Slang & idioms › Jokes
Spanish jokes, explained
18 short Spanish jokes from easy to tricky. Most are wordplay, so they teach you two meanings at once. Tap a word for its meaning, open «Why it's funny» if the joke doesn't land.
¿Qué le dice un pez a otro pez? —Nada.
What does one fish say to another? “Nothing.” / “He swims.”
Why it's funny
«Nada» is both «nothing» and «swims».
¿Qué le dijo el cero al ocho? —¡Qué bonito cinturón!
What did the zero say to the eight? “What a nice belt!”
Why it's funny
An 8 looks like a 0 wearing a belt.
¿Por qué está triste el libro de matemáticas? Porque tiene muchos problemas.
Why is the math book sad? Because it has a lot of problems.
Why it's funny
Same joke as in English, and it works the same way.
¿Cuál es el animal más antiguo? La cebra, porque está en blanco y negro.
What's the oldest animal? The zebra, because it's in black and white.
Why it's funny
Old photos and films are in black and white.
¿Qué hace una abeja en el gimnasio? ¡Zumba!
What does a bee do at the gym? Zumba!
Why it's funny
«Zumba» is also «it buzzes» (zumbar), so the bee is just doing what bees do.
¿Qué le dijo una uva verde a una uva morada? —¡Respira, respira!
What did a green grape say to a purple grape? “Breathe, breathe!”
Why it's funny
People turn purple when they hold their breath.
¿Qué hace un perro con un taladro? Taladrando.
What does a dog do with a drill? Drilling.
Why it's funny
«Taladrando» sounds like «está ladrando», «he's barking».
¿Por qué las focas miran siempre hacia arriba? ¡Porque ahí están los focos!
Why do seals always look up? Because that's where the lights are!
Why it's funny
«Focas» are seals, «focos» are light bulbs: one letter apart.
Había una vez un perro que se llamaba Pegamento. Un día se cayó y se pegó.
Once upon a time there was a dog called Glue. One day he fell and hit himself / got stuck.
Why it's funny
«Se pegó» means «he hurt himself» and «it stuck».
—Mamá, mamá, en la escuela me dicen distraído. —Niño, tu casa es la de enfrente.
“Mom, Mom, at school they call me absent-minded.” “Son, your house is the one across the street.”
Why it's funny
He's so distracted he went into the wrong house to complain.
—Camarero, hay una mosca en mi sopa. —No se preocupe, señor, no se la va a comer toda.
“Waiter, there's a fly in my soup.” “Don't worry, sir, it won't eat all of it.”
Why it's funny
The classic fly-in-the-soup joke, Spanish style.
¿Qué le dijo un semáforo a otro? —No me mires, que me estoy cambiando.
What did one traffic light say to another? “Don't look at me, I'm changing.”
Why it's funny
Traffic lights change color; people change clothes.
—¿Cuál es tu plato favorito? —El hondo, porque le cabe más comida.
“What's your favorite dish?” “The deep one, because more food fits.”
Why it's funny
«Plato» is both «dish» (food) and «plate».
¿Cuál es el colmo de un jardinero? Que su novia se llame Rosa y lo deje plantado.
What's the ultimate for a gardener? That his girlfriend is called Rosa and she stands him up.
Why it's funny
«Plantado» is «planted» and «stood up».
¿Cuál es el colmo de un electricista? Que su mujer se llame Luz y sus hijos le sigan la corriente.
What's the ultimate for an electrician? That his wife is called Luz (light) and his kids humor him.
Why it's funny
«Luz» is light; «corriente» is current.
¿Cuál es el café más peligroso del mundo? El ex-preso.
What's the most dangerous coffee in the world? The ex-con (espresso).
Why it's funny
«Expreso» (espresso) sounds like «ex preso», a former prisoner.
¿Qué le dijo un techo a otro techo? —Techo de menos.
What did one roof say to another? “I miss you.”
Why it's funny
«Techo de menos» sounds like «te echo de menos», «I miss you» in Spain.
—Mamá, ¿puedo salir a jugar? —¿Con esos agujeros en los calcetines? —No, con los niños de la vecina.
“Mom, can I go out to play?” “With those holes in your socks?” “No, with the neighbor's kids.”
Why it's funny
«¿Con esos agujeros?» can mean «wearing those holes» or «playing with those holes».