humour
HYOO-muh
Humour (noun) means (UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny. Example: “The film's gentle humour made the long journey feel much shorter.”
noun
1
(UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny.
"The film's gentle humour made the long journey feel much shorter."
"She has a great sense of humour and always makes us laugh."
"His humour helped lighten the mood at the funeral."
2
(UK) A person's mood or temporary state of mind.
"She arrived in a good humour and greeted everyone with a smile."
"Don't ask him now, because he's in an ill humour this morning."
"He was in a foul humour after the meeting."
verb
1
(UK) To go along with someone's wishes to keep them happy, even if you disagree.
"I only said yes to humour him, because he was so keen."
"The nurse humoured the confused patient and sat down for a chat."
"She humoured her grandfather by listening to the same story again."
How to use humour
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBritish spelling of "humor" — either the quality of being funny, a person's mood, or (as a verb) indulging someone.
UK vs US
UK English: "humour." US English: "humor."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sense of humour
good humour
humour someone
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like humour.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- humours
- Third person singular
- humours
- Past tense
- humoured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film's gentle _____ made the long journey feel much shorter.
Etymology
From Latin humor ("liquid, moisture"). Medieval medicine held that four bodily fluids ("humours") controlled mood and health, which is how the word came to mean "state of mind" and later "funniness."
Related words
Rhymes for humour
See all rhymes for humour →Frequently asked questions
What does “humour” mean?
The word “humour” means (UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny. In plain terms, british spelling of "humor" — either the quality of being funny, a person's mood, or (as a verb) indulging someone.
How do you pronounce “humour”?
“Humour” is pronounced HYOO-muh (/ˈhjuːmɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “humour” in a sentence?
Here is “humour” used in a sentence: “She has a great sense of humour and always makes us laugh.”
What part of speech is “humour”?
Depending on how it is used, “humour” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “humour” come from?
The word “humour” comes from Latin. From Latin humor ("liquid, moisture"). Medieval medicine held that four bodily fluids ("humours") controlled mood and health, which is how the word came to mean "state of mind" and later "funniness.".
Is “humour” a common word?
“Humour” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “humour” have?
“Humour” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny.
What is the difference between "humour" and "humor"?
"Humour" and "humor" refer to the same concept, the quality of being funny or the ability to find things funny, but "humour" is the standard British/UK spelling while "humor" is used in American English. The choice depends on which regional spelling convention a piece of writing follows.
What does it mean to "humour" someone?
As a verb, to "humour" someone means to go along with their wishes to keep them happy, even when you disagree with them. This usage is distinct from the noun sense of funniness and instead describes a way of managing someone's mood or requests.
Can "humour" refer to a mood rather than comedy?
Yes. In UK usage, "humour" can also mean a person's mood or temporary state of mind, as in being in "good humour" or "bad humour." This sense predates and is separate from its meaning related to comedy.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include humour:
