ha-ha

UK: /ˈhɑː ˈhɑː/

US: /ˈhɑˈhɑ, ˌhɑˈhɑ/

US: (hä′hä′, hä′hä′ for 1; hä′hä′ for 2)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ha-ha¹ /ˈhɑˈhɑ, ˌhɑˈhɑ/   interj. 

1. This word is used to express or represent laughter, amusement, scorn, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ha-ha¹  (hä′hä′, hä′hä′), interj., n. 

1. (used as an exclamation or representation of laughter, as in expressing amusement or derision.) Cf. haw-haw.

• bef. 1000; Middle English, Old English; of imitative origin, originally

ha-ha²  (hä′hä′), n. 

1. See sunk fence. 

• French haha repetitive compound based on ha! exclamation of surprise
• 1705–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ha-ha / ˈhɑː ˈhɑː/, haw-haw interjection

1. a representation of the sound of laughter
2. an exclamation expressing derision, mockery, surprise, etc

ha-ha / ˈhɑː hɑː/, haw-haw noun

1. a wall or other boundary marker that is set in a ditch so as not to interrupt the landscape

Etymology: 18th Century: from French haha, probably based on ha! ejaculation denoting surprise