What is funny?

A funny thing is something that makes you laugh because it’s unexpected or silly.

Imagine you’re playing with your favorite toy, and suddenly it does something weird, like falling apart or making a funny noise. That's what being funny feels like! It’s when something happens that surprises you in a way that makes you giggle or even burst out laughing.

Why We Laugh

Sometimes, funny things happen because they’re not what we expect. Like if your brother says he’s going to eat your sandwich, and then he eats it without asking! That's silly, and it makes us laugh because it was unexpected.

Funny Can Be Simple

You don’t need a big joke or a funny story to be funny. Sometimes, just a silly face or a funny sound, like boing!, can make you laugh. It’s like when your pet dog does something silly and wiggles around like it's dancing.

So remember: funny is just something that makes you laugh because it’s surprising or silly, and it doesn’t have to be complicated!

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A kid tells a joke that makes their parent laugh out loud.
  2. A silly situation in a movie makes everyone in the theater chuckle.
  3. A teacher uses a funny analogy to explain math.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Science · humor· laughter· psychology