Inklingo

How to Say "funny" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “funny” is “divertido” — use this word when describing something that is fun or entertaining, like a party or a movie, or a person who is pleasant and amusing to be around..

English → Spanish

divertido

/dee-behr-TEE-doh//dibeɾˈtido/

adjectiveA1general
Use this word when describing something that is fun or entertaining, like a party or a movie, or a person who is pleasant and amusing to be around.
A joyful young child with a wide smile is swinging high on a red swing set in a sunny, green park.

Examples

La fiesta fue muy divertida.

The party was very fun.

La película fue muy divertida.

The movie was very fun.

Mi amigo Pablo es muy divertido, siempre cuenta buenos chistes.

My friend Pablo is very funny, he always tells good jokes.

Tuvimos una fiesta divertida anoche.

We had a fun party last night.

Matching the Noun It Describes

This word must change its ending to agree with the person or thing it's describing. Use divertido for masculine things, divertida for feminine things, divertidos for plural masculine things, and divertidas for plural feminine things.

Using 'ser' (to be)

To say something is fun as a characteristic, you'll almost always use the verb ser. For example, 'El libro es divertido' (The book is fun) or 'Mis amigos son divertidos' (My friends are fun).

Forgetting to Change the Ending

Mistake: “La clase de español es muy divertido.”

Correction: La clase de español es muy divertid**a**. Because 'la clase' is a feminine word, the adjective needs to end in '-a' to match it.

gracioso

/grah-SYOH-soh//ɡɾaˈsjoso/

adjectiveA2general
This is the most common word for 'funny' when something or someone makes you laugh or is amusing, often through jokes or a witty personality.
A colorful illustration of a person telling a joke on a small stage, causing two audience members to laugh hysterically.

Examples

Mi hermano es muy gracioso, siempre cuenta chistes.

My brother is very funny, he always tells jokes.

La película fue tan graciosa que no paré de reír.

The movie was so funny I couldn't stop laughing.

No te hagas el gracioso, esto es serio.

Don't try to be a comedian, this is serious.

Matching the Noun

Like most describing words in Spanish, 'gracioso' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'graciosa' for feminine things, 'graciosos' for masculine plural, and 'graciosas' for feminine plural. (e.g., 'una broma graciosa', 'unos niños graciosos').

Funny vs. Fun

Mistake: “La fiesta fue muy graciosa.”

Correction: La fiesta fue muy divertida. 'Gracioso' means 'funny' like a joke that makes you laugh. 'Divertido' means 'fun' or 'entertaining' like a party or a game.

cómico

adjectiveA2general
Use this word when something is intended to be humorous and make people laugh, often referring to performances, characters, or expressions.

Examples

Ese actor tiene un gesto muy cómico.

That actor has a very funny expression.

curioso

/koo-ree-OH-so//kuˈɾjo.so/

adjectiveB1general
This word translates to 'funny' when it means strange, odd, or peculiar, often referring to coincidences or unusual situations.
A perfectly square, bright red apple sitting on a wooden table next to several normal round apples, depicting something strange.

Examples

Es curioso que nos encontremos aquí, ¡es la tercera vez esta semana!

It's strange/odd that we run into each other here, it's the third time this week!

Había un ruido curioso en el motor del coche.

There was a strange noise in the car engine.

Me pasó una cosa curiosa ayer en el supermercado.

A peculiar thing happened to me yesterday at the supermarket.

Curious vs. Strange

When 'curioso' describes a situation or event (like 'it's strange that...'), it means unusual or surprising, not inquisitive.

Using 'Funny' for Humor

Mistake: “El chiste fue muy curioso.”

Correction: Use 'gracioso' or 'divertido' for something that makes you laugh. 'Curioso' implies strange, not humorous.

Gracioso vs. Divertido

Learners often confuse 'gracioso' and 'divertido'. Remember that 'gracioso' specifically means humorous and makes you laugh, while 'divertido' means fun or entertaining, describing an enjoyable experience or person.

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