[Lexicog] words for different kinds of laughter

[Hayim Sheynin]

Russian equivaents of words for laughter
   
  Neutral verb:                       smeiat'sia  (to laugh)
  Substantive (noun)             smekh        (laughter)
   
  English                                Russian
   
  to burst out laughing            razrazit'sia smekhom
   
  to laugh hearily                     umirat' ot smecha (or so smechu)
                                                 (lit. to die from laughter)
   
  no English equivalent           zalivat'sya (or razlivat'sia) smechom
  (the same as   razrazit'sia smekhom  but  with a hidden comparison to flood)
   
  to chuckle                            davit'sia ot smekha
   
  to cackle                              khikhikat' )
                                                                     NB. in Russian it is the same
  to snicker/snigger              khikhikat' )
   
  to titter                            pokhokhatyvat' (for short time or with                                              intervals), also khikhikat' (without relation to time)
   
  to guffaw                              rassmeiat'sya or smeiat'sia gromko,
                                               khokhotat'
   
  the noun for chuckle/gigle is smeshok (diminutive noun from smekh 'laughter')
   
  I think in Russian the only important elements are the agent and the degree of laughter, as well as duration or intermittency. Only one from the verbs (chochotat') used mostly to describe the laughter of young women, teenagers and children, but not excluded from other agents.
  

Hayim Y. Sheynin

 
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