guffaw
C1-C2Informal, descriptive
Definition
Meaning
A loud, hearty, uncontrolled burst of laughter.
A boisterous, often somewhat vulgar or raucous laugh, suggestive of a lack of restraint or sophistication.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a laugh that is louder, more explosive, and less inhibited than a standard laugh or chuckle. It often carries connotations of coarseness or lack of refinement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties; the word is equally recognized.
Connotations
Connotations of loudness, crudeness, or lack of sophistication are consistent.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] guffawed[Subject] guffawed at [object][Subject] let out a guffawA guffaw escaped [subject]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Guffaw one's head off (informal variant of 'laugh one's head off')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in informal storytelling (e.g., 'He guffawed at the absurd proposal').
Academic
Very rare, used only in literary or descriptive analysis.
Everyday
Common in spoken narratives to describe a very loud, distinctive laugh.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He guffawed so loudly at the joke that he spilled his pint.
- The entire rugby team guffawed in unison.
American English
- She guffawed at the political cartoon in the newspaper.
- He guffawed when he saw the meme on his phone.
adverb
British English
- N/A - The adverbial form 'guffawingly' is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- N/A - The adverbial form 'guffawingly' is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- N/A - The adjective form is not standard.
American English
- N/A - The adjective form is not standard.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The clown made the children guffaw.
- He let out a guffaw when he won the game.
- Her sarcastic remark was met with a loud guffaw from the back of the room.
- He tried to tell the story seriously but kept guffawing in the middle.
- A raucous guffaw erupted from the bar, interrupting the solemn atmosphere of the pub.
- His attempts at diplomacy were undermined by his tendency to guffaw at inappropriate moments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A GUFFaw is enough to make you GOFF' (GOFF sounds like a rough, loud noise).
Conceptual Metaphor
LAUGHTER IS AN EXPLOSIVE RELEASE / A VOCAL ERUPTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не точно "хохотать". "Guffaw" более грубое, громкое и неконтролируемое, чем просто "хохотать". Ближе к "ржа́ть" или "оглушительно хохотать".
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'chuckle' (quieter) or 'giggle' (higher-pitched).
- Using in formal contexts.
- Misspelling as 'guffah' or 'guffa'.
Practice
Quiz
Which situation is most likely to provoke a 'guffaw'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently negative, but it often describes a laugh that is unsophisticated, loud, or lacking in restraint, which can be perceived as rude in certain contexts.
Yes, it is commonly used both ways: 'He gave a guffaw' (noun) and 'He guffawed loudly' (verb).
It is an 18th-century word, likely of imitative origin, meant to sound like a coarse laugh.
No, it is too informal and descriptive for formal or technical writing. Use a more neutral term like 'laughed heartily' or avoid direct description.
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