Inklingo

carcajada

kar-ka-HA-da/kaɾkaˈxaða/

carcajada means loud laugh in Spanish (A sudden, noisy burst of laughter).

loud laugh

Also: guffaw, belly laugh
NounfB1
General Spanish
A person with their head tilted back and mouth wide open in a big, joyful laugh.

📝 In Action

Su chiste fue tan bueno que solté una carcajada en medio de la cena.

A2

His joke was so good that I let out a loud laugh in the middle of dinner.

Oímos una carcajada desde la otra habitación.

B1

We heard a loud laugh from the other room.

No pudo contener la carcajada al ver la cara de su hermano.

B2

He couldn't hold back his guffaw when he saw his brother's face.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • risotada (big laugh)
  • risa (laugh)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • soltar una carcajadato burst out laughing
  • carcajada limpiaa genuine, open laugh
  • estallar en carcajadasto explode with laughter

Idioms & Expressions

  • reír a carcajadasto laugh out loud or heartily

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "carcajada" in Spanish:

belly laughguffawloud laugh

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: carcajada

Question 1 of 3

Which of these means 'to burst out laughing'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
carcajear(to laugh loudly)Verb
carcajeo(the sound/act of loud laughter)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Likely of onomatopoeic origin, meaning it was created to imitate the actual 'k-k-k' sound of a deep, loud laugh.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: gargalhada

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'carcajada' a slang word?

No, it is a standard Spanish word that you can use in any situation, from a formal book to a casual chat with friends.

Can I use 'carcajear' as the verb?

Yes, 'carcajear' is a verb that means to laugh loudly, but it is much more common to say 'reír a carcajadas' or 'soltar una carcajada'.

Does it have a plural form?

Yes, 'carcajadas'. It is often used in the plural, like in the phrase 'reír a carcajadas'.