joke
Loading your saved state.
joke
A short, made-up story with a surprising and funny punchline that is told to make people laugh.
Mein Opa kennt unglaublich viele Witze und erzählt bei jeder Gelegenheit einen.
My grandpa knows an incredible number of jokes and tells one at every opportunity.
'Der Witz' (joke) is not the same as the English word 'wit' (Geist, Verstand). 'Der Witz' is the funny story itself (a joke). A person with 'wit' is 'geistreich' or 'witzig' in German.
Er hat einen lustigen Witz über einen Pinguin erzählt.
He told a funny joke about a penguin.
In connection with a funny story, 'Witz' (joke) is often used with the verbs 'erzählen' (to tell), 'machen' (to make), or 'reißen' (to crack, colloquial). You laugh 'über' (at/about) a joke.
Mein Kollege kann sehr gut Witze erzählen.
My colleague is very good at telling jokes.
The phrase 'Der Witz an der Sache ist, ...' (the joke of the matter is ...) is used to emphasize the ironic, surprising, or absurd point of a situation. It is usually followed by a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that).
Er hat sich über das Geschenk beschwert. Der Witz an der Sache ist, dass er es sich selbst gewünscht hat.
He complained about the gift. The joke of the matter is that he had asked for it himself.
In this colloquial meaning, 'Witz' (joke) expresses that something is ridiculous or not to be taken seriously. It is often used as an exclamation.
Du willst für dieses alte Fahrrad 500 Euro? Das ist doch ein Witz!
You want 500 euros for this old bicycle? That's a joke!
fun / joke
'der Spaß' and 'der Witz' can both mean something non-serious and funny. But 'Spaß' is broader: it can be a joke, but also enjoyment or fun in general. 'Witz' is more specific when someone tells something funny or when a situation has a funny punchline. That is why you are more likely to say 'einen Witz erzählen' (to tell a joke), but 'Spaß haben' (to have fun). Learners may confuse the words because a 'Witz' often creates 'Spaß'. But 'Spaß' is the feeling or the playful intention, while 'Witz' is usually the specific funny content.
Adam erzählt nach dem Unterricht einen Witz, und die ganze Klasse lacht.
After class, Adam tells a joke, and the whole class laughs.
Das war nur Spaß; ich wollte dich nicht wirklich ärgern.
That was just a joke; I didn't really want to annoy you.