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One describes something enjoyable, the other describes something that makes you laugh.
Side-by-side comparison
"Fun" describes something that entertains and gives pleasure. "We had fun" = we enjoyed ourselves. It is increasingly used as an adjective: "a fun day".
The party was so much fun!
Surfing is really fun.
We had a lot of fun at the beach.
"Funny" means amusing or comical: something that makes you laugh. It can also mean strange or odd. "That's funny" can mean "how amusing" or "how strange".
That joke was really funny.
He is the funniest person I know.
I found the movie funny, but my sister did not.
Common mistake
- •"The concert was very funny" to mean enjoyable is wrong: "funny" means it makes you laugh.
- •If the concert was enjoyable and entertaining: "The concert was very fun".
- •"Funny" only applies when something provokes laughter, like a joke or a comedy.
Trick to remember it
- •"Fun" = enjoyment without laughter (a party, a game, a hobby).
- •"Funny" = something that makes you laugh (a joke, a comedian, a comedy film).
Quick rule
- •Did you enjoy it and have a good time? "Fun".
- •Did it make you laugh? "Funny".
Did you know?
"Funny" in English has two completely different meanings: "humorous/comical" AND "strange/odd." "That's funny" can mean "how amusing" or "how strange" depending on tone and context. "A funny smell" (a strange smell, not a comic one). "I feel a bit funny" (I feel a bit off, not amused). This ambiguity is intentional in many English puns: "Funny, I don't remember leaving the milk there" uses "funny" in its sense of "strange."
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The comedian was hilarious. She told some really _____ jokes.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
We had a really _____ afternoon at the theme park.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One describes how you feel, the other describes what causes that feeling.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy