Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| scherzo | /ˈsker.t͡so/ | masculine |
| barzelletta | /bar.d͡zelˈlet.ta/ | feminine |
| battuta | /batˈtu.ta/ | feminine |
| celia | /ˈt͡ʃɛ.lja/ | feminine |
In Italian, the word you choose depends entirely on the type of joke being made. You can use these nouns to refer to funny stories or pranks, or use the related verb scherzare to describe the act of joking or being playful.
Which one should you use?
The forms are distinct based on the format of the joke. Use barzelletta specifically for a funny story or a joke told with a punchline. Use battuta to refer to a short joke, a quip or a single witty remark. Finally, use scherzo when referring to a prank or a practical joke rather than a spoken story.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms have different genders: scherzo is masculine, while barzelletta, battuta and celia are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word scherzo is pronounced /ˈsker.tso/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word barzelletta originally referred to a 'little shepherdess' from the French bergerette, a type of light-hearted song used in the 16th century.
- In Italian theater, a battuta refers specifically to a line of dialogue spoken by an actor.
- In classical music, a scherzo is a movement characterized by a fast, playful tempo, sharing its name with the Italian word for a joke or prank.
Examples in context
- Non è uno scherzo.It's no joke.This sentence shows how to use scherzo to deny something is a joke.Tatoeba #644985 by Guybrush88, translation #268442 by CK
- Qual è la battuta?What's the joke?This sentence is used to ask about a battuta.Tatoeba #2513625 by Guybrush88, translation #2234114 by CK
- Non è una battuta.It is no joke.This sentence uses battuta to state that something is not a joke.Tatoeba #3010673 by Guybrush88, translation #42478 by CM
- 291 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are chatting during a lunch break.
- MatteoGiulia, ascolta questo scherzo!Giulia, listen to this joke!
- GiuliaVa bene, dimmi pure.Alright, go ahead and tell me.
- MatteoEra uno scherzo molto vecchio.It was a very old joke.
- GiuliaSì, ma mi ha fatto ridere.Yes, but it made me laugh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “joke” translations and entries scherzo, barzelletta, battuta, celia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barzelletta, battuta, celia, scherzo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
