Phrase guide

funny bone

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈfʌn.i boʊn/
  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfʌn.i bəʊn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The ulnar nerve in the elbow, which, when hit, causes a tingling sensation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Ouch, I just hit my funny bone.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Nickname for the humerus, so named because of its being homophonic with "humorous".

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: mnemonic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

One's sense of humor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • His wisecracks always tickle my funny bone.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a point on the elbow where the ulnar nerve passes near the surface; a sharp tingling sensation results when the nerve is knocked against the bone

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the funny bone is not humerus

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crazy bone

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ulnar nerve, cubital nerve, nervus ulnaris

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: os de la música — nerve
  • Czech: brňavka — nerve
  • Dutch: telefoonbotje — nerve
  • Dutch: stroombotje — nerve
  • Finnish: kiukkusuoni — nerve
  • Finnish: kyynärhermo — nerve
  • French: petit juif — nerve
  • German: Musikantenknochen — nerve
  • Icelandic: vitlausa beinið — nerve
  • Māori: tuketuke — nerve
  • Polish: czułe miejsce w łokciu — nerve
  • Scots: dirlie-bane — nerve
  • Swedish: tjuvsena — nerve
  • Swedish: änkestöt — nerve
  • Catalan: sentit de l'humor — sense of humor
  • Dutch: lachspieren — sense of humor
  • Finnish: nauruhermo — sense of humor
  • Polish: poczucie humoru — sense of humor