Inklingo
← Dictionary

risa

REE-sahˈri.sa

“risa” means “laughter” in Spanish (The general sound or action of laughing.).

laughter, laugh

NounfA1
Mexico/Central America
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration of a cheerful character, perhaps a child, laughing heartily with a wide-open mouth and closed, joyful eyes, depicting the action of laughter.

📝 In Action

Su risa llenó toda la habitación.

A1

Her laughter filled the whole room.

Me dio mucha risa cuando se cayó el pastel.

A2

The cake falling gave me a lot of laughs (or, I found it very funny).

Tiene una risa contagiosa que hace reír a todos.

B1

She has a contagious laugh that makes everyone else laugh.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • carcajada (loud burst of laughter)
  • hilaridad (hilarity)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • morirse de risa – to die of laughter (to laugh very hard)
  • aguantar la risa – to hold back laughter

Idioms & Expressions

  • dar risa – to be funny or amusing (literally 'to give laugh')

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "risa" in Spanish:

laugh→laughter→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: risa

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'risa'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
reír(to laugh) — Verb
risueño(smiling, cheerful) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'risa' comes directly from the Latin word *risus*, which was the past participle form of the Latin verb *ridere*, meaning 'to laugh.' The sound and concept have been connected for thousands of years!

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: risaPortuguese: riso

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'risa' and 'reír'?

'Risa' (a feminine noun) is the sound or the thing itself (laughter/a laugh). 'Reír' is the action word (the verb) meaning 'to laugh.' Think of 'risa' as 'the laugh' and 'reír' as 'to laugh.'

How do I say 'He made me laugh'?

You can use the verb 'hacer' (to make) plus the verb 'reír': 'Me hizo reír.' Alternatively, you can use the phrase related to the noun 'risa': 'Me dio mucha risa' (It gave me a lot of laughter/It was very funny).