catch onto humor in English instantly, however don’t be discouraged! There are many various things you are able to do that will help you perceive jokes slightly higher, resembling watching comedies and in style sitcoms.
Films and TV reveals, as prompt by the video under, are crammed with quips, jabs and gags to provide you a greater thought of what’s thought-about humorous in English:
Discover extra comedy—and different pure studying alternatives—in native English movies on the FluentU program.
Listed below are some primary ideas for studying from jokes:
- Lookup names. Search Google for any names talked about in a joke. Jokes about Trump, Biden, Goal, Presidents’ Day or Taylor Swift are funnier when you understand who or what they’re.
- Test the dictionary for a number of phrase meanings. As talked about, some phrases have multiple which means, and plenty of jokes make use of that.
- Lookup vocabulary phrases. Many jokes are brief, so it’s vital to grasp each phrase.
- Ask the joke teller to elucidate. Positive, this isn’t perfect—usually when jokes are defined, they lose their impact. However in case you don’t perceive the joke, ask! You then’ll have the required background information to inform the joke your self sometime.
Jokes are an effective way to study whereas having enjoyable, too!
Let’s return to that Ed Wynn quote from the beginning of this submit: “A comic book says humorous issues; a comic says issues humorous.”
In case you don’t fairly get it, the quote is explaining the distinction between a comic book and a comic.
A comic book makes individuals snicker by saying issues which might be humorous. However a comic makes individuals snicker by making something humorous, even when it’s not humorous by itself. A comic can discuss in regards to the regular issues we do in our on a regular basis lives and make them humorous. Which do you suppose is tougher to do?
You in all probability gained’t discover all of the jokes on this article humorous, however in case you can perceive why they’re humorous, you’re doing nice!
Obtain:
This weblog submit is offered as a handy and transportable PDF that you simply
can take wherever.
Click on right here to get a duplicate. (Obtain)
And One Extra Factor…
If you happen to like studying English by films and on-line media, you must also try FluentU. FluentU permits you to study English from in style discuss reveals, catchy music movies and humorous commercials, as you possibly can see right here:
If you wish to watch it, the FluentU app has in all probability acquired it.
The FluentU app and web site makes it very easy to observe English movies. There are captions which might be interactive. Meaning you possibly can faucet on any phrase to see a picture, definition, and helpful examples.
FluentU permits you to study participating content material with world well-known celebrities.
For instance, whenever you faucet on the phrase “looking,” you see this:
FluentU permits you to faucet to search for any phrase.
Be taught all of the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or proper to see extra examples for the phrase you’re studying.
FluentU helps you study quick with helpful questions and a number of examples. Be taught extra.
The perfect half? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you simply’re studying. It provides you further observe with troublesome phrases—and reminds you when it’s time to evaluation what you’ve discovered. You could have a very personalised expertise.
Begin utilizing the FluentU web site in your laptop or pill or, higher but, obtain the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play retailer. Click on right here to make the most of our present sale! (Expires on the finish of this month.)
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