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Getting the Joke: A Guide to English Humour
- Cami
- Aug 7
- 5 min read
Hey there!
How many times have you thought to yourself, “I’m so much funnier in my native language”? If you said 0, think again.
Humour is one of the hardest things to learn in a language. It’s a complex issue, as it’s also heavily influenced by culture, not just personal opinion. And on top of that, there are so many “inside jokes” that are simply not taught in a textbook (it’s a pain… I know!).
Now, why am I talking about this topic in this week’s newsletter? Well, using humour correctly shows a high level of fluency (obviously) and cultural awareness. Isn’t that what you’re looking for? 😉
Making people laugh (or at least smile) in English
What makes English humour unique (especially British humour)
Have you ever listened to British people telling jokes or trying to be funny? If so, then you’ll probably be able to understand what I’m going to say now very well. If not, let me try to paint the picture for you:
British humour doesn’t really follow any “rules” (not that humour ever does…), it can be very subtle, dry or even ironic. It’s often not about laughing out loud but about clever or dry remarks. British humour oftentimes includes understatements, irony, sarcasm and self-deprecation.
Types of humour
Now, you might think: “Okay, but what does British humour actually sound like??”
Let me give you some examples of “humour types” you might encounter:
1. Irony: Very high on the list is irony, which could be defined by saying the complete opposite of what you mean. Brits might use it to highlight a contrast or an unexpected outcome. Check out these examples:
“Oh, fantastic, the printer is broken again.” (Great to use when you’re clearly frustrated)
“He’s only an hour late… perfectly on time.” (Does this need an explanation?)
“What a peaceful commute.” (Imagine someone saying that after being stuck in a traffic jam for the last 40 minutes)
2. Sarcasm: This one is actually a form of irony, which is used to mock or tease (very often with either an exaggerated or flat tone).
Can you think of any examples? No? Okay, no problem, let me give you some:
“Great job!” (Said after someone spilt your coffee everywhere 🙃)
“Oh, brilliant idea! Let’s just ignore the deadline completely.” (Imagine you’re colleague just told you about their idea that would take ages to accomplish)
“Well, that went smoothly.” (Said after a total disaster…)
3. Self-deprecating humour: You might have wondered what this means when I mentioned it above. Well, think of someone making fun of themselves in a light, modest or exaggerated way. Look:
“Not to brag, but I haven't had a mood swing in, like, 7 minutes.”
“People say that I'm creative, and I couldn't agree more because I create most of my own problems.”
“I'm not bad at cooking… as long as you like your food slightly burnt and completely flavourless.”
4. Puns & wordplay: These may require a bit of a higher English level as they are usually jokes that are based on either double meanings, similar sounds or clever twists in language.
“I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough.” (This plays on the dual meaning of the word “dough”, which, literally, refers to the mixture of flour and liquid used in baking. Figuratively, “dough” can mean money.)
“I'm glad I know sign language, it's pretty handy.” (This one is a very good example of the “language twist” aspect. “Handy” can mean that something is useful, but in this case, it also refers to the fact that sign language is “spoken” with hand movements.)
Any dad joke could be added to this list. I would probably say that you either love or hate them… What do you think? 🤔
🌟 Just a little tip: Don’t try to memorise puns or self-deprecating jokes, unfortunately, these have to come naturally, otherwise they will most likely not be funny… If you don’t understand natives when they make these types of jokes, it’s okay! You’ll get used to them, and if not, just smile and laugh (and hope there wasn’t a question involved).
Common informal expressions that are often used in a humorous way
There are many, many, maaany things people might say to you in a very informal way (that could almost sound “mean”), but for Brits it’s just another way of being funny. Take a look at these examples:
“Don’t quit your day job” (This could be said to you after a bad performance or joke)
“As if!” (A very sarcastic way to say “that’s never going to happen”)
“It’s not rocket science” (You could hear this when someone is trying to tell you that something is actually very simple)
Cultural references and tone
So, we’ve spoken about the different humour types and even given lots of examples. Now, what does culture have to do with it? Well, humour oftentimes depends on shared cultural knowledge, like TV shows, accents or simply slang. But, be careful, what’s funny in one culture might be confusing or even offensive in another… so just try and read the room before you make any jokes that could be more on the sensitive side.
And I’m so sorry to mention it again, I know I sound like a broken record (if you don’t know what I mean, check out our previous 2 posts), but there is one more thing that is important to pay attention to: the tone. As you can see, tone can determine whether something is polite, important, and now even funny!
When trying to be humorous in English, the timing and delivery are as important as the words themselves.
Tips for understanding and using humour in English
Now, you might be asking yourself: How can I learn to understand it? Well, here are some first things you can do:
Watch British comedy shows (like The Office (but the British version!!), Would I Lie to You?, Gavin and Stacey, Dad’s Army, etc.). Let us know if you want any more recommendations!
Focus on tone of voice, facial expressions and timing
Start with light jokes or puns and try to avoid using sarcasm if you’re not so confident yet (it might take away the fun of what you’re saying → again, the tone is suuuper important)
Join The English Life Academy to practise with real native teachers and a great audience (your fellow students) 😉
So, I hope this email helped you understand a little bit more about British humour, and please don’t feel discouraged if it seems too complicated. Even natives could have difficulties with it (I mean, some people are naturally funny and some are… well… you get what I mean… I hope…. 😅).
The last thing I want you to take from this is that even understanding jokes or wordplay is a huge step in language learning. Even if you think you’re already a very advanced English speaker, use this as your challenge to become even more advanced 😉. The reason we want you to learn about this topic is not because we want you to be the next clown at a party, but because using light humour can (sometimes) make conversations more natural and engaging. Or it can simply help you understand others’ jokes better. Either way, it’s a win-win.
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See you in the next one!
Cami