Word
giggle
Phoneticsgig·gle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɪɡəɫ/
UK/ɡˈɪɡəl/
Definition
v. to laugh in a quiet, silly way because you are nervous, embarrassed, or think something is funny.
v. to laugh in a light, silly, or repetitive manner, often as a result of amusement, nervousness, or embarrassment.
Examples
“The children giggle whenever the teacher makes a funny face.”
“The students began to giggle at the back of the classroom when they saw the typo on the whiteboard.”
“It is difficult to maintain a serious expression when your best friend starts to giggle uncontrollably during a formal ceremony.”
Examples
simple
“The children giggle whenever the teacher makes a funny face.”
contextual
“The students began to giggle at the back of the classroom when they saw the typo on the whiteboard.”
complex
“It is difficult to maintain a serious expression when your best friend starts to giggle uncontrollably during a formal ceremony.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object; it often pairs with the preposition 'at'.
Pitfall
They giggled the joke.
They giggled at the joke.
Giggle is an intransitive verb and requires a preposition like 'at' to connect to the cause of the laughter.
Etymology
Early 16th century, probably of imitative origin. Or, perhaps a frequentative based on dialectal English gig (“to creak”), from Middle English gigen (“to make a creaking sound”) + -le; or perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin: compare Saterland Frisian güüchelje (“to giggle”), West Frisian giechelje (“to giggle”), Dutch giechelen (“to giggle”), German Low German giecheln (“to giggle”), dialectal German giggln, gigglen (“to giggle”), German gickeln (“to giggle”). All of these words are likely onomatopoeic as well. Also compare Alemannic German Guege (“fiddle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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