How to Say Fun in Spanish

Learning Direct Translations

Use la diversión to talk about fun by itself. If you're talking about "fun" in Spanish as its own separate thing or idea, this feminine noun is appropriate. Pronounce it lah dee-ver-see-OHN. Remember that the accent mark over the o indicates you should emphasize that syllable. For example, you might say "Leo por diversión" to mean "I read for fun."

Switch to divertido or divertida to describe something as fun. The adjective form is appropriate when you want to say that something else – a person, place, thing, or idea – is fun. Remember that in Spanish, all nouns have a gender. For example, you might say "El museo es divertido" or "The museum is fun." Pronounce divertido as dee-ver-TEE-doh. Divertida is pronounced dee-ver-TEE-dah. Divertido/divertida can also be used to mean "funny." For example, you might say "el es muy divertido" (He is very funny).

Conjugate divertir to talk about having fun. Whenever you want to say that someone is having fun, there is a specific verb for that in Spanish. Unlike in English, you don't pair the noun for "fun," (la diversión) with the verb for "have" (tener). Divertir is an irregular, stem-changing verb. It's also reflexive. Use the appropriate pronoun immediately before the conjugated verb form, based on the subject of the sentence. For example, you might say "Nos divertimos en el parque," or "We have fun at the park." The basic forms of divertir are: Me divierto (first person singular) Te diviertes (second person singular) Se divierte (third person singular) Nos divertimos (first person plural) Os divertís (second person plural) Se divierten (third person plural)

Say "Diviértete" to tell someone to have fun. There's an imperative form of the verb "divertir" that you can use if you want to tell someone to have fun. This word is pronounced dee-vee-AIR-teh-tay. For example, if your friend Miguel tells you that he's going to the World Cup, you might say "¡Diviértete, Miguel!"

Using Related Nouns

Discuss enjoyment using the noun disfrute (diss-FROO-tay). This masculine noun can be used when you're talking about something that brings pleasure or enjoyment to people. In some contexts, this can imply that people are having fun. For example, you might say "Espero que disfrutes esta tarde celebrándolo con tus amigos," or "I hope you enjoy the evening celebrating with your friends."

Refer to "joy" as "la alegría." This feminine noun, pronounced lah ah-leh-GREE-ah, is commonly translated as "joy, merriment, or mirth." For example, you might say "El evento se celebra con alegría" to mean "The event is celebrated with joy."

Talk about entertainment using "el entretenimiento." This masculine noun, pronounced ehl ehn-tray-tehn-ee-mee-EHN-toh, means "entertainment" or "amusement" in English. For example, you might say "Ella lee revistas de entretenimiento" to mean "She reads magazines for entertainment."

Try "la broma" to talk about playfulness. You can translate this feminine noun, pronounced lah BROH-mah, as "playfulness" or "joke." For example, you might say "Eso es una broma divertida," or "That is a funny joke."

Switch to "la burla" for lighthearted teasing. When you're teasing someone or joking at their expense in a playful way, this word, pronounced lah BURR-lah, describes what's going on. Use it when you're playing around and teasing. For example, you might say "Disfruta de las burlas de sus amigos" to mean "He enjoys his friends' teasing."

Applying Related Adjectives and Verbs

Use "entretenido" when something is entertaining. If you want to describe something that's both fun and entertaining, this adjective is an appropriate choice. Switch between entretenido (ehn-tray-tehn-EE-doh) for masculine nouns and entretenida (ehn-tray-tehn-EE-dah) for feminine nouns. For example, you might say "La novela es muy entretenida," or "The novel is very entertaining."

Describe something funny with "gracioso." If someone or something is amusing or funny, you could use this adjective instead of "divertido." Use gracioso (grah-see-OH-soh) for masculine nouns and graciosa (grah-see-OH-sah) for feminine nouns. For example, if you wanted to say "the story is funny," you could say "el cuento es gracioso."

Make fun of something using "burlarse." When someone makes fun of someone else, this is typically the most appropriate verb to use. Burlarse (burr-LAHR-say) is a reflexive verb, so you'll need to use the right reflexive pronoun before the verb. It's a regular verb, so standard conjugation rules apply. This verb also requires you to use the preposition de (day) before introducing the person being made fun of. For example, suppose a girl is making fun of her brother. You might say "Ella se burla de su hermano" to mean She makes fun of her brother.

Conjugate "reírse" (ray-EER-say) when poking fun. You could use this verb to describe the action of "making fun," but it's more appropriately translated as "poking fun at" or "laughing at." Use the preposition de before introducing the person being made fun of, and add a reflexive pronoun. Keep in mind that reír is an irregular verb. For example, you might say "Te ríes de tu hermana," or "You poke fun at your sister." Reir can also mean simply "to laugh." For example, you might say "Me reí de tu chiste," or "I laughed at your joke."

Joke around with "bromear" (broh-MEE-ahr). When you're joking with someone or "kidding around," this is an appropriate verb to use. This verb follows standard conjugation rules for Spanish verbs, and is not reflexive. For example, you might say "bromean conmigo" to mean "they joke with me."

Use "gozar" when you enjoy yourself or something else. The verb gozar (GOH-zahr) is closely related to the idea of "fun," because you can use it when talking about the action of taking pleasure or enjoying something. Gozar is a regular verb, so the standard conjugation rules apply. Follow it with the preposition de before introducing the thing being enjoyed. For example, you might say "Gozo de mis amigos," or "I enjoy my friends."