Spanish word of the week: broma

broma NOUN joke

Una broma is the most common word for a joke.

Esto no es ninguna broma, es una situación muy seria. This is no joke, it’s a very serious situation.

To play a joke on someone is hacer una broma a alguien, and a practical joke is una broma pesada:

Le ha hecho una broma pesada al jefe. He played a practical joke on his boss.

Broma is used in lots of phrases with prepositions which it’s worth getting to know:

El jefe hoy no está para bromas. The boss isn’t in the mood for jokes today.

Te lo dije en broma, hombre, no te aflijas. I only said it as a joke, don’t get upset.

No saldría con ella ni en broma. No way would I date her.