Words that sound funny when you say them.
Words That Will Keep You Entertained!
If
you need a good laugh today, here are 101 words that are funny to say.
Read them out loud to a friend, coworker, or just enjoy sounding like an
idiot all by yourself. Try it, you'll see.
Why are these words so funny? Maybe it's because they make a funny sound (like plop, splat, gobble, or smooch) or because they contain sounds that are uncommon in English (like klutz, schlep, and gesundheit). Dr. Seuss was a wizard at making up words to make us laugh (as in diffendoofer, gootch, bippo-no-bungus, and muddle-puddle-tweetle-poodle-beetle-noodle-bottle-paddle-battle")! For whatever reason, the 101 words I've listed below are funny, and I've included each word's definition to show that its humor does not necessarily depend on its meaning (although sometimes the word's definition adds to the fun!).
At the end of this article, I have also included some fun word games, both online and printable, and games to play when you are bored.
Have fun!
Why are these words so funny? Maybe it's because they make a funny sound (like plop, splat, gobble, or smooch) or because they contain sounds that are uncommon in English (like klutz, schlep, and gesundheit). Dr. Seuss was a wizard at making up words to make us laugh (as in diffendoofer, gootch, bippo-no-bungus, and muddle-puddle-tweetle-poodle-beetle-noodle-bottle-paddle-battle")! For whatever reason, the 101 words I've listed below are funny, and I've included each word's definition to show that its humor does not necessarily depend on its meaning (although sometimes the word's definition adds to the fun!).
At the end of this article, I have also included some fun word games, both online and printable, and games to play when you are bored.
Have fun!
Funny Words A—D (from Acerbate to Docimasy)
1. acerbate: To embitter or exasperate; to make sour or bitter; a bitter person.
2. acidulous: Rather sour or sharp in speech, manner, etc.; acid.
3. Addis Ababa: The capital of Ethiopia which lies on a central plateau 2400 m (8000 ft.) above sea level: founded in 1887; became capital in 1896.
4. axolotl (pronounced ax-o-lottle): Aquatic salamander of the North American genus Ambystoma, esp. A. mexicanum (Mexican axolotl), in which the larval form (including external gills) is retained throughout life under natural conditions.
5. ayahuasca (pronounced ayah-waska): A hallucinogenic brew made from the bark and stems of a tropical South American vine of the genus Banisteriopsis, especiallyB. caapi, which is mixed with other psychotropic plants and used especially in shamanistic rituals by certain Amazonian Indian peoples.
6. ballyhoo: Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity; noisy shouting or uproar.
7. befuddle: To confuse, muddle, or perplex; to make stupid with drink.
8. bespangle: To cover or adorn with (or as if with) brilliant sparkling or glittering things.
9. bifurcate: To divide or separate into two parts or branches; fork.
10. blip: A spot of light on a radar or sonar screen indicating the position of a detected object, such as an aircraft or a submarine. A high-pitched electronic sound; a bleep.
11. bobolink: An American migratory songbird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), the male of which has black, white, and yellowish plumage.
12. booby: A person regarded as stupid.
2. acidulous: Rather sour or sharp in speech, manner, etc.; acid.
3. Addis Ababa: The capital of Ethiopia which lies on a central plateau 2400 m (8000 ft.) above sea level: founded in 1887; became capital in 1896.
4. axolotl (pronounced ax-o-lottle): Aquatic salamander of the North American genus Ambystoma, esp. A. mexicanum (Mexican axolotl), in which the larval form (including external gills) is retained throughout life under natural conditions.
5. ayahuasca (pronounced ayah-waska): A hallucinogenic brew made from the bark and stems of a tropical South American vine of the genus Banisteriopsis, especiallyB. caapi, which is mixed with other psychotropic plants and used especially in shamanistic rituals by certain Amazonian Indian peoples.
6. ballyhoo: Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity; noisy shouting or uproar.
7. befuddle: To confuse, muddle, or perplex; to make stupid with drink.
8. bespangle: To cover or adorn with (or as if with) brilliant sparkling or glittering things.
9. bifurcate: To divide or separate into two parts or branches; fork.
10. blip: A spot of light on a radar or sonar screen indicating the position of a detected object, such as an aircraft or a submarine. A high-pitched electronic sound; a bleep.
11. bobolink: An American migratory songbird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), the male of which has black, white, and yellowish plumage.
12. booby: A person regarded as stupid.
Awkward speaking moments.
13. boondoggle: An unnecessary or wasteful project or activity; a braided leather cord worn as a decoration (by boy scouts, for example).
14. bunghole: The hole in a cask, keg, or barrel through which liquid is poured in or drained out.
15. casuistry: Specious or excessively subtle reasoning intended to rationalize or mislead.
16. chintzy: Of, relating to, or decorated with chintz (a kind of multicolored cotton fabric); gaudy; trashy: poorly made merchandise; stingy; miserly.
17. chukka boot: An ankle-high boot made of suede or rubber and worn for playing polo.
18. crupper: A leather strap looped under a horse's tail and attached to a harness or saddle to keep it from slipping forward. The rump of a horse; the croup.
19. cuckold: A man married to an unfaithful wife.
20. defunct: No longer living; dead or extinct; no longer operative or valid.
21. dingus: An article whose name is unknown or forgotten. A person regarded as stupid.
22. dither: A state of indecisive agitation.
23. docimasy: An ancient Greek process whereby candidates for office or citizenship were judicially reviewed.
14. bunghole: The hole in a cask, keg, or barrel through which liquid is poured in or drained out.
15. casuistry: Specious or excessively subtle reasoning intended to rationalize or mislead.
16. chintzy: Of, relating to, or decorated with chintz (a kind of multicolored cotton fabric); gaudy; trashy: poorly made merchandise; stingy; miserly.
17. chukka boot: An ankle-high boot made of suede or rubber and worn for playing polo.
18. crupper: A leather strap looped under a horse's tail and attached to a harness or saddle to keep it from slipping forward. The rump of a horse; the croup.
19. cuckold: A man married to an unfaithful wife.
20. defunct: No longer living; dead or extinct; no longer operative or valid.
21. dingus: An article whose name is unknown or forgotten. A person regarded as stupid.
22. dither: A state of indecisive agitation.
23. docimasy: An ancient Greek process whereby candidates for office or citizenship were judicially reviewed.
“
Like Washington itself: complicated, unfair, and cluttered with gobbledygook.
— Ronald ReaganFun Words to Say (E—H); From Echinococcus to Hullabaloo
24. echinococcus: Any of several parasitic tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus, the larvae of which infect mammals and form large, spherical cysts in the liver or lungs, causing serious or fatal disease.
25. erysipelas: An acute disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by a species of hemolytic streptococcus and marked by localized inflammation and fever. Also called Saint Anthony's fire.
26. exculpate: To clear of guilt or blame.
27. flibbertigibbet: a frivolous, flighty person.
29. frippery: Pretentious, showy finery. Snobby elegance; ostentation. Something trivial or nonessential.
30. frou-frou (pronounced froo-froo): The rustling noise made by someone walking in a dress; frills or other ornamentation, particularly of women's clothes.
31. fuddy duddy: A fussy, critical, or old-fashioned person.
32. gadzooks: Used as a mild or ironic oath.
33. geebung: Any of various trees and shrubs of the genus Persoonia of Australia having an edible but tasteless fruit.
34. gibbous: Having a rounded, protuberant appearance, as in a pregnant woman or an almost-full moon.
28. filch: To take something, especially something of little value, in a furtive manner; steal.
35. gobbledygook: Unclear, wordy jargon.
36. guayule: A shrub (Parthenium argentatum) of the southwest United States and Mexico whose sap was a source of natural rubber during World War II.
37. harum-scarum: Lacking a sense of responsibility; reckless or careless.
38. hob nob: To associate familiarly or "rub shoulders" with, especially with those of higher social status.
39. hootenanny: An informal performance by folk singers, typically with participation of the audience, sometimes involving dance.
40. hubbub: Loud noise; confusion; tumult.
41. hullabaloo: Great noise or excitement; uproar.
25. erysipelas: An acute disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by a species of hemolytic streptococcus and marked by localized inflammation and fever. Also called Saint Anthony's fire.
26. exculpate: To clear of guilt or blame.
27. flibbertigibbet: a frivolous, flighty person.
29. frippery: Pretentious, showy finery. Snobby elegance; ostentation. Something trivial or nonessential.
30. frou-frou (pronounced froo-froo): The rustling noise made by someone walking in a dress; frills or other ornamentation, particularly of women's clothes.
31. fuddy duddy: A fussy, critical, or old-fashioned person.
32. gadzooks: Used as a mild or ironic oath.
33. geebung: Any of various trees and shrubs of the genus Persoonia of Australia having an edible but tasteless fruit.
34. gibbous: Having a rounded, protuberant appearance, as in a pregnant woman or an almost-full moon.
28. filch: To take something, especially something of little value, in a furtive manner; steal.
35. gobbledygook: Unclear, wordy jargon.
36. guayule: A shrub (Parthenium argentatum) of the southwest United States and Mexico whose sap was a source of natural rubber during World War II.
37. harum-scarum: Lacking a sense of responsibility; reckless or careless.
38. hob nob: To associate familiarly or "rub shoulders" with, especially with those of higher social status.
39. hootenanny: An informal performance by folk singers, typically with participation of the audience, sometimes involving dance.
40. hubbub: Loud noise; confusion; tumult.
41. hullabaloo: Great noise or excitement; uproar.
There's no angry way to say "bubbles."
Funny Words I—M: From Ichthyoid to Molly Coddle
42. ichthyoid: A fish or fishlike vertebrate.
43. ignominious: Marked by shame or disgrace.
44. iproniazid: A compound used as an antidepressant and formerly used to treat tuberculosis.
45. itty-bitty: Very small.
46. jabberwocky: Nonsensical speech or writing; invented or meaningless language; nonsense.
47. jackanapes: A conceited or impudent person; a mischievous child; an impertinent person; a tame monkey.
48. jinglingly: In a jingly manner.
49. kakapo: A flightless New Zealand parrot with greenish plumage.
50. kibitzer: One who looks on and offers unwanted, usually meddlesome, advice. (A "back seat driver.")
51. libelluloid: Like or pertaining to dragonflies.
52. lollygag: To waste time in aimless activity.
53. mazurka: A Polish dance resembling the polka, performed in triple time.
54. mellifluous: Flowing with sweetness or honey; smooth and sweet.
55. molly coddle: A man or boy used to being coddled; to pamper.
43. ignominious: Marked by shame or disgrace.
44. iproniazid: A compound used as an antidepressant and formerly used to treat tuberculosis.
45. itty-bitty: Very small.
46. jabberwocky: Nonsensical speech or writing; invented or meaningless language; nonsense.
47. jackanapes: A conceited or impudent person; a mischievous child; an impertinent person; a tame monkey.
48. jinglingly: In a jingly manner.
49. kakapo: A flightless New Zealand parrot with greenish plumage.
50. kibitzer: One who looks on and offers unwanted, usually meddlesome, advice. (A "back seat driver.")
51. libelluloid: Like or pertaining to dragonflies.
52. lollygag: To waste time in aimless activity.
53. mazurka: A Polish dance resembling the polka, performed in triple time.
54. mellifluous: Flowing with sweetness or honey; smooth and sweet.
55. molly coddle: A man or boy used to being coddled; to pamper.
"Marshmallows" is a funny word, no matter how you say it.
Funny Words N—R: From Namby-Pamby to Rugger Bugger
56. namby-pamby: Weak, insipid, indecisive; a feeble person.
57. nibblingly: In a nibbling manner.
58. nidifugous: Leaving the nest a short time after hatching.
59. niggle: To be preoccupied with trifles or petty details; to cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety; to find fault constantly and trivially.
60. obloquy: Abusively detractive language or utterance. The condition of disgrace suffered as a result of this abuse or vilification.
61. perspicacious: Having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted.
62. phantasmagoria: A fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever. A constantly changing scene composed of numerous fantastic elements.
63. piffle: Nonsense. To talk or act feebly or futilely.
64. popinjay: A vain, talkative person.
65. quagmire: Land with a soft muddy surface. A difficult or precarious situation; a predicament.
66. quaggy: Resembling a marsh; soggy; soft and flabby.
67. ragamuffin: A dirty and shabbily clothed child.
68. rubaboo: A soup or stew made by boiling pemmican (meat paste) with flour and vegetables.
69. rugger bugger: A male follower of rugby culture; an aggressively masculine young man who is devoted to sport.
57. nibblingly: In a nibbling manner.
58. nidifugous: Leaving the nest a short time after hatching.
59. niggle: To be preoccupied with trifles or petty details; to cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety; to find fault constantly and trivially.
60. obloquy: Abusively detractive language or utterance. The condition of disgrace suffered as a result of this abuse or vilification.
61. perspicacious: Having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted.
62. phantasmagoria: A fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever. A constantly changing scene composed of numerous fantastic elements.
63. piffle: Nonsense. To talk or act feebly or futilely.
64. popinjay: A vain, talkative person.
65. quagmire: Land with a soft muddy surface. A difficult or precarious situation; a predicament.
66. quaggy: Resembling a marsh; soggy; soft and flabby.
67. ragamuffin: A dirty and shabbily clothed child.
68. rubaboo: A soup or stew made by boiling pemmican (meat paste) with flour and vegetables.
69. rugger bugger: A male follower of rugby culture; an aggressively masculine young man who is devoted to sport.
Kids say the funniest things.
Funny Words S—U: From Scalawag to Umpteen
70. scalawag: A reprobate; a rascal. A white Southerner working for or supporting the federal government during Reconstruction.
71. shenanigan: A playful or mischievous act; a prank. Usually used in plural: Mischief; prankishness.
72. spicule: A small needlelike structure or part that is typically present in large numbers, such as a fine particle of ice.
73. spumoni: An Italian ice cream having layers of different colors or flavors and often containing fruits and nuts.
74. sputum: Matter coughed up and usually ejected from the mouth, including saliva, foreign material, and substances such as mucus or phlegm from the respiratory tract.
75. staphylococcus: A bacterium of a genus that includes many pathogenic kinds that cause pus formation, especially in the skin and mucous membranes.
76. swashbuckler: A blustering, swaggering fighting man.
77. teeny bopper: A faddish young teenager.
78. teetotaler: One who practices total abstinence from alcoholic liquor.
79. tintinnabulation: The ringing sound of bells.
80. titter: To laugh in a half-suppressed way; snicker.
81. tomfoolery: Foolish behavior; silliness.
82. tutelage: Guardianship; care; protection; instruction.
83. umiak: Large open Inuit or Eskimo boat made of skins stretched on a wooden frame, usually propelled by paddles.
84. umpteen: Relatively large amount, but unspecified in number.
71. shenanigan: A playful or mischievous act; a prank. Usually used in plural: Mischief; prankishness.
72. spicule: A small needlelike structure or part that is typically present in large numbers, such as a fine particle of ice.
73. spumoni: An Italian ice cream having layers of different colors or flavors and often containing fruits and nuts.
74. sputum: Matter coughed up and usually ejected from the mouth, including saliva, foreign material, and substances such as mucus or phlegm from the respiratory tract.
75. staphylococcus: A bacterium of a genus that includes many pathogenic kinds that cause pus formation, especially in the skin and mucous membranes.
76. swashbuckler: A blustering, swaggering fighting man.
77. teeny bopper: A faddish young teenager.
78. teetotaler: One who practices total abstinence from alcoholic liquor.
79. tintinnabulation: The ringing sound of bells.
80. titter: To laugh in a half-suppressed way; snicker.
81. tomfoolery: Foolish behavior; silliness.
82. tutelage: Guardianship; care; protection; instruction.
83. umiak: Large open Inuit or Eskimo boat made of skins stretched on a wooden frame, usually propelled by paddles.
84. umpteen: Relatively large amount, but unspecified in number.
“
Into this Universe and why not knowing, not whence, like water willy-nilly flowing.
— Omar KhayyamFunny Words to Say V—Z: From Vamoose to Zedonk
85. vamoose: To leave hurriedly.
86. vichyssoise: A thick, creamy potato soup flavored with leeks and onions, usually served cold.
87. vicissitudes: Changes or variations. A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant; alternation between opposite or contrasting things.
89. viviparous: Gestating offspring within the mother's body. (Most mammals and some other animals are viviparous.)
90. wampum: Small cylindrical beads made from polished shells, formerly used by certain Native American peoples as currency and jewelry or for ceremonial exchanges between groups.
91. whammy: A supernatural spell for subduing an adversary; a hex; serious or devastating setback.
92. wheedle: To persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery or guile.
93. whippersnapper: A person regarded as young, inexperienced, and overconfident.
94. whirligig: Any of various spinning toys. A carousel; a merry-go-round.
95. williwaw: A violent gust of cold wind blowing seaward from a mountainous coast, especially in the Straits of Magellan.
96. willy-nilly: Whether one likes it or not; without direction or planning; haphazardly.
97. xiphophyllous: Having sword-shaped leaves.
98. yeoman: An attendant, servant, or lesser official in a royal or noble household.
99. yitten: Frightened.
100: yuppify: To make (an urban area, for example) attractive to young affluent residents or consumers.
101. zedonk: The offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
86. vichyssoise: A thick, creamy potato soup flavored with leeks and onions, usually served cold.
87. vicissitudes: Changes or variations. A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant; alternation between opposite or contrasting things.
89. viviparous: Gestating offspring within the mother's body. (Most mammals and some other animals are viviparous.)
90. wampum: Small cylindrical beads made from polished shells, formerly used by certain Native American peoples as currency and jewelry or for ceremonial exchanges between groups.
91. whammy: A supernatural spell for subduing an adversary; a hex; serious or devastating setback.
92. wheedle: To persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery or guile.
93. whippersnapper: A person regarded as young, inexperienced, and overconfident.
94. whirligig: Any of various spinning toys. A carousel; a merry-go-round.
95. williwaw: A violent gust of cold wind blowing seaward from a mountainous coast, especially in the Straits of Magellan.
96. willy-nilly: Whether one likes it or not; without direction or planning; haphazardly.
97. xiphophyllous: Having sword-shaped leaves.
98. yeoman: An attendant, servant, or lesser official in a royal or noble household.
99. yitten: Frightened.
100: yuppify: To make (an urban area, for example) attractive to young affluent residents or consumers.
101. zedonk: The offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
It's hard to say "nutella" with a straight face.
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