Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. Today I am going to answer a question I see a lot, is funnier a word or not. If you also keep wondering is funnier a word, don’t worry, I did the digging so you don’t have to.
Short answer first, because I know you guys like that. Yes, funnier is 100% a real word. It is not slang, not some internet short cut, it is just normal correct English. But there is a whole side story to this, about a cousin word called “funner,” and that is where things get a little messy. So let me explain everything one by one.
So, Is Funnier a Word? The Simple Answer
Yes. Funnier is the comparative form of “funny,” and it just means “more funny” or “more humorous.” So if you say “this movie is funnier then that one,” you are just saying it made you laugh more. Nothing complicated about it, honestly.
I think a lot of people ask “is funnier a word” not because they don’t know it, but because they get confused after hearing its cousin word “funner.” That confusion is where this whole topic gets interesting, if you ask me.
Funnier vs Funner: Where People Get Confused
Here is the real difference, in very simple terms.
“Funnier” comes from the adjective “funny,” and it means more humorous, like a joke or a movie. But “funner” is trying to be the comparative of “fun,” and it is supposed to mean “more enjoyable.” One Reddit user explained it in the most simple way I have seen: “Funnier almost only means more humorous.” (Source)
Now “funner” is a totally different story. It is used a lot in casual talk, but most people don’t accept it as fully correct. Another Redditor said it clearly: “The word for ‘more fun’ would be ‘funner.’ People have already mentioned that this word isn’t always accepted as correct, but I just wanted to add that it’s actually pretty common in colloquial usage, at least here in the USA.” (Source)
So basically, funnier is safe to use anywhere. Funner is more like a casual word you use with friends, not in an email to your boss.
Why Grammar Rules Say Funnier Is Correct
This part is actually simple grammar, once you see it. When an adjective ends in “y,” like funny, happy, or easy, you change the “y” to “i” and add “-er” to make it comparative. So funny becomes funnier, happy becomes happier, easy becomes easier. Same rule, every time.
A Reddit comment explained this exact rule for our word too: “funnier is only the comparative of funny – you have that y to i transformation.” (Source) So if you ever get asked is funnier a word in a grammar test, just remember this simple y-to-i trick, and you will always get it right.
Why “Funner” Feels Wrong to So Many People
This part I found really interesting, honestly. The reason “funner” bothers people so much is because “fun” was originally not even an adjective, it was a noun. Like you would say “I had fun,” not “this is a fun day,” at least not in older English.
A Reddit user in the grammar community explained this nicely: “The reason people ‘correct’ you is that ‘fun’ was originally a noun.” (Source) So because “fun” started as a noun, giving it a comparative form like “funner” feels weird to a lot of grammar-strict people, even though language keeps changing all the time.
Another comment added that language does slowly change, but that does not mean everyone accepts a word right away: “While it is true that language evolves, it does generally take a long time for a word to be widely accepted.” (Source) I think that is a fair point. Just because a word is common does not mean it is fully accepted yet.
Quick Comparison Table: Funnier vs Funner
I made this small table to keep it simple, so you can just glance and understand.
| Word | Meaning | Is It Correct? | Where To Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funnier | More humorous | Yes, always correct | Anywhere, formal or casual |
| Funner | More enjoyable | Informal, debated | Only casual talk with friends |
| More fun | More enjoyable | Yes, always correct | Anywhere, safest option |
| More funnier | Double comparative | No, this is wrong | Never use this |
Is It Okay to Use Funner in Everyday Talk?
Honestly, it depends where you are. In a normal chat with your friends, nobody is going to correct you for saying “funner.” A lot of Redditors admitted it is pretty common in daily American English. But if you are writing an essay, an email, or anything formal, I would just play safe and say “more fun” instead.
One Reddit comment summed this up well too: “More fun = funner […] I personally would chose to use more fun instead of funner to convey the same meaning.” (Source) I actually agree with this one. “More fun” just avoids the whole argument completely.
Also, this rule changes with context in general. A comment from the grammar subreddit put it simply: “Funner is technically a word, however it is not used in formal speech/writing.” (Source) So basically, save “funner” for texting your friends, not for your resume.
Watch Out For “More Funnier”
This one is a common mistake I see a lot, so let me clear it up. You should never say “more funnier,” because “funnier” already means “more funny.” Adding “more” in front of it makes it a double comparative, and that is just grammatically wrong. A Redditor confirmed this directly: “‘More funnier’ is incorrect.” (Source)
So just remember, it is either “funnier” alone, or “more humorous,” never both together.
FAQ
Q: Is funnier a word? A: Yes, funnier is a real, grammatically correct word. It is the comparative form of “funny” and means “more humorous.”
Q: Is funner a real word too? A: Funner is used a lot in casual talk, but it is not fully accepted in formal writing. “More fun” is the safer choice.
Q: Can I say “more funnier”? A: No, this is incorrect. It is a double comparative because “funnier” already means “more funny.”
Q: Why does funny become funnier and not funnyer? A: Because of a basic English rule, when an adjective ends in “y,” you change it to “i” before adding “-er.”
Q: Should I use funnier or more fun in an email? A: Use “funnier” if you mean humorous, and “more fun” if you mean enjoyable. Both are correct and safe for formal writing.
Final Words
So guys, that was my full answer to is funnier a word, and honestly, I hope this cleared up all the confusion with its cousin word “funner” too. I have tried to cover the meaning, the grammar rule behind it, why funner feels odd to some people, and even the common “more funnier” mistake.
If you liked this kind of word and language content, you should also check my post on No Pun Intended, it explains another phrase people mix up all the time. I also wrote about some Funny Topics to Debate, which has other silly arguments just like this one. And if you want more wordplay fun, my Best Cat Puns post is a good read too.
Next time someone asks you is funnier a word, you can just send them this post. Keep on visiting Funny Puns Only for more!
Sources
- Reddit r/EnglishLearning — Funnier means more humorous
- Reddit r/EnglishLearning — Funner is common but debated
- Reddit r/EnglishLearning — Y to i grammar rule
- Reddit r/grammar — Fun was originally a noun
- Reddit r/grammar — Language evolves slowly
- Reddit r/grammar — Funner not used in formal writing
- Reddit r/EWALearnLanguages — More fun vs funner
- Reddit r/EnglishLearning — More funnier is incorrect

