WordGarden.iochortle
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /tʃˈɔːtəl/
US
- /ˈtʃɔrtəl/
Meanings
Verb
to laugh with quiet or gleeful amusement
Noun
a laugh of quiet or gleeful amusement
Beyond the definition
To chortle isn't just laughing—it's a specific kind of joyful, exuberant laughter. Think of a hearty chuckle with a little snort mixed in. It suggests a feeling of pleased, satisfied merriment. The word was actually invented by Lewis Carroll in his poem "Jabberwocky," blending the words "chuckle" and "snort." So if you're reading a particularly funny book, or watching something hilarious, you might chortle with delight.
The word chortle, delightfully quirky as it is, describes a gleeful, joyful laugh—somewhere between a chuckle and a snort. It's not a polite little giggle, nor a booming belly laugh; it's something in between, full of pleased, self-satisfied amusement.
Lewis Carroll coined the word in his famous nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" (1871), combining "chuckle" and "snort." He didn't define it directly within the poem, leaving readers to infer its meaning from context—a mischievous touch that helped solidify its place in the English language.
While not used every day, chortle is often employed when describing someone's reaction to something particularly amusing or satisfying. You might say an old man chortled over a good joke, or a child chortled with glee upon receiving a present. It implies a quiet, internal joy bubbling up and escaping as a happy sound.
Unlike simply saying "he laughed," using chortle adds a layer of whimsicality and specificity to the description. It paints a picture of someone genuinely delighted, savoring a moment of pure happiness. So next time you experience that particular blend of chuckle and snort, remember—you're chortling!
Examples
- 1
Family humor
Grandpa chortled when the dog ran off with his sandwich.
- 2
Reaction to joke
She chortled at his awful pun, even though she was trying to stay serious.
- Patternchortle at + funny thing
laugh in response to it
- 3
Pleased laugh
He let out a pleased chortle when he saw that he had won.
- Phraselet out a chortle
make this kind of laugh
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- chortlenounverb