laugh
gb/lˈæf/ us/lˈæf/
A1
English
~ 1100
nevet, nevetés, jópofa, jó móka
VERB
A1
1
nevet
A1
Usage pattern:
to laugh [at something/someone]
She couldn't stop laughing at his joke.
Annyira nevetett a viccén, hogy nem tudta abbahagyni.
We laughed until our sides hurt.
Addig nevettünk, amíg meg nem fájdult az oldalunk.
They laughed nervously when the teacher asked the question.
Learner examples
I laugh when I hear a funny story.
Nevetek, amikor egy vicces történetet hallok.
The children laugh at the clown.
A gyerekek nevetnek a bohócon.
He laughs when he is happy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'laugh' (verb) with 'smile' (verb). Smiling does not involve sound, while laughing usually does.
Meaning
Make sounds showing amusement
Collocations
laugh out loud
|laugh at
|laugh about
|laugh heartily
Synonyms
giggle (A lighter, higher-pitched laugh, often in a silly or nervous way.)
Antonyms
cry (The opposite emotional reaction, producing tears and sadness instead of amusement.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make happy sounds with your voice because you think something is funny.
To make sounds and facial expressions that show amusement, joy, or sometimes nervousness.
NOUN
A2
2
nevetés
A2
Her laugh could be heard across the room.
Az egész szobában hallani lehetett a nevetését.
He gave a short, sharp laugh.
Rövid, éles nevetést hallatott.
That joke always gets a good laugh.
Learner examples
She has a nice laugh.
Szép a nevetése.
I heard his laugh from far away.
Messziről hallottam a nevetését.
The baby made a funny laugh.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'laugh' (noun) with 'laughter'. 'Laugh' often refers to a single instance; 'laughter' is more general or continuous.
Meaning
Sound made when amused
Collocations
a loud laugh
|burst of laughter
|fake laugh
|contagious laugh
Synonyms
laughter (A more general or collective term for the sound or act of laughing.)
Antonyms
sob (A sound expressing sadness, usually involving crying.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The sound you make when you laugh.
The act or sound of laughing, often indicating amusement or joy.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
3
He's such a laugh to be around.
Nagyon jópofa, jó vele lenni.
That film was a real laugh.
Az a film igazán jó móka volt.
We went to the park just for a laugh.
Learner examples
My friend is a laugh.
A barátom jópofa.
The movie was a good laugh.
Jó móka volt a film.
We play games for a laugh.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this informal noun sense with the act of laughing; here it means something or someone funny, not the action itself.
Meaning
Amusing person or thing
Collocations
a real laugh
|good laugh
|for a laugh
Synonyms
joker (Someone who regularly makes jokes, though not always in the same context as 'a laugh'.)
Themes
emotions
|entertainment
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Someone or something that makes people laugh.
A person or thing that is amusing or entertaining.
Grammar
Dictionary form
laugh
IPA
GB/lˈæf/
US/lˈæf/
Syllables & stress
laugh (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (laugh)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: laugh
- Plural: laughs
Verb
- Base: laugh
- 3rd Person Singular: laughs
- Present Participle: laughing
- Past: laughed
Word family
Forms
laughs
noun
laughing
verb
laughed
verb
Core family
laughter
noun A2
Related words
laughable
adjective
Advanced or less common
laughably
adverb
Expressions
for a laugh
1/fɚ ə lˈæf/
fixed phrase
informal
Do something just for fun
To do something just for fun, not seriously.
Examples
- We dressed up in silly clothes for a laugh.
- They played a prank on him for a laugh.
have the last laugh
1/hˈæv ðə lˈæst lˈæf/
idiom
Succeed after being mocked
To win or succeed after people thought you would fail.
Examples
- He had the last laugh when his small business became a huge success.
- She was teased for her idea, but she got the last laugh when it worked perfectly.
laugh at
1/lˈæf ˈæt/
fixed phrase
React with laughter to something
To make a laugh because of something; sometimes to make fun of someone.
Examples
- Don't laugh at him for making a mistake.
- We couldn't help but laugh at the silly video.
no laughing matter
1/nˈoʊ lˈæfɪŋ mˈætɚ/
idiom
A serious issue, not funny
Something serious that should not be joked about.
Examples
- Losing your job is no laughing matter.
- This illness is no laughing matter.
burst out laughing
1/bˈɚst ˈaʊt lˈæfɪŋ/
fixed phrase
suddenly start laughing loudly
To begin to laugh very suddenly and loudly.
Examples
- She burst out laughing when she saw his costume.
- Everyone burst out laughing when he slipped on the stage but did not get hurt.
- They all burst out laughing at the joke.
- She burst out laughing at the end of the funny story.