A laugh and a smile are two words in the English language that are often confused due to the appearing similarity in their meanings. Both words convey emotions, but they differ in their intensity.
A smile is a facial expression that typically involves turning up the corners of the mouth, sometimes showing teeth or not, depending on cultural and personal norms. It is generally associated with positive emotions such as happiness, contentment, friendliness, or politeness. Smiling is generally considered a more subtle and gentle expression of positive emotion compared to laughter.
We also have many expressions about smiles. They can convey various meanings and emotions. Someone who is very happy is all smiles. You can give someone a smile and make them feel better. Here are other common expressions associated with smiles:
– bright smile: a wide and cheerful smile that conveys happiness or friendliness.
– warm smile: a gentle and inviting smile that shows kindness and approachability.
– sincere smile: a genuine and heartfelt smile that reflects true emotions.
– forced smile: a smile that is not genuine, often used to hide true feelings or to be polite.
Laughter, on the other hand, is a vocal expression that often accompanies a smile but involves the production of sound. It is a more intense and immediate emotional reaction compared to a smile in a response to something humorous, funny, or joyful. It can be contagious and is often associated with a sense of amusement, happiness, or relief. When writing, people often use the words ‘ha ha’ to express this sound.
There is an old saying in English, laughter is contagious. It means that one person laughing can make others start laughing. You also may have heard the saying laughter is the best medicine. That means laughing can make the person doing it feel better. But laughing at someone can make that person feel bad in most cases.
In summary, a smile is a facial expression that conveys happiness or friendliness, whereas a laugh is a more intense vocal expression often involving the whole face and body, accompanied by audible sounds often triggered by humour or joy. Smiles are most often connected to a positive experience, while laughing is related to something unexpected, but not necessarily positive. Smiling and laughing can also be faked.
Photo: The figure of Atlas carrying the celestial vault on his shoulders, Rockefeller Center