Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

jocular

/ˈd͡ʒɑkjəlɚ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.21 in modern English

Syllables: joc-u-lar
IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɑkjəlɚ/

16

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Humorous, amusing or joking.

Example Sentences

"He was in a jocular mood all day."
"All we had was a short and jocular conversation."
"From the tone of the speaker, the last words might be understood to be jocular."
"Sometimes he would notice it, pat it, call it half-mocking, half-jocular names, and so make it caper with extraordinary delight."
"Then papa began to get very tired of Jones, and fidgeted and finally said, with jocular irony, that Jones had better stay all night, they could give him a shake-down."

Etymology

From Latin iocularis, from ioculus (“a little jest”), diminutive of iocus (“a jest”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *yek-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈd͡ʒɑkjəlɚ/
British English: /ˈd͡ʒɒkjʊlə/

Inflected Forms

more jocular (comparative) most jocular (superlative)

Derived Forms

jocularism jocularity jocularly jocularness joculous overjocular unjocular

Phrases

semi-jocular

Frequently Paired Words

joke

Synonyms

jokey silly joculous jesting jocose joking jocosely

Antonyms

heartfelt serious sincere

Rhymes With

binocular

Questions

How do you pronounce jocular?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒɑkjəlɚ/.
What does jocular mean?: Humorous, amusing or joking.
Where does jocular come from?: From Latin iocularis, from ioculus (“a little jest”), diminutive of iocus (“a jest”).

How to pronounce jocular

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “jocular”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈd͡ʒɑkjəlɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “jocular”.
Repeat and practice — Say “jocular” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.