Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hilarante | /ilaˈɾante/ | |
| descacharrante | /deskat͡ʃaˈrante/ | |
| desopilante | /desopiˈlante/ | rare |
All these terms describe something that is very funny and causes great merriment or laughter.
Which one should you use?
While hilarante means hilarious, it is often used in a more formal or literary sense. In everyday speech, people more commonly use muy divertido. The term descacharrante is used for something so funny it feels almost ridiculous or absurd. In Argentina, the informal term desopilante is used to mean something is extremely funny.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Hilarante is a formal or literary option, while descacharrante is a colloquial term. Desopilante is an informal term used in Argentina.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective hilarante is gender-neutral, meaning it does not change its ending based on whether the noun it modifies is masculine or feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ilaˈɾante/
Did you know?
- The term descacharrante comes from the verb 'descacharrar', which describes the act of breaking or ruining a piece of pottery or a kitchen utensil.
- While hilarante sounds like a direct translation of 'hilarious', using it in a casual conversation might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Examples in context
- ¡La comedia que vimos anoche en el teatro fue divertidísima!The comedy we saw last night at the theater was hilarious!
- Anoche vimos una película muy graciosa.Last night we watched a hilarious movie.
- ¡Esa anécdota que contaste fue muy cómica!That anecdote you told was hilarious!
- La comedia que vimos en el teatro fue desopilante.The comedy we saw at the theater was absolutely hilarious.
- El comediante contó un chiste hilarante.The comedian told a hilarious joke.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing a comedy show they watched.
- Javier¿Viste el especial de anoche?Did you see the special last night?
- LucíaSí, fue un espectáculo hilarante.Yes, it was a hilarious show.
- JavierMe reí muchísimo con sus historias.I laughed so much at his stories.
- LucíaA mí también me encantó.I loved it too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hilarious” translations and entries hilarante, descacharrante, desopilante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries descacharrante, desopilante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
