When does a joke become a "dad" joke?

When it becomes apparent.

What’s a “dad joke”?

A "dad joke" is a simple joke that is easy to deliver and understand. It is usually a one-liner/pun or a simple joke with one question and an easy answer that is often a play on words. It is called a "dad joke" because it will make a child groan. (So bad, Dad!) Dad jokes are also usually clean for all ages.

You won't get any belly laughs with a dad joke, but hopefully someone at least cracks a smile.

12 "dad jokes" to tell this Father's Day

Are you a dad? Choose your favorite joke and share it with your child(ren) this Father's Day. You can also write one of these jokes inside a Father's Day card or tell it at a Father's Day gathering.

1. What do you call a priest that becomes a lawyer?

a father-in-law

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2. What did the buffalo say to his son when he left for college?

bison

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3. Why did your old man fall in a well?

Because he couldn’t see that well.

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4. What do you call a fish with no eyes?

a fsh

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5. What do you call a sad strawberry?

a blueberry

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6. What did the paper say to the pencil?

Write on!

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7. Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long?

Because then it would be a foot.

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9. The past, the present, and the future walked into a bar. It was tense.

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10. Why was six afraid of seven?

Because seven ate nine.

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11. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?

They have the same middle name.

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12. Did you hear about the two people who stole a calendar? They each got six months.

What to say after hearing a joke

No matter how bad a joke is, the person telling the joke expects a response. Laughing is the best way to respond, but here are some things you can say: 

• I like that one. 
• That's hilarious!
• My dad would love that joke.
• I will tell that one to my dad.
• I have to remember that one.
• That was terrible.
• That was so bad.
• I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.

What to say if you don't understand a joke

We hope you understand the simple dad jokes above, but it's not always easy to follow or understand longer or narrative jokes, especially in a new language! If you don't understand a joke, you can say the following:

• I don't get it. 
• Give me a minute.
• Say that again?  
• That went above my head.

Do you have a good "dad joke" to share? Make sure it has all the qualities of a dad joke. Then share it in the comments! Practice responding to jokes too!