Is it rire à or rire de

Mary S.C1Kwiziq community member

Is it rire à or rire de

Can you tell me whether rire takes à or de interchangeably?  Today I had "Il rit à ses propres blagues".  Yesterday "Il rit de ses canulars téléphoniques".  I cannot see why there is a difference.  Thank you!

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Mary, 

Firstly, where did you see -

Il rit à  ses blagues = He laughs at his jokes  ( meaning he laughs at his own  jokes or someone else's jokes

normally to laugh at something or someone is

rire de

ref the following link -

https://french.kwiziq.com/learn/theme/3907458

There are some expressions which use the preposition à with rire -

rire à gorge déployée = to laugh one's head off

rire à contrecœur to give a forced laugh

rire au nez de quelqu'un to mock with laughter

rire aux larmes = to laugh till you cry 

rire aux éclats to roar with laughter 

 etc.

but all these don't have an object.

Hope this helps!

 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Rire de qqc -- to lough about something (Elle rit de mon nez. -- He laughs about my nose.)

Virginia Y.B2Kwiziq community member

Not sure about this, but based on the information above, I think rire de is to laugh AT or ABOUT someone or something.
Rire a is to laugh in a particular way.

N. T.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I had the same question as Mary - as it was in an exercise using “à ses blagues “.  and the day before I saw “des” in same context in a quiz here….

N. T.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I had the same question as Mary - as it was in an exercise using “à ses blagues “.  and the day before I saw “des” in same context in a quiz here….

Is it rire à or rire de

Can you tell me whether rire takes à or de interchangeably?  Today I had "Il rit à ses propres blagues".  Yesterday "Il rit de ses canulars téléphoniques".  I cannot see why there is a difference.  Thank you!

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