# Name that laugh! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2016, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886 "2016-08-15T07:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gretchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gretchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretchion)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/1 "2016-08-15T07:43:57Z")
I am writing a short story, and one of the main characters leans in for a kiss from a girl he fancies. She gives a quick, derisive laugh before slapping him. Not even a full laugh, just a short puff of air from the nose. I have asked around, and looked online, but I can’t find what this laugh is called. Is there a name for it? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/2 "2016-08-15T07:58:15Z")
Snort? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/3 "2016-08-15T08:15:43Z")
Second vote for snort. ---
**Author:** ![Gretchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gretchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretchion)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/4 "2016-08-15T10:21:19Z")
Thanks for your help! I had thought of ‘snort’, too. Although, I thought a snort was more of a breathing in, with a loud sound. I was thinking of a breathing out, with a quieter sound. ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/5 "2016-08-15T10:50:44Z")
Hmph! Hmph! She scoffed as she raised her hand…? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/6 "2016-08-15T12:19:25Z")
I hear in my head … [Mrs. Krabappel] Hah! [/Mrs. Krabappel] ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/7 "2016-08-15T15:48:16Z")
That’s a snort of derision. Or so I am told. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/8 "2016-08-15T16:02:29Z")
I’ve always called it a “Grace Adler.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/9 "2016-08-15T16:17:45Z")
Snicker might be another alternative. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/10 "2016-08-15T16:31:49Z")
Maybe sniffle, but that’s more associated with a runny nose. ‘A barely audible snort’ would get the point across. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/11 "2016-08-16T00:44:06Z")
I know that sound and I don’t think there’ll be any word for it. The sound (a pissed-off one?) reminds me of the quick (pissed-off) sound of the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth (breathed out, quickly). bemused laugh? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/12 "2016-08-17T17:15:51Z")
You don’t really need a special name for it. I just read _Black Chalk_ last week and he used this: > [@](#): > > They both laughed the same laugh, a small puff of air from the nose. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/13 "2016-08-17T18:53:09Z")
burst, puff, heave, buffet, gust, discharge, flare, surge, salvo, spurt, rupture, spate ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/14 "2016-08-18T01:46:44Z")
There are a number of people here who know IPA. Can this sound be represented with it? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/15 "2016-08-18T14:28:13Z")
Assuming you don’t mean India Pale Ale, the OP said it was a nose sound, so no. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/16 "2016-08-18T21:40:13Z")
In the olden days, I think that would have been called a huff (“She huffed”). Huff has another meaning as well now, which might cause a disconnect in younger readers. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/17 "2016-08-18T21:49:01Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > There are a number of people here who know IPA. Can this sound be represented with it? I don’t think so. It’s a voiceless nasal aspiration starting with a salpingopharyngeal stop. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/18 "2016-08-19T01:55:15Z")
I vote for scoff. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/19 "2016-08-19T03:17:57Z")
> [@Gretchion](#): > > Thanks for your help! > > I had thought of ‘snort’, too. Although, I thought a snort was more of a breathing in, with a loud sound. I was thinking of a breathing out, with a quieter sound. I’ve always thought of that as a chuckle. I’m not sure that fits your scenario though. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886/20 "2016-08-19T11:14:39Z")
> [@sbunny8](#): > > I vote for scoff. To scoff isn’t to laugh. It’s to express derision with words. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-laugh/762886.md?page=2)