What is a joke that plays on words with multiple meanings or similar sounds called?
AnswerA pun
A pun uses words that sound alike or have double meanings for a humorous effect.
Arts · Facts & stats
Joke facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about jokes and humor, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
On which date is April Fools' Day, known for pranks and jokes?
AnswerApril 1
April Fools' Day falls on April 1, a day of practical jokes and hoaxes in many countries.
Going deeper
How many lines does a limerick have?
Answer5
A limerick has five lines, usually rhymed AABBA, with a bouncy rhythm; a sonnet has 14 lines.
Swapping the first sounds of words, as in 'tease my ears' for 'ease my tears', is called what?
AnswerA spoonerism
Spoonerisms are named after William Archibald Spooner, an Oxford don famous for such slips.
What is the comedy 'rule of three'?
AnswerA list where the third item breaks the pattern for a laugh
Two items set up a pattern and the third twists it, a structure used widely in comedy writing.
Expert level
What is the scientific study of laughter called?
AnswerGelotology
Gelotology comes from the Greek 'gelos', meaning laughter.
The Philogelos, the oldest surviving joke book, was written in which language?
AnswerGreek
The Philogelos, meaning 'laughter lover', is a collection of jokes written in ancient Greek.
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