funny
funny
Pronunciation
funny
/ˈfʌni/
fun-: /ˈfʌn/ - /f/ (voiceless labiodental fricative) + /ʌ/ (open-mid back unrounded vowel) + /n/ (alveolar nasal)
-ny: /ni/ - /n/ (alveolar nasal) + /i/ (close front unrounded vowel)
Word Form Variations
Adjective: funny (comparative: funnier, superlative: funniest)
Noun: funnies (plural, used colloquially to refer to comic strips)
Adverb: funnily (less common, meaning in a funny way)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Causing laughter or amusement; humorous in nature.
Synonyms: comical, amusing, hilarious, droll, jocular, witty
Antonyms: serious, unfunny, solemn, grave, humorless, tragic
Definition 2: Peculiar, strange, or odd in a way that might cause suspicion or bewilderment.
Synonyms: peculiar, strange, odd, unusual, curious, queer, suspicious
Antonyms: normal, ordinary, common, typical, regular, unsurprising
Noun
Definition 1: (plural, "the funnies") A section of a newspaper or magazine consisting of comic strips.
Synonyms: comic strips, comics, cartoons
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific usage)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Harry Potter found it funny that the Dursleys, who prided themselves on being perfectly normal, were so utterly terrified of anything out of the ordinary." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
"The old man had a funny glint in his eye, as if he knew a secret no one else did." (Author's original example, mimicking a common literary trope)
Newspapers:
"Local comedian brings funny anecdotes to sold-out crowd, delighting audiences with his unique observational humor." (The Daily Herald)
"There's something funny going on with the voting machines, according to several concerned citizens." (The Investigative Times)
Online Publications:
"10 Funny Tweets That Will Make Your Day Better" (BuzzFeed)
"The internet is a funny place; one minute you're watching cat videos, the next you're deep-diving into quantum physics." (Reddit user comment)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television: "That's a funny joke, Sheldon." (Sheldon Cooper's catchphrase from The Big Bang Theory)
Film: "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin' to? You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here. Who the hell do you think you're talkin' to? Oh yeah? Okay." (Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, often parodied as a "funny" moment for its intensity)
Music: "I've got a funny feeling that I'm not alone in this world." (Lyrical excerpt from a folk song, [hypothetical])
Stand-up Comedy: "My life is just a series of funny mishaps and awkward encounters." (Comedian's opening line)
Social Media (TikTok/YouTube): A popular TikTok trend might feature users lip-syncing to a "funny sound" clip or reacting to a "funny video." (Observational example of social media content)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you hear that funny story about the dog chasing its tail for five minutes straight?" (Casual conversation between friends)
"There's something funny about the way that car is parked; it looks like it's about to roll away." (Observation from a pedestrian)
"My stomach feels a bit funny after that meal." (Someone describing a mild stomach discomfort)
"It's funny how things work out sometimes, isn't it? You plan one thing, and life takes you somewhere completely different." (Reflective comment in a conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Funny
"I'm not a comic, I'm a humorist. I just tell stories that happen to be funny." (Bill Murray)
"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." (W. Somerset Maugham)
"Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine." (Lord Byron) - While not using "funny," this quote embodies the spirit of humor.
"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot." (Charlie Chaplin) - Another quote focusing on the humorous perspective.
"I used to think my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it's a comedy." (Arthur Fleck in Joker)
"It's funny how a person can go from being a complete stranger to being a best friend in a matter of weeks." (Unknown)
"You know, it's a funny thing about history. Every time we learn a little, we think we know a lot. But there's a lot more to learn." (Ronald Reagan)
"Some people are funny. Some people are not. Some people are funny and don't know it." (George Carlin)
"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." (Victor Borge) - Emphasizes the connecting power of humor.
"It's a funny old world." (Common British colloquialism, often attributed to various sources)
Etymology
The word "funny" basically means "full of fun." It comes from the word "fun" and the suffix "-y," which often means "having the quality of."
The interesting thing is that "fun" itself had a different meaning long ago. Before it meant "amusement" or "enjoyment," "fun" was a verb (around the 1680s) that meant "to cheat" or "to hoax." It's thought this came from an even older Middle English word, "fonnen," meaning "to befool."
So, initially, "funny" likely connected to this older sense of "fun."
The first known use of "funny" as we mostly understand it today – meaning "humorous" or "causing laughter" – appeared in the mid-1700s, with the earliest evidence specifically cited by the Oxford English Dictionary from 1739.
Later on, around the early 1800s, especially in the American South, "funny" also developed its second common meaning: "strange," "odd," or "peculiar." This is why we have expressions like "funny ha-ha" (meaning humorous) and "funny peculiar" (meaning strange).
Phrases + Idioms Containing Funny
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "funny," along with some supplementary options:
Funny bone: The ulnar nerve at the elbow, which, when hit, causes a tingling sensation. Also used idiomatically to refer to one's sense of humor.
Funny business: Dishonest or mischievous activity.
Funny peculiar: Strange or odd (distinguishing from "funny ha-ha").
Funny ha-ha: Humorous or amusing (distinguishing from "funny peculiar").
Funny farm: A slang term for a mental institution.
Funny money: Counterfeit money or money obtained dishonestly.
A funny feeling: A vague, uneasy, or unusual sensation or intuition.
No funny stuff: A warning to behave seriously and avoid mischief.
Have a funny turn: To feel suddenly unwell or faint.
It's funny how...: An introductory phrase to comment on a strange or surprising coincidence or situation.
Laughing stock: An object of ridicule (using a synonym for "funny" to similar effect).
Crack a joke: To tell a joke (related to humor).
Tickle one's fancy: To appeal to someone's sense of humor or preference (related to amusement).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of funny from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
