joke
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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.
joke
The funny, absurd, or ironic aspect of a particular situation. Often used in the phrase 'der Witz an der Sache' (the joke of the matter).
Der Witz an der Sache ist, dass er die Prüfung bestanden hat, obwohl er gar nicht gelernt hat.
The joke of the matter is that he passed the exam even though he didn't study at all.
joke
Colloquially, something that is so bad, absurd, or inadequate that you cannot take it seriously.
Fünf Euro Gehaltserhöhung? Das ist doch ein Witz!
A five-euro raise? That's a joke!
'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
Spaß and Witz can show that something is not meant seriously. Spaß tends to describe the whole playful situation or action, while a Witz is usually a specific humorous remark or short story with a punchline. Use „Spaß“ for the general situation and „Witz“ for the individual joke.
Als ich sagte, ich hätte den Schlüssel verloren, war das nur ein Witz.
When I said I had lost the key, it was just a joke.
Als ich sagte, ich hätte den Schlüssel verloren, war das nur Spaß.
When I said I had lost the key, I was only joking.
