Difference Between “Fun” And “Funny”

A common mistake for students learning English is the difference between Fun and Funny.
FUN = ENJOYABLE

•  English class is fun!
•  I think playing soccer is more fun than playing basketball. 
•  We had fun at the party. 

FUNNY = IT MAKES YOU LAUGH, HAHAHAHA

•  The movie is really funny. 
•  I heard a funny story yesterday. 
•  I love comedy, it’s so funny.

Watch the BBC video below on how to use ‘fun and funny’ to answer the following question! 'Yesterday was such a _____ day, it made me so happy!' What word is missing?

• Funny?
• Fun? 

Watch the video to find out when something’s fun, and when it’s funny.        

Both can be used as adjectives (words that describe something)

Funny = it makes you laugh
Fun = when you enjoy yourself and have a good time

A comedian is…. FUNNY (because he makes you laugh)
Going to an amusement park is … FUN (because you enjoy yourself and have a good time)

Compare these examples:
John is a fun guy. (I have a good time when I am with John)
John is a funny guy. (John makes me laugh)

Funny can also mean = Strange

Sometimes FUNNY means strange or difficult to explain.

• I have a funny feeling that something bad is going to happen.
• That’s funny, I thought I had left my keys on the table, not in my bag.
• This soup tastes funny.

          

Take now a little quiz.
Are the following situations fun or funny?

1. A party with your friends is…
2. A clown is…
3. Playing a game is…
4. Visiting new places is…
5. A friend tells you a great joke. The joke is…

After each example, decide if you need fun or funny & say why. Choose between “haha,” “enjoyable,” or “strange.”

1. Where did Liz go? That’s ____________________. I just saw her, but now she disappeared.
2. That TV show is really __________________. It always makes me laugh so hard.
3. What a ___________________ video game! I could play it 24/7.
4. I love soccer. It’s so ________________.
5. Gus tells such __________________ jokes. He’s a real clown.
6. What a ____________________ car! It seems too small to hold anything. You could never fit a family in there.
7. That was a _______________ party. The people were friendly and the food and music were great.

Click here to see the answers