belly laugh: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “belly laugh” mean?
A deep, unrestrained, and hearty laugh, typically involving the abdomen and producing loud, guttural sounds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A deep, unrestrained, and hearty laugh, typically involving the abdomen and producing loud, guttural sounds.
A laugh that is so forceful and genuine it causes physical shaking of the torso. By extension, can refer to something that causes such a laugh.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is widely understood and used in both varieties. 'Belly laugh' is the dominant term in AmE. In BrE, 'belly laugh' is common, but alternatives like 'a real laugh' or 'a proper laugh' might be used in similar contexts.
Connotations
Equally positive and informal in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but well-established in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “belly laugh” in a Sentence
let out a belly laughhave a belly laughget a belly laugh from somethinggive someone a belly laughVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “belly laugh” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He guffawed, a proper belly laugh that filled the room.
- We were belly-laughing at the comedian's impression.
American English
- She let out a huge belly laugh at the plot twist.
- The whole audience was belly-laughing throughout the show.
adverb
British English
- He laughed belly-laughingly at his own mistake. (Rare/poetic)
American English
- The joke landed, and he chuckled, not belly-laughingly, but with appreciation. (Rare/poetic)
adjective
British English
- It was a real belly-laugh moment during the pantomime.
- He has a very belly-laugh kind of humour.
American English
- The movie had several belly-laugh scenes.
- She told a belly-laugh funny story.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in very informal team settings or anecdotes ('The boss's story got a belly laugh from everyone at the retreat').
Academic
Extremely rare; inappropriate for formal writing.
Everyday
Common in spoken descriptions of humour and entertainment ('That comedy special gave me a real belly laugh').
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “belly laugh”
- Using it as a verb (*'He belly laughed at the joke' is non-standard). The standard verb form is 'guffaw' or phrases like 'laughed heartily'.
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Confusing it with a 'snort' of laughter, which is more nasal.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in standard English. 'Belly laugh' is primarily a noun phrase. To describe the action, use verbs like 'guffaw', 'roar with laughter', or the phrase 'laughed heartily'. The hyphenated form 'belly-laugh' is sometimes used informally as a verb, but it is non-standard.
A belly laugh is loud, deep, forceful, and involves the whole body, typically an involuntary response to something extremely funny. A giggle is a light, repeated, often high-pitched sound, usually softer and can be suppressed. It's more associated with amusement or nervousness than with hearty humour.
Not inherently. It signals genuine enjoyment and is usually welcome in social and entertainment contexts. However, context matters—a loud belly laugh might be considered disruptive in a library, a solemn ceremony, or a very formal meeting.
Yes, many languages have idioms focusing on the physical impact of laughter. In Spanish, 'reírse a carcajadas' (to laugh in bursts/guffaws); in French, 'rire à gorge déployée' (to laugh with an open throat); in German, 'sich schlapp lachen' (to laugh oneself limp/slack).
A deep, unrestrained, and hearty laugh, typically involving the abdomen and producing loud, guttural sounds.
Belly laugh is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Belly laugh: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɛli ˌlɑːf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛli ˌlæf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to laugh one's head off”
- “to split one's sides (laughing)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a laughing Santa Claus – his 'bowl full of jelly' belly shakes when he does his characteristic 'HO HO HO' laugh. That's a classic belly laugh.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAUGHTER IS A PHYSICAL FORCE / LAUGHTER IS A CONTAINER (the sound/laughter comes from deep within the belly).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'belly laugh' be LEAST appropriate?