Giggle vs. Laugh: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Giggle is a light, often quiet laugh, usually expressing amusement or nervousness. Laugh is a louder, more expressive sound of amusement or joy.
Key Differences
A giggle is usually a soft, somewhat suppressed laugh, often reflecting amusement or shyness, while a laugh is a more robust and louder expression of humor or joy.
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Nov 21, 2023
Giggles tend to be brief and can indicate mild amusement, nervousness, or embarrassment, whereas laughs are more straightforward expressions of amusement, happiness, or even ridicule.
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Nov 21, 2023
Giggling often occurs in social situations as a way to show agreement or shared amusement in a subtle manner, while laughing can be a more individual or collective response to humor or joy.
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Nov 21, 2023
A giggle is typically quieter and can be seen as more restrained or polite, suitable for quieter settings; in contrast, laughing is louder, more open, and can vary significantly in volume and intensity.
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Nov 21, 2023
While giggling can be contagious in a subtle way, often shared among close friends, laughing is more infectious and can easily spread in a group, reflecting a shared sense of humor or joy.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Social Context
Subtle, polite, often in close groups
More open, can be individual or collective
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Contagiousness
Subtly contagious among close friends
Highly infectious in groups
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Giggle and Laugh Definitions
Giggle
Giggle refers to laughing in a nervous or suppressed manner.
His comment made her giggle nervously.
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Laugh
Laugh can refer to making sounds expressing joy or amusement.
We could hear them laughing from the next room.
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Nov 21, 2023
Giggle
Giggle is used to describe a quiet, often high-pitched laugh.
Her giggle was quiet but infectious.
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Nov 21, 2023
Laugh
A laugh is a vocal expression of amusement or joy.
His joke made the whole room burst into laughter.
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Laugh
Laugh can also mean to express scorn or disbelief.
She laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
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Giggle
A giggle can be a soft, silly laugh.
The children's antics caused a giggle among the adults.
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Nov 21, 2023
Laugh
Laugh is used to describe showing amusement with vocal sounds.
They laughed together at the old memories.
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Nov 21, 2023
Giggle
A giggle can indicate amusement in a shy or restrained way.
A giggle escaped her lips as she watched the playful puppies.
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Laugh
To express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually unarticulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To show or feel amusement or good humor
An experience we would laugh about later on.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To feel or express derision or contempt; mock
I had to laugh when I saw who my opponent was.
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Laugh
To feel a triumphant or exultant sense of well-being
You won't be laughing when the truth comes out.
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Giggle
To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner.
The jokes had them giggling like little girls all evening.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To produce sounds resembling laughter
Parrots laughing and chattering in the trees.
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Laugh
To affect or influence by laughter
Laughed the speaker off the stage.
Laughed the proposal down.
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Oct 19, 2023
Giggle
(informal) Fun; an amusing episode.
We put itching powder down his shirt for giggles.
The women thought it would be quite a giggle to have a strippergram at the bride's hen party.
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Oct 19, 2023
Giggle
To laugh with short catches of the breath or voice; to laugh in a light, affected, or silly manner; to titter with childish levity.
Giggling and laughing with all their mightAt the piteous hap of the fairy wight.
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Oct 19, 2023
Giggle
A kind of laugh, with short catches of the voice or breath; a light, silly laugh.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
(Informal) Something amusing, absurd, or contemptible; a joke
The solution they recommended was a laugh.
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Giggle
Laugh nervously;
The girls giggled when the rock star came into the classroom
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
His deep laughs boomed through the room.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
Something that provokes mirth or scorn.
Your new hat's an absolute laugh, dude.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
(intransitive) To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
There were many laughing children running on the school grounds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
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Laugh
To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock.
Don't laugh at my new hat, man!
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Laugh
(transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
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Laugh
To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er.
He laugheth that winneth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned.
In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy.
No wit to flatter left of all his store,No fool to laugh at, which he valued more.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
I shall laugh myself to death.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
To express by, or utter with, laughter; - with out.
From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause.
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
A facial expression characteristic of a person laughing;
His face wrinkled in a silent laugh of derision
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Laugh
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
He told a very funny joke
He knows a million gags
Thanks for the laugh
He laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest
Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point
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Oct 19, 2023
Laugh
A laugh is a loud or hearty expression of amusement.
His infectious laugh filled the air.
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Nov 21, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is Laugh defined?
A laugh is a more pronounced vocal expression of amusement or joy.
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Are Giggles always quiet?
Typically, but they can sometimes be loud, especially among children.
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What causes a Giggle?
Giggles are often caused by amusement, nervousness, or embarrassment.
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Is Laughing healthy?
Yes, laughing is associated with health benefits like stress reduction.
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Do Giggles convey emotions?
Giggles can convey a range of emotions, often lighter or more subdued.
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Can Laughing be involuntary?
Yes, laughter can be an involuntary response to humor or joy.
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Can Giggles be contagious?
Absolutely, giggles can spread in social settings.
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How does Laughing affect mood?
Laughing generally elevates mood and creates a sense of well-being.
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Can Giggles be fake?
Yes, people can giggle artificially to fit into social situations.
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Is Laughing universal across cultures?
Yes, laughter is a universal human behavior, though triggers vary culturally.
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Can Giggles be therapeutic?
Light-hearted giggles can have a soothing, stress-relieving effect.
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What are different types of Laughs?
Laughs vary from chuckles and guffaws to belly laughs.
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How do Giggles differ in children and adults?
Children’s giggles are often more spontaneous and frequent than adults'.
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Why do people Giggle in awkward situations?
Giggling can be a nervous reaction to diffuse tension or discomfort.
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Can Laughing be a response to sadness?
Sometimes, as people may laugh in uncomfortable or sad situations.
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What does a nervous Giggle mean?
A nervous giggle can indicate discomfort or unease.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are there health risks to excessive Laughing?
Excessive laughing is generally not harmful, though it can be tiring.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is Laughing appropriate in all situations?
Not always; context and cultural norms dictate the appropriateness.
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What role does Laughing play in social interactions?
Laughing plays a key role in bonding, diffusing tension, and expressing joy.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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