chortle
Medium-LowLiterary, somewhat formal, occasionally playful
Definition
Meaning
to laugh with a breathy, gleeful, and often somewhat muffled or throaty sound, expressing amusement and delight
To express satisfaction, triumph, or gleeful amusement through this distinctive kind of laugh; can describe the sound itself
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Coined by Lewis Carroll in "Through the Looking-Glass" (1871) as a blend of "chuckle" and "snort." It implies a more robust, joyful, and sometimes mischievous or self-satisfied amusement than a simple chuckle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical or meaning differences. It is a literary word understood equally in both dialects.
Connotations
In both dialects, it retains its literary and slightly whimsical Carrollian origin. May be perceived as slightly more British due to its author's nationality, but it is firmly established in American English.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British literary and journalistic contexts, but the difference is minimal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJECT chortleSUBJECT chortle at/over OBJECTSUBJECT give/let out/emit a chortleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chortle in one's beard (a rare, playful extension implying quiet, secretive amusement)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare; might appear in colourful descriptions of a relaxed, positive meeting.
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis or discussions of Lewis Carroll.
Everyday
Used occasionally for vivid description, more common in writing than speech.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He chortled quietly to himself as he read the witty column in the paper.
- Upon solving the puzzle, she couldn't help but chortle with delight.
American English
- He chortled at the comedian's clever punchline.
- My dad always chortles when he reads the funny pages in the Sunday newspaper.
adverb
British English
- He laughed chortlingly, which was a most peculiar sound. (extremely rare, non-standard)
- She spoke chortlingly about her minor victory. (rare, poetic)
American English
- He replied chortlingly, amused by his own remark. (rare, literary)
- The children listened chortlingly to the silly story. (rare)
adjective
British English
- A chortling audience filled the theatre. (present participle used adjectivally)
- He was in a chortling good mood all afternoon.
American English
- The chortling sound from the next room told me the joke was a hit.
- She gave a chortling laugh that was quite infectious.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby chortled happily in her pram.
- I heard a chortle from behind the book.
- He gave a soft chortle of triumph when he won the board game.
- The old friends chortled over memories of their school days.
- The critic's review was so sardonic that one could almost hear him chortling as he typed it.
- A wave of chortling swept through the sophisticated crowd at the satirical play.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CHubby TORTOISE (CHOR-TLE) laughing happily in its shell. The sound is soft and contained, like a chortle.
Conceptual Metaphor
AMUSEMENT IS A CONTAINED BUBBLING LIQUID (it bubbles up and spills out in a breathy, joyful sound).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "хихикать" (giggle/snigger), which is often more nasal and sly. "Chortle" is deeper and heartier. "Усмехаться" (to smirk) is also incorrect as it lacks the vocal, joyful sound.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct synonym for any laugh (e.g., 'He chortled hysterically' is odd). Misspelling as 'chuckle' or 'chortel'. Overusing in formal prose.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the emotional tone of a 'chortle'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) invented it in his 1871 novel "Through the Looking-Glass" as a blend of 'chuckle' and 'snort.'
No, it is of medium-low frequency. It is more common in writing, especially literary, journalistic, or descriptive texts, than in casual conversation.
A chortle is generally louder, more joyful, and has a breathy or throaty quality, often implying triumph or glee. A chuckle is a quieter, softer laugh of mild amusement.
Yes, it is very commonly used as a noun (e.g., 'He gave a chortle'), arguably as often as its use as a verb.