What is Fun? What is Funny? Differences between Fun and Funny in English

Words/phrases commonly used with Fun

Example

Have fun!

Before leaving for the trip, Lona said, "Have fun!" to her friends.

Good fun

Playing board games with friends is always good fun on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Great fun

The carnival was great fun, with exciting rides and entertaining performances. 

A lot of fun

The school picnic was a lot of fun, with students playing games and enjoying delicious food. 

Full of fun

The children's party was full of fun, with laughter and games filling the air. 

Take the fun out of

Constant criticism can take the fun out of a creative process. 

No fun/not much fun

The long wait at the airport turned out to be no fun at all. 

Fun-loving

Sandra is a fun-loving person who enjoys socializing and trying new activities. 

What fun

What fun it was to explore the hidden gems of the jungle!

A bit of fun

Playing pranks on April Fools' Day is just a bit of fun as long as it's harmless. 

In fun

Alex teased his friend about losing the game, but it was all in fun. 

Have fun and games (idiom)

We had real fun and games trying to bathe the dog. 

Not be all fun and games (idiom)

It's not all fun and games being a tour guide. 

Make fun of someone/something

It's not polite to make fun of someone's appearance. 

Synonyms of Fun

Example

Enjoyment /ɪnˈdʒɔɪmənt/

(noun)

The family gathered for a picnic, sharing food, laughter, and mutual enjoyment. 

Gaiety /ˈɡeɪ.ɪ.ti/ (noun)

The festival was filled with gaiety, as people danced, sang, and celebrated together. 

Pleasure /ˈplɛʒər/ (noun)

Strolling along the beach at sunset brought immense pleasure to the couple on their honeymoon.

Amusement /əˈmjuːzmənt/

(noun)

The comedy show provided endless amusement, with the audience laughing throughout the performance. 

Merriment /ˈmɛr.ɪ.mənt/

(noun)

The holiday season is a time for merriment, with friends and family coming together to celebrate. 

Joking /ˈdʒoʊ.kɪŋ/ (noun)

His joking nature lightened the atmosphere, making it more enjoyable for everyone at the party. 

Entertainment /ˌɛntərˈteɪnmənt/ (noun)

The variety show offered a diverse range of entertainment, from music performances to stand-up comedy. 

Recreation /ˌrɛkrɪˈeɪʃən/

(noun)

Taking a hike in the mountains served as recreation to enjoy natural beauty. 

Relaxation /ˌriːlækˈseɪʃən/ (noun)

After a long week of work, a hot bath and a good book provided a much-needed dose of relaxation. 

Playfulness /ˈpleɪ.fəlnəs/

(noun)

Children engaged in playfulness, running around and enjoying their time at the playground. 

Words/phrases commonly used with Funny

Example

Funny side to it 

Despite the challenging situation, there was a funny side to it that brought laughter to everyone. 

Funny with + noun

Robert is always funny with his jokes, making people laugh at every gathering. 

That's funny

Andrea recounted a story, and then everyone burst into laughter, "Well, that's funny!" 

Funny thing

The funny thing about the situation was that no one could figure out who had started the water balloon fight. 

Feel funny

I felt funny when I realized everyone was watching me.

It's funny how

It's funny how life can surprise you when you least expect it.

Go funny 

The computer started to go funny after the software update. 

Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar? (idiom)

"Anna is a very funny woman." "Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?" 

Funny ha-ha or funny strange/weird? (idiom)

It's a funny old world (idiom)

My friend gives me money. It's a funny old world. 

Synonyms of Funny

Example

Amusing /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/

(adjective)

The comedian's anecdotes were amusing, keeping the audience engaged and chuckling. 

Humorous /ˈhjuːmərəs/

(adjective)

The book was filled with humorous anecdotes that make reading it a delightful experience.

Hilarious /hɪˈleəriəs/

(adjective)

The stand-up comedian delivered a hilarious performance that had the entire audience in stitches.

Hysterical /hɪˈsterɪkəl/

(adjective)

The sitcom was so hysterical that even after it ended, the audience couldn't stop laughing. 

Riotous /ˈraɪetas/

(adjective)

The comedy show turned out to be riotous, with the audience laughing uproariously at every joke. 

Uproarious /ˌʌpˈrɔːriəs/

(adjective)

The unexpected twist in the plot led to an uproarious reaction from the audience. 

Witty

/ˈwɪti/ (adjective)

Her witty remarks and clever wordplay added a touch of humor to the conversation. 

Ridiculous /rɪˈdɪkjʊləs/

(adjective)

The situation was so ridiculous that even the characters in the movie couldn't believe what was happening. 

Ludicrous /ˈluːdɪkrəs/

(adjective)

Smith looked ludicrous in that suit! 

Differences between Fun and Funny

Fun

Funny

Part of speech

Nouns and adjectives.

Noun.

Pronunciation

/fʌn/

/ˈfʌn.i/

Meaning

Noun: pleasure, enjoyment, or entertainment

Humorous; causing laughter

Adjective: giving pleasure, especially because of being not at all serious

❌

Example

Everybody had a lot of fun at the party. 

No matter how disastrous the situation, there always seems to be a funny side to it. 

There are lots of fun things to do here.