Esilarante

Esilarante is an Italian adjective meaning extremely funny or laugh-inducing. It is used to describe jokes, scenes, performances, or situations that provoke strong laughter. The term is common in both spoken and written Italian and appears frequently in media reviews, entertainment reporting, and everyday conversation.

Etymology and related forms: Esilarante derives from the same Indo-European root as the English word hilarious, traced to Latin hilaris (cheerful) and Greek hilaros (graceful, joyful). In Italian, esilarante is part of a broad class of -ante adjectives formed from roots to express ongoing or characteristic qualities. The form esilarante is the standard modern Italian adjective; in some contexts the noun esilarazione (laughter, hilarity) may be used to name the effect rather than the attribute.

Usage notes: Esilarante is typically employed for things that cause pronounced amusement—films, jokes, anecdotes, performances, or personalities. It carries a stronger emphasis than more neutral terms like divertente (funny) or comico (comic). It can be used with essere to describe a subject, or with avere/avere una battuta/esilarante to denote an especially funny remark. Common collocations include un film esilarante, una storia esilarante, una scena esilarante.

Synonyms and contrasts: Divertente and comico are close but usually milder; esilarante emphasizes an intense, often infectious laughter. Hilarante is also understood in Italian, but esilarante is the more standard contemporary form.

See also: hilarità, hilarure, laughter-related expressions.