How to Make Someone Laugh

It is often said that laughter is the best medicine. While we may not fully understand the brain mechanisms responsible for laughter, it is clear that it stems from a mix of emotions and thoughts working simultaneously. Laughter also activates various parts of our body. Moreover, it is known to be contagious and creates a sense of connection. It is truly wonderful when you share a moment of laughter and others join in.

Tell a Joke. A joke is a statement or action intended to make people laugh, which can range from a simple pun to a detailed story with a surprising twist.

• A pun is a type of joke where you play with words, such as in knock-knock jokes. For example: ‘Knock knock,’ ‘Who’s there?’ ‘Cow says,’ ‘Cow says who?’ ‘No, silly, cow says moo.’
• Inside jokes, shared among a small group, are especially amusing because they reflect a common experience within the group. These shared moments make the joke funny and help create a deeper connection, which often results in laughter.
• Remember, jokes don’t have to be funny all the time; they should also prompt responses from the listener. You can achieve this by telling a joke that involves them personally. This kind of joke can inspire new thinking, make them feel good about themselves, or even reinforce friendships and relationships.

Use Puns. A pun is a form of wordplay that forces the listener to think carefully about the meaning of a word or phrase. For example:

• “Have you heard about Mr. Năm’s firstborn son? He’s now swimming right in the middle of the river.”
• “I’m reading a book on gravity resistance. It’s so interesting, I just can’t ‘put it down’.”
• “I never fly by helicopter because it makes people feel too ‘uplifted’.”

Be witty or know how to be sarcastic. Sarcasm is a remark that subtly refers to a situation with a teasing or mocking attitude. Be cautious with sarcasm, as it can offend or confuse if the listener doesn’t understand your tone.

• Start practicing sarcasm by learning how to recognize when someone else is being sarcastic, and then try to mimic or imitate their tone, language, or judgment. Don’t be afraid to ask the listener if they found your comment sarcastic or clever.
• Tease by giving an unexpected response. “Do you like the dessert I made?” “I don’t like it at all! It’s awful!” This creates humor by pointing out an obvious fact.
• Teasing can also be based on a funny assumption. “Is my car on the driveway?” “No, the last time I saw it, it was at the bottom of the lake.”

Use Short Comments. A short comment is a one-liner joke, concise and to the point.

• Example: “I once asked a North Korean friend what the weather was like there, and he said he couldn’t complain.”

Use Quick Responses. A quick response is a one-liner, often used when replying to sarcasm or mockery.

• A quick-witted response is delivered immediately, catching the person who made the initial comment off guard.
• Example: “Nice wig, Janis. What’s it made of?” “It’s made from your mom’s chest hair.”

Make Yourself the Joke. This means you should tell jokes or make comments that make others laugh at your expense.

• Point out your obvious flaws. For example, if you are taller than your age, joke about it so that people feel more comfortable and less intimidated by your height.
• Make fun of your personal disadvantages. If you're in debt because you're a shopaholic, joke about your inability to stop buying that 200th pair of shoes.
• Make fun of your quirks. If you're afraid of snails and you know it’s irrational, joke about it. People will laugh at seemingly silly and irrational things, especially when you're willing to make fun of your own irrational fears.

Slip of the Tongue. This type of joke occurs when you unintentionally say something out of your subconscious. You can also deliberately make a slip of the tongue, but when it happens accidentally, it’s often the funniest.

• “During the seven and a half years I worked beside President Reagan, we had many victories. There were a few mistakes. We also had a time when we… uh… went backward.” – A slip of the tongue by President George H.W. Bush
• While watching a laundry detergent commercial, Larry asked his girlfriend to pass him the phone, but instead, he said, “Sweetheart, could you hand me the soap cake?”

Humor with Understatement. This is when you create humor by downplaying the seriousness of an action or event. It helps lighten the mood and reduce stress or anxiety surrounding that action or event.

• Your friend gets stung by a bee and has an allergic reaction, causing their face to swell and turn red. You say, “Oh, it’s not that bad. Your face just got some extra natural color!”
• Making light of a bad test score to reduce frustration: “Oh, this test could’ve been worse. We were stuck in there for 10 hours instead of just 3!”

Imitate Someone. Imitating is when you mimic someone, either a person you know well or a celebrity who’s easily recognizable.

• For example, if you try to imitate actor Christopher Walken, focus on copying his distinctive dry tone, as he’s famous for that voice. Mimicking his voice is a great way to create laughter.
• Practice imitation by watching videos or listening to recordings of Christopher Walken, then practice speaking and moving like him, paying attention to his unique tone, mouth movements, and body language—especially if this famous actor is known for his unusual movements and distinctive posture.

Physical Comedy. Slapstick is a form of physical comedy that often involves absurd situations, exaggerated movements, or even violence. From the Marx Brothers movies to the Three Stooges, slapstick transforms cheap comedy into the pinnacle of entertainment.

• While you don’t need to start by throwing pies in people’s faces or slipping on banana peels, you can ease into light slapstick by pretending to trip over a rug at a party or acting as if you’re pouring water into a vase instead of a glass.
• If you want to avoid hurting yourself or don’t want to exert too much effort, check out some examples of physical comedy videos (where people intentionally hurt themselves in funny situations) available online.

Parody or Mockery. Parody and mockery are forms of “sarcasm in action.” They are used to satirize a ridiculous real-world situation.

• For example, you might create a parody version of a famous song, changing the title and chorus to make it crude and humorous, such as turning “Like a Virgin” into “Like a Surgeon” or “Like Nirvana” into “Like a Child’s Soul.”

Prank. A prank, or mischievous joke, involves tricking someone to make them laugh. This is most effective with close friends, as it may provoke playful retaliation.

• A classic prank is covering someone’s car with sticky notes or plastic wrap. While your friend is away or busy, wrap their car in cling film or cover it with sticky notes. This prank is safer, easy to clean, and will generate laughs from both sides.
• Turn on the tap and drop a dye tablet into it. When you turn off the tap, the dye will dissolve and color the water. This prank is harmless and unlikely to cause much concern for you.