How to pronounce joke
Say it like JOHK. Joke is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce joke. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JOHK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Joke pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JOHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of joke
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: JOHK.
What does joke mean?
- a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter“he told a very funny joke”“he knows a million gags”
- activity characterized by good humor
- a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
- tell a joke; speak humorously“He often jokes even when he appears serious”
- act in a funny or teasing way
Where does joke come from?
From Latin iocus (“joke, jest, pastime”), from Proto-Italic *jokos (“word, (playful?) saying”), from Proto-Indo-European *yokos (“word, utterance”), from ultimate root Proto-Indo-European *yek- (“to speak, utter”) (of which distant cognates
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with joke
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of joke.
Questions about saying joke
How do you pronounce joke?
Say JOHK. The American pronunciation is /dʒoʊk/. In British English it is /dʒəʊk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in joke?
Joke is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JOHK.
Is joke pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /dʒəʊk/ (JOHK).