uz ha-ha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ja えへ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · bg ха-ха (approximation of the sound of laughter) · hi हींहीं (approximation of the sound of laughter) · he חחח (approximation of the sound of laughter) · fa هههه (approximation of the sound of laughter) · fa هاها (approximation of the sound of laughter) · pl cha cha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · es jajaja (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ja ふふふ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ru ха-ха-ха (approximation of the sound of laughter) · fi hah-hah (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ja おーっほほほほ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · la hahae (approximation of the sound of laughter) · it ah ah (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ja へへへ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · tk ha-ha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · tg ха-ха (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ja けけけ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ar هَاهَا (approximation of the sound of laughter) · lv hahā (approximation of the sound of laughter) · hi हाहा (approximation of the sound of laughter) · fi ha-ha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · pl ha ha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · cmn 哈哈 (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ko ㅋㅋㅋ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ko 하하하 (approximation of the sound of laughter) · is haha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · sv haha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · hi खीखी (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ug خاخا (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ar هِهِهِهِ (approximation of the sound of laughter) · la hahahahae (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ka ჰა-ჰა (approximation of the sound of laughter) · pt haha (approximation of the sound of laughter) · ka ჰე-ჰე (approximation of the sound of laughter) · sv hihi (approximation of the sound of laughter)
We had a fine dinner, punctuated with Heidi's loud ha-has and lots of wine. 1997, David Gessner, A Wild, Rank Place: One Year on Cape Cod, Hanover, N.H.: University Press of New England, →ISBN, page 90:
Ha-has from both sides of the door. 1957, Ernie Kovacs, Zoomar: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, →OCLC, page 28:
Not just giggles or a few ha-has, but the paralyzing kind of laughter, when the eyes tear and the nose runs and one gasps seemingly unto apoplexy. 2012, David Mazzarella, “Benigna’s Story”, in Always Eat the Hard Crust of the Bread: Recollections and Recipes from My Centenarian Mother, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, in association with TPD Publishing LLC, →ISBN, page 24:
His ha-ha grated on our ears as he fled down the stairs three steps at a time with us in hot pursuit. 1916 June 14, The Electrical Experimenter, New York, page 141, column 1:
Something funny; a joke.
She is not rewarded until she learns to reduce her expectations, and surprises (the ha-has of this novel) are the educational tool. 1996, Lois A. Chaber, “Sir Charles Grandison and the Human Prospect”, in Albert J. Rivero, editor, New Essays on Samuel Richardson, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 196:
If Kathy had been with us, she'd have countered with a few ha-has of her own, thus guaranteeing a laugh at his expense. 2005 December, Sue Grafton, S is for Silence, New York, N.Y.: Putnam, →ISBN:
Durty Nelly's, […] You'll catch a few ha-has and even a golden memory or two singing along with the house piano player. 1983 March, Patricia Sharpe, Helen Thompson, “Around the State: A Selective Statewide Guide to Amusements and Events”, in Texas Monthly, volume 11, number 3, Austin, Tx.: Texas Monthly, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 68, column 3:
She ha-ha’d like a boy over the sport. 1874, Katy Crane, “A Day at Deacon Potts’s”, in T[imothy] S[hay] Arthur, editor, Arthur’s Illustrated Home Magazine, volume XLII, Philadelphia, Pa.: T. S. Arthur & Son, page 651:
“I’ve missed you, Bunny!” she said. I started laughing and Winnalee looked up and grinned. “What? I did!” She looked at Aunt Verdella, who was ha-ha’ing, and suddenly Winnalee’s eyes narrowed and her lips parted, as though she just realized it wasn’t 1961 anymore, and, in spite of still having the oomph of a shaken can of soda pop, Aunt Verdella had aged to old. 2012, Sandra Kring, chapter 6, in A Life of Bright Ideas, Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 60:
Out with the fashion that will let a man smile, but pronounces him vulgar if he ha-ha’s. 1893, “Address by Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, D. D.”, in Annual Graduating Exercises of Peirce School of Business and Shorthand American Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pa., Thomas May Peirce, page 131:
Charlie had tipped back his chair, thrown back his head and was ha-haing at some pleasantry uttered by the man with the hay-colored hair. 1932, Catharine Brody, Nobody Starves, page 45:
He was much affected, said it was his lullaby when he was a baby, that she must stop or she would have him boo-hoo-ing right out. But he was ha-ha-ing a few moments after, and begging her “To take him for her lover, and let all those inconstant swains glide, they were not worth one of those invaluable pearls he saw in her eyes, when he met her.” 1863, Hearton Drille [pseudonym; Jeannie H. Grey], Tactics; Or, Cupid in Shoulder-Straps. A West Point Love Story., New York, N.Y.: Carleton, […], page 214:
Though somewhat worn and excited, with several respectable swellings as a reminder of his experience with the new bait the boys had provided, he ha-ha-ed at the practical joke and carried it home with him that evening as the most enjoyable part of the afternoon’s trip. 1915, Richard Sylvester, Me—My Boy—and—the Bass, page 39:
Arturo ha-ha’ed though his face showed no upturned mouth. 2014, David DeGeorge, Friendship, Whiskey Creek Press, →ISBN:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
ha-ha-ing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-ha-ed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-ha-ed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
ha-has
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
ha-haed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-haed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
ha-ha's
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
ha-ha'ed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-ha'ed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
ha-ha'ing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-ha'd
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-ha'd
Tense=Past
lexicographic
ha-haing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ha-ha en · NOUN · etymology 2
Pronunciation
/ˈhɑˌhɑ/ (General-American)
/ˈhɑːhɑː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From French haha, supposedly from ha! as an expression of surprise.
Meanings
A ditch with one vertical side, acting as a sunken fence, designed to block the entry of animals into lawns and parks without breaking sightlines.
This pathway ran up hill, across another open space covered with white incrustation, and plunged into a canebrake again. Then suddenly it turned parallel with the edge of a steep-walled gap, which came without warning, like the ha-ha of an English park,—turned with an unexpected abruptness. I was still running with all my might, and I never saw this drop until I was flying headlong through the air. 1896, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Sayers of the Law”, in The Island of Doctor Moreau (Heinemann’s Colonial Library of Popular Fiction; 52), London: William Heinemann, →OCLC; republished as The Island of Doctor Moreau: A Possibility, New York, N.Y.: Stone & Kimball, 1896, →OCLC, pages 115–116:
A few steps farther brought them out at the bottom of the very walk they had been talking of; and standing back, well shaded and sheltered, and looking over a ha-ha into the park, was a comfortable-sized bench, on which they all sat down. 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter IX, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 197:
A moody stroll through the oaks and bracken beyond the ha-ha didn't help. 2022, Ian McEwan, Lessons, page 175: