haw-haw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareLiterary, archaic, occasionally pejorative/humorous
Quick answer
What does “haw-haw” mean?
A loud, boisterous, and often forced laugh, typically expressing derision or mockery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A loud, boisterous, and often forced laugh, typically expressing derision or mockery.
It can also refer to a sound or manner of speaking that is affectedly or foolishly exaggerated. In historical context, it is associated with the stereotypical 'country bumpkin' laugh or a pompous, upper-class guffaw.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. It is equally archaic and stylistically marked in both varieties. Historically, the British usage was more strongly linked to the upper-class stereotype (e.g., 'haw-haw' as associated with the aristocratic 'Lord Haw-Haw' during WWII).
Connotations
UK: Slightly stronger historical association with class-based mockery (posh/upper-class laugh). US: Slightly stronger association with a loud, rustic, or simple-minded laugh (e.g., a hillbilly's guffaw).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary speech and writing for both, found mainly in literary works or historical commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “haw-haw” in a Sentence
emit a haw-hawlaugh with a haw-hawsay with a haw-hawVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “haw-haw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- "Oh, I say!" he haw-hawed, slapping his knee in amusement.
- The colonel haw-hawed at the private's mud-stained uniform.
American English
- The rancher haw-hawed loudly at the city slicker's question.
- "That's a good one!" he haw-hawed, nearly spilling his beer.
adverb
British English
- He laughed haw-haw, showing all his teeth.
- "Nonsense!" he said haw-haw.
American English
- "Well, I'll be!" he exclaimed haw-haw.
- She imitated the pompous professor haw-haw.
adjective
British English
- His haw-haw manner of speaking grated on everyone's nerves.
- They were put off by his haw-haw laugh.
American English
- He had a kind of haw-haw attitude that made him seem simple.
- The villain let out a haw-haw chuckle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare; only in literary analysis or historical texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be considered affected or deliberately old-fashioned.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “haw-haw”
- Using it in modern, neutral contexts.
- Spelling as 'ha-ha' or 'hee-haw'.
- Confusing it with the donkey's bray ('hee-haw').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Ha-ha' is the standard written representation for laughter (e.g., in comics or texts). 'Haw-haw' is a specific, marked type of loud, often mocking or rustic laugh.
It is not recommended for formal academic essays unless you are directly quoting a source or conducting a specific linguistic or literary analysis of the word itself.
It is primarily a noun (a haw-haw) and a verb (to haw-haw). It can also function attributively as an adjective (a haw-haw laugh) or adverb (laughed haw-haw).
It is highly stylized and onomatopoeic. Most modern speakers use more common words like 'guffaw' or simply write 'ha ha'. Its strong connotations of class mockery or rustic simplicity make it unsuitable for most neutral contexts.
A loud, boisterous, and often forced laugh, typically expressing derision or mockery.
Haw-haw is usually literary, archaic, occasionally pejorative/humorous in register.
Haw-haw: in British English it is pronounced /hɔː hɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɔː hɔː/ or /hɑː hɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms; the word itself is an onomatopoeic idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HAughty nobleman (HAW) laughing twice (HAW) at a peasant. HAW-HAW = HAughty laugh.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAUGHTER IS A LOUD, ANIMAL-LIKE SOUND / MOCKERY IS A FORCED EXPLOSION.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would the use of 'haw-haw' be MOST appropriate?