Is funnier and funniest a word

Is “Funnier” A Word? 

Comparative diction in English can be a very challenging thing. Some words have comparatives built-in, while others need to be paired with “more” or “less” to be correct. Funny, however, has its own unique rules and can change depending on how you are using it. 

In short, “funnier” is technically a word; however it has its specific usage rules and cannot be substituted in for “more/less funny.” to clear things up, “funnier” is a word that can be used in specific comparative situations. In contrast “less funny” is more apt for talking about situations that lack humor. In addition, “more funny” is also a correct term technically. However, it can be clunky and has lost popularity over the years. 

How To Use “Funnier” And “Less Funny” 

First, “funnier” is a correct term that can be used to compare situations with a lot of humor. This works because the comparison “-ier” is built-in grammatically correct. For example, you could use this word in a sentence like, “I think that Mark’s presentation was funnier than Dan’s.” 

You should probably avoid using “more funny” in these situations, as most think it’s clunky. Although it is correct to use, “funnier” is more widely accepted in today’s day and age. 

Lastly, you should use “less funny” to describe situations that aren’t funny. This works best because there isn’t a built-in comparative to say “less funny,” and it simply sounds better in the end. For instance, you could say something along the lines of, “I think that Dan’s presentation was a lot less funny than Mark’s.” 

Using “More” And “Less” With Funny

You can technically use “more” and “less” with funny, and in some cases, it is even suggested. However, there are some situations where “more” and “less” become very important. If you find something moderately funny or feel apathetic about it, you can use “more/less funny” to describe your feelings. 

For instance, you could say, “I found the book more or less funny,” or “I found it more funny than not.” Statements such as these allow your reader to know that you thought something was mildly funny.

Examples Of Using “Funnier” And “Less Funny” 

Here are some basic examples of correctly using “funnier” and “less funny.”  

• I didn’t enjoy my night. I was expecting the board game to be more fun. 
• After careful deliberation, we think that Ramon’s presentation was funnier than everyone else’s. 
• That amusement park was a lot less fun than I had hoped for.

Related: A lesson on “Fewer” and “Less”

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As is the case with most English and grammar related topics, people tend to have strong opinions one way or the other. Today’s topic is no different, and I expect this post to elicit some strong opinions between the two primary camps.

On the one side, you have those who say that fun can never take the comparative and superlative endings that are typical of adjectives, i.e., funner, funnest.

On the other side, you have those who say that fun is well established as an adjective in writing and speech, and, therefore, must be allowed to inflect like one.

Is Funner a Real Word: How about Funnest?

In this post, I hope to reach some type of middle ground between these two camps and advise the average writer on how to proceed with the word fun. Is funner a word? Is funnest a word?

Let’s find out.

Is Fun a Noun?

What everyone agrees on is the fact that fun is a noun. It emerged as such in the late 17th century as a “cant” or slang word.

• We had fun at the party last night.
• Riding a motorcycle is great fun.
• Seibert also brings in the matter of personality—charisma and charm, which are crucial matters in tap—and he has some fun with people who were short on it. –The New Yorker

The phrase “we had fun” is the grammatical equivalent of “we had pizza.”

• We had fun at the party last night.
• We had pizza at the party last night.

Yes, fun is more of an abstract idea than a physical pizza, but they both function as nouns in such a sentence.

Is Fun an Adjective?

The differences in opinion only arise when the following question is asked, “Can fun be an adjective?”

• That was a fun movie.
• We had a fun time.
• The beach is a fun place.

In all of the above sentences, fun is being used as if it were an adjective. Is this acceptable? That depends, largely, on whom you ask and their age.

As I mentioned above, everyone agrees that fun is a noun, and for more than 200 years, it functioned almost exclusively as a noun.

Sometime in the early-to-mid 1900s its use began to drift, probably as a result of its quasi-adjective/ambiguous use in phrases like “a fun fair” or sentences like “It is fun to ski.” It’s still being used as a noun in these two examples, but it looks as if it could be an adjective. This ambiguity probably led to its misuse.

Traditionalists hold that fun can only function as an noun, while others claim it can be an adjective too.

The Oxford English Dictionary states that the use of fun as an attributive adjective (a fun trip) is now established in informal use but is not accepted in Standard English. The American Heritage Dictionary advises writers to avoid it in formal writing.

This would be my advice as well. If you want your writing to appear authoritative, I would advise you not to use fun as an adjective. If you are writing a research paper, job cover letter, resume, college application, etc., you should avoid this use and hold to the traditional rule:

• Fun is a noun, not an adjective.

While the use of fun as an attributive adjective (a fun time) is common to hear in informal speech, the comparative and superlative forms funner and funnest, as if fun were a standard adjective, is another matter altogether.

Outside of direct quotations, usually those of small children, the use of funner is almost universally rejected and almost never appears in printed sources.

The above graph charts funner vs. more fun in books since 1800. In the past 200 years, funner has barely even registered in these print sources across American and British English.

The same goes for funnest; you can hardly make out the line of its printed use.

This should be expected, of course. These types of nonstandard words are usually only found in speech and not in edited prose.

What’s the Bottom Line?

When asked the question, “Should I write funner or more fun?” I answer unequivocally more fun. I say this for a few reasons.

First, I am among the group of writers who find funner and funnest to be particularly grating, so, on some level, it is a personal preference.

Second, I think this is the majority consensus of readers and writers. With the popular use of these two forms, more fun or funner / most fun or funnest, so incredibly lopsided, it is clear to see what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.

More fun is accepted; funner is not.

Most fun is accepted; funnest is not.

If you want to be taken seriously as a writer or you are an ESL student learning the language, do not use funner or funnest or your writing.

Summary

Fun is increasingly being used as an attributive adjective in informal contexts.

If one were doing a piece of formal writing, research paper, resume, cover letter, dissertation, etc., I would advise the writer to steer clear of fun as an adjective.

Avoid completely the words funner and funnest.

• #1

I have a doubt. I was wondering if the comparative of «fun» (as an adjective) is «funner» or «more fun».
funny is funnier, but «fun»?
thanks

• #2

Hi,
As far as I know ‘funner’ doesn’t exist in English, only ‘more fun’.
but let natives say a word
Saludos

• #4

The truth is, «fun» is not an adjective but a noun: «we had a lot of fun» — «we had more fun today than yesterday»

However, it’s informally used -but

not exactly

correct- and pretty much accepted as an adjective. Therefore, since it’s not a real adjective «funner» and «funnest» are

not

said.

On the page indicated by m_lara_r, they mention «funny», which is an adjective and the comparatives are «funnier» and «funniest«

Last edited: Apr 14, 2013

• #5

Correct: «funner» and «funnest» are used in English by children. They are not considered correct in standard English.

Informally, it is quite common to hear «We had a fun time» or some variation. Dictionary.com lists its use as informal. (I checked to make sure.)

• #6

The truth is, «fun» is not an adjective but a noun: «we had a lot of fun» — «we had more fun today than yesterday»

However, it’s informally used -but

not exactly

correct- and pretty much accepted as an adjective. Therefore, since it’s not a real adjective «funner» and «funnest» are

not

said. […]

Even my Concise OED, which I’ve had for more than forty year, recognizes «fun» as an adjective («amusing, entertaining, enjoyable») without feeling any need to gloss it as informal. «Funner» and «funnest» are not said (except by children) because the accepted comparatives are «more / most fun.»

• #7

Even my Concise OED, which I’ve had for more than forty year, recognizes «fun» as an adjective («amusing, entertaining, enjoyable») without feeling any need to gloss it as informal. «Funner» and «funnest» are not said (except by children) because the accepted comparatives are «more / most fun.»

fun (fŭn)
adj. Informal
Enjoyable; amusing: «You’re a real fun guy»
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Languagefun
adjective Informal: intended for, or giving, pleasure or amusement: a fun gift
Webster’s New World College Dictionary

fun
Pronunciation: /fʌn/
adjective
informal
amusing, entertaining, or enjoyable: it was a fun evening
Oxford dictionaries

These are just a few dictionaries that consider informal the use of «fun» as an adjective. By the way I changed the color of «informal» to red to make it stand out.

Some dictionaries I found don’t even mention the fact that «fun» can be an adjective, informal or not.

• #8

Hullo.

I think a rule of thumb for labelling «fun» as a noun or an adjective is that it is an adjective only when it is followed by a noun.
Thus, «He’s a fun guy» (adj.), but «She’s great fun» (noun).
That said, I feel rather insecure about «He’s fun to work with».

GS

• #9

I can´t see anything wrong with fun as an adjective as in «he’s fun to work with.»
The usual comparative/superlative would be, «He´s more fun to work with than my previous boss.» «He´s the most fun of all the bosses I have ever had.»
In time it is logical that «funner» and «funnest» will be accepted though they are not yet standard English.
For example I saw an advert where Apple described the iPod Touch as the “funnest iPod ever.»

• #10

I can´t see anything wrong with fun as an adjective as in «he’s fun to work with.» […]

Or with «we’ll see if we can find some fun things to do for the weekend.» I think the dictionaries have some catching up to do with this usage.

• #11

Or with «we’ll see if we can find some fun things to do for the weekend.» I think the dictionaries have some catching up to do with this usage.

Yes, that’s true. Language evolves because common usage changes and grammarians and dictionaries ought to accept that.

• #12

A. This is going to be a fun year.
B. It could be a funner year if…

Eso es algo que he escuchado en una serie. Por tanto, ya, 9 años después de este post, parece que empieza a normalizarse su uso. No sé si ya es más frecuente en la calle que antes.

• #13

@ splurge

Eso no se oye en mi calle, ni lo empleo yo.

• #14

A. This is going to be a fun year.
B. It could be a funner year if…

Eso es algo que he escuchado en una serie. Por tanto, ya, 9 años después de este post, parece que empieza a normalizarse su uso. No sé si ya es más frecuente en la calle que antes.

No, the incidence of this use is not increasing. There have always been native speakers with a limited grasp of English grammar knowledge who say «funner» and «funnest,» but those are not accepted as correct by the majority of speakers.

In the context you heard, it is also possible that the speaker intentionally made this mistake for affectation (to make it humorous).

Correct: The year could be even more fun if…

• #15

I know that it is commonly rejected, but I do say «funner» sometimes in very informal conversations (mostly as a joke, though I don’t personally know why people are so against its use).

• #16

Both an adjective and a noun; this very word reference dictionary explains it ok.

As an adjective, we can say eg «We had a fun day.» Comparative would be «We had a more fun day on Sat than on the Friday.» Or, «The most fun day on the trip was the Wednesday when we visited ….»

As a noun, eg «It was a lot of fun» , «We had so much fun». Comparative and superlative: «We had more fun than they did.» Or «That was the most fun I’ve had for ages».

• #17

These sound a little «off» to me, as if fun is not quite a fully versatile adjective (yet):

You’re a more fun guy than George.
You got a more fun gift than I did.
Saturday was a more fun day than Friday.
The most fun day on the trip was the Wednesday we visited ….
It could be a more fun year if ….

Comparatives can be a tricky aspect of the English language to master. Sometimes the comparative is built into the word itself, and other times it is paired with “more” or “less.” Unlike the term fun, which is a noun in and of itself and is almost always reserved for use with “more” or “less.”

Example:

I expected the game night to be more fun than that.

The term funny is an adjective and can therefore be a bit more fluid. Let’s take a look.

Comparing to other things

So, is funnier a word? In short, yes.

When talking about two separate entities, funnier is the way to go. It is the comparative of funny. For example, walking out of an open comedy mic, you might remark to your friend, “The first comedian was definitely funnier than the second.” Or, if you have your own little friendly competition, you might protest, “My joke was funnier than yours!”

On the other side of that coin, when talking about things that lack humor — or lack it in comparison to other things — you could say, “The second comedian was not as funny as the first,” or “Your joke was less funny than mine.”

The term more funny on its own feels a bit awkward and, thus, generally does not hold up. Funnier has a built-in comparative aspect and an easier flow off the tongue.

Comparing to itself

When the comparison is vaguer or internally focused, “more” and “less” come into play in a more prominent manner. Let’s say you have seen a movie that you found moderately humorous; you might say, “It was more or less funny,” or “It was more funny than not.” This tells the listener that you are willing to cede some level of humor — but not that it was the funniest thing ever.

Examples of using “funnier”:

EnglishWhich is correct

I have extensive experience writing in a variety of genres, from literary novels to music reviews to academic articles. I appreciate the power of words.

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A search of Google Books for the phrases «the more funny» does turn up a few relevant matches, though some of the matches returned are not relevant because they involve the form «the more X, the more Y,» where either X or Y = «funny things» (for example), so more in those cases is modifying things, not funny. Still, the admirable G.K. Chesterton, in Heretics (1905) uses «more funny» in a situation where, as far as I can see, he could have used «funnier»:

The question of whether Swift was funny in his irony is quite another sort of question to the question of whether Swift was serious in his pessimism. Surely even Mr. McCabe would not maintain that the more funny «Gulliver» is in its method the less it can be sincere in its object. The truth is, as I have said, that in this sense the two qualities of fun and seriousness have nothing whatever to do with each other, they are no more comparable than black and triangular. Mr. Bernard Shaw is funny and sincere. Mr. George Robey is funny and not sincere. Mr. McCabe is sincere and not funny. The average Cabinet Minister is not sincere and not funny.

Likewise, in an 1890 translation of George Sand, Nanon (1890):

When he next came he expected to have been thanked and kissed for it [the gift of a dress and a hat]. Not at all ; she was dissatisfied because her shoes were low and plain,—she wanted high heels and rosettes. This too amused him ; he was always amused by her grand-princess fashions. The more he hated the nobility the more funny he thought it to see this little irreconcilable offshoot from a noble stem, that he could have crushed between his finger and thumb, fly in his face and order him about at pleasure.

And from Graham Greene, Journey Without Maps (1936):

They [African native people] wore uniforms, occupied official positions, went to parties at Government House, had the vote, but they knew all the time they were funny (oh, those peals of laughter!), funny to the heartless prefect eye of the white man. If they had been slaves they would have had mo dignity; there is no shame in being ruled by a stranger, but these men had been given their tin shacks, their cathedral, their votes and city councils, their shadow of self-government; they were expected to play the part like white men and the more they copied white men, the more funny it was to the prefects.

In all three of these quotations it seems possible that the author’s (or translator’s) desire to retain a visible more to match the more in the parallel construction may have prompted the use of «the more funny.»

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A search for the phrase «the most funny» yields fewer matches because there is no «the most X, the most Y» form to encourage its use. But matches do occur, sometimes influenced by other parallel forms. For example, from Scottish Notes and Queries (October 1887):

Bruin’s brochure will appear under every advantage as to typographic accuracy and beauty, adorned with the most curious cuts, the most funny and fantastic figures ; the most grotesque letterings, and the most delectable sculptures.

And here is G.K. Chesterton again, in The Thing: Why I Am a Catholic (1929):

In that one extraordinary phrase [«strange heresies and even bearded and wedded clergy,» in Truth magazine], The word «strange» is strange enough. The word «heresy» is stranger. Perhaps at first sight the word «bearded,» with its joyous reminiscences of the game of Beaver, may appear the most funny. «Wedded» is also funny. Even the «and» between bearded and wedded is funny. But by far the funniest and most fantastic thing in all that fantastic sentence is the word «even.»

And from a letter written by Benjamin Disraeli in mid-December 1853, reprinted in Benjamin Disraeli Letters: 1852–1856 (1997):

But the most funny thing of all, & the most delightful is, that Palmn. has contrived to land the Peelites with the Movement party! Remember Gladstone’s Conservative Peroration this time last year!

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So in answer to your question, you most certainly can choose to use «more funny» or «most funny» instead of «funnier» or «funniest,» and not be alone and unprecedented in your word choice. But as you know, the overwhelming tendency in English runs in the other direction.

Funny Words starting with A:

1. Abibliophobia: The fear of running out of reading materials to read.

Sentence: I have so many reading materials in my house, anyone would think that I have Abibliophobia or something!

1. Abozzo: A rough sketch of a drawing or a draft poem.

Sentence: I’m almost finished with my abozzo of the Eiffel tower.

1. Ama: Japanese diver who dives for pearls or food.
2.  

Sentence: Amas have been diving for pearls in the Japan region for many years. 

1. Araba: A carriage or coach used in Turkey.

Sentence: I’m taking the araba through the city today.

1. Argle-bargle:  A lot of commotion or a row happening.

Sentence: What’s all this argie-bargie about?

1. Aye-aye: A type of lemur which can be found in Madagascar. 

Sentence: The aye-ayes are such cute little creatures.

Starting with B:

1. Bamboozled: To trick or confuse someone. 

Sentence: I have been bamboozled again by you. 

1. Blubber: This word has two meanings: It can mean to cry very loudly or could refer to excess body fat.

Blubber Sentence: Please, stop your blubbering.

1. Brouhaha: An event which involves great excitement or loud confusion.

Brouhaha in a sentence: Last night’s event was such a brouhaha and nothing was achieved.

1. Bumbershoot: A Bumbershoot is an old-fashioned word for an umbrella.

Bumbershoot in a sentence: Don’t forget your Bumbershoot, dear.

1. Bumfuzzle: This refers to being confused.

Bumfuzzle in a Sentence: I’m completely bumfuzzled!

Starting with C:

1. Cantankerous: Someone who is very grumpy.

Sentence: Our neighbour is such a Cantankerous.

1. Catawampus: Something positioned diagonally. 

Sentence: To get to the school, you need to walk catawampus across that park over there.

1. Collywobbles (kol-ee-wob-uh lz): This is the feeling when you have a stomach ache or when you feel really nervous or scared.

Collywobbles in a sentence: This place gives me the collywobbles, let’s go!

Hilarious Words Starting with D:

1. Dingy: Something that is dark and dull.

Sentence: This house looks a little dingy to me. 

1. Donnybrook: This refers to a fight, riot or a big brawl.

Donnybrook in a sentence: A Donnybrook broke out last night when the police when to arrest the leader of the operation.

1. Doozy: Something that is really great.

Sentence: I’m having a doozy of a time at this party.

1. Dweeb: This is not a nice word to call someone. It means that you think the person is boring and uninteresting.

Sentence: No-one wants to be a dweeb. 

Funny Words That Start With E: 

1. Egad: Used as an expression of shock or amazement.

Sentence: Egad! I never thought of that! 

1. Eep: Another expression of surprise or fear.

Sentence: Eep! That was scary!

1. Epos: Could refer to an epic poem or something that is epic.  

Sentence: That poem was just epos!

Starting with F:

1. Filibuster: Somone who refusing to give up the floor in a debate to prevent a vote.

Sentence: Someone get that silly filibuster out of here now!

1. Flibbertigibbet (flib·ber·ti·gib·bet): Is a word used to describe someone who talks a lot or is very gossipy.

Flibbertigibbet in a sentence: Imagine sitting on a 12-hour flight with a flibbertigibbet next to you.

1. Flabbergasted: To be surprised or shocked by something.

Sentence: I’m just flabbergasted to hear that.

1. Formication: The feeling that ants are crawling on your skin.

Sentence: Her constant shivering could be described as a formication.

1. Fuddy-duddy: Someone who is a mild-mannered person.

Sentence: He can be such a fuddy-duddy sometimes.

Starting with G:

1. Gaberlunzie: A beggar that walks around town to town.

Sentence: He didn’t really have a profession, some may even call him a gaberlunzie.

1. Gardyloo (gahr-dee-loo): This is a disgusting one. It refers to the cry people use to shout when they would throw their slops or droppings out of the window.

Gardyloo in a Sentence: Watch out, Gardyloo coming!

1. Gazump: This word really has a specific meaning. It means to refuse to sell your house to someone who you previously agreed to sell your house to.

Sentence: I’m so happy my offer to buy the house next door was accepted, but what if I get gazumped?

1. Gobbledygook: Speaking Nonsense.

Sentence: Why do you always have to speak such Gobbledygook?

1. Goombah: An older friend who protects you.

Sentence: Jamie didn’t have many friends, but was glad that his grandpa could be his protector – His Goombah.

1. Gubbins: These are objects of very little value like rubbish or litter.

Gubbins in a sentence: No one’s going to buy your gubbins.

Starting with H:

1. Hairball: A ball of hair that a cat normally chokes out.

Sentence: Cats are cute, but I hate it when they throw-up hairballs everywhere.

1. Hocus-pocus: A trick or magical spell.

Sentence: What’s all this hocus-pocus about?

1. Hokey: Something is is silly or old-fashioned.

Sentence: Now that was hokey old movie to watch!

1. Hootenanny: A country music party or get-together.

Sentence: I’m going to an old-fashioned Hootenanny on Saturday, would you like to come?

1. Heckler: Someone who interrupts a public performance with offensive comments.

Sentence: Those footballers are always having to deal with hecklers at their matches. 

Starting with I:

1. Itty-Bitty: Something that is really small or tiny.

Sentence: That ladybird is so itty-bitty.

1.  Ickle: Something that is small and normally cute

Sentence: Look at that ickle baby dolphin!

1. izzat:  This relates to your personal respect and dignity.

Sentence: I’m afraid of saying that in public, as it’ll be against my izzat. 

Starting with J:

1. Jabberwock: Something that is complete nonsense or gibberish

Sentence: Everything he just said was complete Jabberwock.

1. Jazzetry: The reading of poetry which is accompanied by jazz. 

Sentence: I love reading poems, but I’ve never tried jazzetry.

1. Jink: The sudden change in direction.

Sentence: He jinked out of the way, as the ball came towards him.

Fun Words Starting with K:

1. Kagu: An blueish-greyish type of bird which is now an endangered species. 

Sentence: The rare Kagu can be found in the Pacific island of New Caledonia.

1. Kaka: A breed of parrot that can be found in New-Zealand.

Sentence: The kaka parrots are so cool!

1. Kebbie: A Scottish term relating to a walking stick with a hooked end.

Sentence: Pass the old man his keebie.

1. Kibble: Ground meal or gains used as animal feed. 

Sentence: The chickens love this new brand of kibble.

1. Kraken: A mythical sea creature.

Sentence: Just like the loch ness monster, the Kraken is a myth. 

Starting with L:

1. La-di-da: If you described someone as “La-di-da”, you are suggesting that they are upper-class or behaving unnaturally only to impress other people.

La-di-da in a sentence: She thinks she is all La-di-da, but I know what she’s really like.

1. Lol: Short for laughing out loud. Mosting used on social media and in text messages. 

Sentence: Lol – That’s so funny!

1. Lollygagger: Someone who walks around with no aim or goal.

Sentence: They spent their summer lying about, eating and general lollygagging.

1. Lickety-split: When something moves really fast.

Sentence: He was out of the door lickety-split.

Starting with M:

1. Malarkey: An informal word for talking about meaningless things or nonsense.

Malarkey in a sentence: This is all malarkey, I tell ya!

1. Moist: Something that is slightly wet.

Sentence: This blanket seems a little moist to sit on. 

1. Mollycoddle: To be extra nice to someone or to overprotect them.

Sentence: Sometimes what a child needs is some tough love and not mollycoddling all the time.

Starting with N:

1. Nacket: A light lunch or snack.

Sentence: I’m going to have a quick nacket before dinner. 

1. Namby-pamby: Someone who is weak, with no backbone.

Sentence: I don’t want to be some namby-pamby little girl!

1. Napoo: The end of something. A term mostly used by soldiers.

Sentence: Napooh! That’s the end of that story.

1. Niff: Something that smells bad.

Sentence: It’s got that horrible fishy niff. 

1. Nincompoop: This refers to someone who is not intelligent or a fool.

Nincompoop sentence: You act like such a nincompoop sometimes.

Starting with O:

1. Obi: A sash worn around the waist of a kimono.

Sentence: That pink obi would look nice with this kimono. 

1. Oozy: Something that is slimy and wet

Sentence: That table is dripping in ooze. 

1. Oompah: The sound of deep brass instruments in a band.

Sentence: The oompah music in the background really set the tone.

Starting with P:

1. Panjandrum: Someone who thinks that they are superior to others.

Sentence: She’s no queen, but she saw acts like a panjandrum.

1. Patroon: The captain of a ship

Sentence: Look sharp, the patroon will be here soon.

1. Pettifogger: A pettifogger is someone who deals with small or petty businesses. It can also be to argue over small, unimportant matters.

Pettifogger in a sentence: Why do you look up to such a pettifogger?

Starting with Q:

1. Quab: Something that is incomplete or immature

Sentence: That baby bird is still just a quab.

1. Quark: Scientific term used to describe atoms which are made up of smaller particles. 

Sentence: Understanding quarks of fundamental to the world of physics.

1. Quoz: Something that is strange.

Sentence: That’s so quoz! No-one wants to eat cheese and ice-cream together!

Silly Words Starting with R:

1. Ratoon: This refers to the small root that sprouts from a plant, especially during the springtime.

Sentence: I heard somewhere that ratooned plants grow taller and healthier.

1. Rugrat: Refers to a young child or toddler

Sentences: Those rugrats don’t know what’s coming to them!

1. Ruddy: The term sometimes can be used to suggest good health in a person.

Sentence: That ruddy-faced girl was someone I never seen before. 

Starting with S:

1. Sialoquent: Somone who splits while talking.

Sentence: My old science teacher was Sialoquent. I was always scared to go near him!

1. Skedaddle: To ask some to leave or run away very quickly

Skedaddle in a sentence: This is no place to play your silly games, now skedaddle before I get you!

1. Skullduggery Refers to dodgy dealings and some no good business.

Sentence: We need to put a stop to all this skullduggery around this town.

1. Shenanigan: This is when someone is causing a lot of mischiefs or playing tricks.

Shenanigans in a sentence: What’re all the shenanigans about?

1. Snollygoster (snol·ly·gos·ter): This refers to an unethical politician who is guided by personal advantage.

Snollygoster in a sentence: I don’t want any help from a snollygoster.

1. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: Something that is really good. And the longest word in the English dictionary.

Sentence: Your cake is simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Starting with T:

1. Tatterdemalion:  A poor child wearing rags.

Sentence: I grew up like a tatterdemalion on the streets and now I’m a billionaire!

1. Taradiddle (tar-uh-did-l): this is a small lie or when someone is speaking nonsense.

Taradiddle in a sentence: That’s such taradiddle –  I don’t trust you at all!

1. Thingamajig. A thing for which you have forgotten the name of. 

Sentence: Can you pass that thingamajig over?

1. Troglodyte: Someone that lives in a cave.

Sentence: All my life I’ve been living like Troglodyte cooped up in this house!

Starting with U:

1. Uber: Something that is really great.

Sentence: That’s a really uber-looking coat you got there!

1. Ube: Type of yam which is coloured purple

Sentence: You can make really nice curry using ube.  

1. Upsy-daisy: Lifting up a small child. 

Sentence: Upsy daisy! It’s time for your nap. 

1. Urubu: A blank vulture found in South American.

Sentence: The Urubu is a rare species of bird found in America.

Starting with V:

1. Vamp: To make something brand-new.

Sentence:  Let’s vamp-up your car. 

1. Vexed: Something that is really annoying or frustrating. 

Sentence: This puzzle has really got me vexed. 

1. veepstakes: A competition to find a party-s vice president. 

Sentence: Have you prepared for the upcoming veepstakes?

Starting with W: 

1. Wabbit: A Scottish word referring to feeling exhausted or a little unwell.

Sentence: I’m feeling wabbit today.

1. Widdershins (with -er-shinz): This refers to going in the opposite direction or going down the wrong path.

Widdershins in a sentence: Only widdershins going down that road.

Starting with X:

All words beginning with X are funny ones!

1. Xanthoderm: A person with yellowish skin. 

Sentence:  This make-up makes my skin look a little Xanthoderm. 

1. Xebec: A small sailing-ship with square sails.

Sentence: Let’s take a ride on my new Xebec. 

Starting with Y:

1. Yabby: Refers to any Australian crayfishes used for food. 

Sentence: These yabbies are going to taste delicious. 

1. Yachty: Relates to yachts.

Sentence: I have a yachty-looking T-shirt. 

1. Yaff: A type of bark.

Sentence: The dog yaffed at the mailman.

1. Yawny: When you yawn or when something is boring

Sentence: That movie was a little yawny. 

1. Yahoo:  A rube, a country bumpkin.

Sentence: What’s that yahoo doing here!

1. Yerk: Pull or push something with a sudden movement.

Sentence; She yerked at the rope, as they tried to pull the bucket up from the well.

1. yips: When a golfer misses an easy putt due to nervousness. 

Sentence: Looks like he has the yips today. 

Funniest Words starting with Z:

1. Zaftig: Having a full-rounded figure.

Sentence:  Her zaftig figure was admired by all. 

1. Zappy: Something that is lively and energetic.

Sentence: She looks very zappy today. 

1. Zazzy:  Something that is shiny and flashy

Sentence: Jenny brought herself a new zazzy handbag to match her shoes.

1. Zeze: A string instrument from South Africa. 

Sentence: The sound of the zeze is unique in South Africa.

1. Zizz: To take a short nap or sleep.

Sentence: James likes to take a 2-hour zizz every afternoon at 2 pm.

1. Zoanthropy (zoh-an-thruh-pee): This is when someone believes that they are an animal.

Zoanthropy in a sentence:  I think she suffers from a mild case of Zoanthropy.

Several readers have asked for a post about the use of fun as an adjective.

Many English speakers cringe at usage like this:

One of my funnest rides I’ve owned was a chevy S-10
Knitting is funner than cleaning
So we had this really fun week…
What’s the most funnest online game?

The fourth example is doubly unacceptable since it uses most with the –est ending, but the other examples reflect a usage that is in the process of becoming standard.

The word fun probably originated as a dialect pronunciation of Middle English fon, which as an adjective meant “foolish” and as a noun meant “fool.” The Middle English verb fonnen meant “to be foolish, to be infatuated.”

By the 1680s, fun could be used as a verb meaning “to cheat, to hoax.” Dr. Johnson didn’t like fun; he called it “a low cant [slang] word.” This verbal use of fun is still heard in American dialect: She said she’d thrown out my lucky shirt, but I knew she was just funning me.

The earliest example in the OED of the adjective funny, “mirth-producing,” is dated 1756.

Contemporary use of fun as an adjective is on the cusp between nonstandard and standard English. It will eventually prevail as an adjective in all its uses, but for the moment, educated opinion is against it, at least in its comparative forms.

Because I’m already accustomed to the noun fun used attributively in an expression like “fun fair,” I don’t have any trouble accepting a sentence like “He’s a fun guy.”

The word “funner,” on the other hand, strikes my ear as babyish. To the under-30, it probably sounds as inoffensive as “clearer” or “higher.”

Bottom line: For the next 25 years or so, careful speakers and writers will avoid comparing “fun” as if it were an adjective.

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• #1

Hello!

Whenever you have a short adjective you add ‘er’ or ‘ier’. But since I saw ‘more fun’ being used I believe this is not a general rule, is it?

I need to know why ‘more fun’ is correct AND if it is equivalent to ‘funnier’.

Can anyone please help?

Cheers,
Tito

• #2

[I am not a teacher]

I don’t think they are equivalent.

• #3

«Fun» and «funny» are two different words.

«Funnier» is something that is more funny.

«Funner» is something that is more fun. I would only use «more fun.» «Funner» strikes me as an odd word.

• #4

Hello.:-D
I’ve always thought ‘fun’ is an uncountable noun. It is, however, listed as an adjective in many dictionaries here.

1. funny — funnier — (the) funniest — ‘funny’ is an adjective
2. much fun — more fun — (the) most fun — ‘fun’ is a noun modified by ‘much’

When the ‘fun’ is used as an adjective, its comparative and superlative would be:
fun — funner — funnest

I agree with SoothingDave that ‘fun’ and ‘funny’ are two different words.

• #5

I was honestly surprised to see «funner» in the dictionary. I would not say «a bad day on the golf course is funner than a good day at the office.» I would say «more fun.»

• #6

I was honestly surprised to see «funner» in the dictionary. I would not say «a bad day on the golf course is funner than a good day at the office.» I would say «more fun.»

I find your sentence odd, too. I’d probably write/say ‘more fun’ in that case. (And I personally think the ‘fun’ in your sentence is a noun. Therefore ‘more fun’.)

Then, what about:

There is a fun thing to do here.
1. There is a funner thing to do there.
2. There is a more fun thing to do there.

Would you choose #2?

Last edited: Jul 24, 2013

• #7

I find your sentence odd, too. I’d probably write/say ‘more fun’ in that case. (And I personally think the ‘fun’ in your sentence is a noun. Therefore ‘more fun’.)

Then, what about:

There is a fun thing to do here.
1. There is a funner thing to do there.
2. There is a more fun thing to do there.

Would you choose #2?

It’s a predicate adjective as I reckon it. It’s describing the day. Day is more fun.

I would not choose #2 either. I would avoid the word «funner» completely. But that is me.

• #8

I have decried the adjectival use of fun in the past: see the thread «Fun is a noun goddammit» under English Idioms and Sayings. But the evolution of the language grinds on relentlessly.

Last edited: Jul 25, 2013

• #9

Hi tzfujimino,
much better-more better-(the)most better. Is it correct?

• #10

Hi tzfujimino,
much better-more better-(the)most better. Is it correct?

Hello, UM Chakma.:-D

No, it isn’t.

‘good (well) — better — (the) best’ is correct.

• #11

I am completely aware of «good-better-best». I have seen a number of times «much better» used by people. That is what made me ask the question. Also «much easier».

• #12

«Much better» is fine, but there would not be a «most better.»

• #14

I am completely aware of «good-better-best». I have seen a number of times «much better» used by people. That is what made me ask the question. Also «much easier».

Hello, again.:-D
«Much better» and «much easier» are both correct, but you cannot say «more better» or «(the) most better».

• #15

That’s a word I wouldn’t expect to find in a dictionary. It is mostly used among preteen girls who have bestest friends forever. (BFFs)

• #16

That’s a word I wouldn’t expect to find in a dictionary. It is mostly used among preteen girls who have bestest friends forever. (BFFs)

I didn’t expect it either. I just googled it and found the reference I gave. I have never used it, and I’m in no rush to do so (my preteen years went by some time ago already, to say the least). However, I did warn it was slangy. That done, it’s always up to readers of the post to use it or forget it). :up:

• #17

Are «much better» and «much easier» type of idioms?

• #18

I think I am now getting it. Then I can use «much» with other comparative forms. Can’t I? For examples: much worthier, much lazier, much harder, much stronger. Correct?

• #19

I think I am now getting it. Then I can use «much» with other comparative forms. Can’t I? For examples: much worthier, much lazier, much harder, much stronger. Correct?

Yes, you can.

Are «much better» and «much easier» type of idioms?

I wouldn’t call it an ‘idiom’.
Comparatives are modified by much/far/even/a bit/a lot etc.

• #20

Am I correct? Wow! Thank you very much. A confusion of a long time has been just sorted out. I have to note down these all «much/far/even/a bit/a lot».