What's so funny? British Humour Explained

Suitable for CEFR upper-intermediate and above (B2+)

 #BritishHumour #BritishComedy #jokes

Jokes can be lost in translation in any language, but British humour in particular, with its often undetectable sarcasm and constant deadpan delivery, can seem utterly bewildering, even to other native English speakers from around the world. 

There is nothing worse that feeling left out when everyone else is laughing but you missed the joke, but don't worry! I have put together a complete guide to British humour so that you can better understand British comedy and enjoy using it yourself. 

1. Irony 

Irony is when something has the opposite or a very different result than what is expected. Irony is also when a speaker's intention or meaning is the opposite of what they are saying. British people love to highlight the absurdity of everyday life and make fun of it, so irony is an essential feature of British humour. 

For example, is a marriage counsellor got divorced that would be very ironic or if it is raining heavily a British person might say 'what lovely weather we're having.' 

To respond to ironic comments you might say 'oh, the irony' or 'how ironic', but it is by no means necessary. In most cases where someone has highlighted situational irony a wry smile is enough.

2. Sarcasm

Sarcasm is another form of irony, but there is one important difference: sarcasm involves someone being insulted or mocked. Sarcasm is used when the speaker has the intention of belittling or annoying someone with humourous effect.

A commonly used example of sarcasm would be catching a colleague drinking coffee with their feet up when they are supposed to be working and telling them 'don't work too hard.' 

A popular way to respond to a sarcastic comment is to go along with it. A British person might respond to the above comment by saying 'don't worry, I won't' or by asking the person who made the comment to do something for them. 'Oh while you're up, you wouldn't mind...'

3. Deadpan / dry humour

With comedy it's all in the delivery. Deadpan is telling a joke using a serious tone and keeping a straight face (without smiling). A funny story delivered in a serious way can make it even more hilarious, but it can confuse English speakers from other parts of the world, such as America, where humour is typically more obvious. 

 

Most British standup comedians deliver jokes or funny stories deadpan in their stage performances. It is ok to laugh out loud to a deadpan joke, but not necessary.

4. Satire

Satire uses irony and exaggeration to ridicule or criticise people, or more often, public services, politicians and institutions. Satire is an important part of the British TV panel shows Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week. I recommend these programmes for upper-intermediate and advanced English learners.

 

 

5. Macabre 

Otherwise known as dark humour, the macabre makes jokes from situations involving death or other serious, gruesome or tragic subject matter. Although it is widely used in Britain, it is also popular in the USA. The American TV and movie series The Addams Family is a great example of dark humour that is suitable for a wide audience, intermediate+ English learners included!

 

Some people may be easily offended by dark humour, so it is important to be familiar with or at least confident that the audience is likely to respond well and that you are using it at the right moment. You could get yourself into a lot of trouble if you don't.

 

 

6. Self-deprecation

British people tend not to take themselves too seriously. Self-depracation is the act of belittling or undermining yourself or your own behaviour. The British people generally have a reputation for being very reserved, which is associated with also being excessively modest, so it is hardly surprising that self-depracating humour is popular in the UK. 

However, there is a fine line between self-depracating humour and genuinely devaluing, degrading yourself or coming across as having an overly negative attitude, so it shouldn't be used too often. Keep it lighthearted and always deliver with a smile.

7. Wit

Someone who is described as witty is skilled in making intelligent but funny remarks. Wit is widely used on the internet and in response to social media posts. Following funny tweets from accounts like @lmao on Twitter is both entertaining and a good way to become familiar with using wit yourself. 

 

 

 

8. Banter

Banter is an exhcange of light and playful teasing remarks between people that are generally very familiar with one another. Banter is an integral part of workplace culture in many industries in the UK and can be used effectively with wit in witty banter. The difference between banter and antagonising someone lies in body language and intonation. Teasing is only considered banter if the person on the receiving end of critical remarks finds it funny and/or responds immediately with an equally scathing or witty comment. Banter is also used widely in flirting and dating as a way of building rapport with a potential love interest. 

You can witness some of the best banter British TV has to offer on motoring magazine show Top Gear (intermediate+), and sports-themed comedy panel show A League of Their Own (advanced). 

 

9. Innuendos

Innuendos are comments used for humour that are suggestive of something sexual but do not refer to it directly. The purple aubergine/eggplant emoji on social media and instant messaging platforms is used as an innuendo to represent the male sexual organ. 

Italian TV chef and comedian Gino D'Acampo has become famous in the UK for using innuendos to great effect as a non-native English speaker. He often takes advantage of mistakes with vocabulary and pronunciation and feigns ignorance to make his jokes even more funny. He appeared regularly on British lifestyle magazine and chat show This Morning.

10. Puns 

 

 

Puns are a play on words or a joke that exploits words and expressions with double meanings or which have similar pronunciation. In the picture the word 'lute' is used because it sounds very similar to the word 'loot', which is a slang term for money.

 

Puns can often be found on the front of greetings cards and in memes shared on social media platforms. Many small businesses in the UK also use puns to name their companies and attract the attention of consumers. For example, in my hometown there is a hairdressers called A Cut Above which is a phrase that uses the hairdressers main task to provide customers with a haircut, but which also means something superior, like in 'his graphic design skills are a cut above the rest' or 'that new steak restaurant in town is a cut above'.There is also a fish and chip shop called The Codfather, which sounds very similar to the title of classic gangster movie The Godfather.

 

 

 

What kind of humour is popular in your country and which styles do you prefer? Write your answers in the comments!