Ha is a short, sharp sound people make when they laugh, often written ha ha ha when someone finds something funny. You might let out a single ha! when you suddenly get a joke, or string several together (ha ha ha!) when something really cracks you up.

Unlike a full belly laugh, ha is quick and punchy. It can show genuine amusement, like when your friend tells a clever joke and you respond with an appreciative ha. But it can also express sarcasm or disbelief, as when someone makes an outrageous claim and you reply ha! to show you don't buy it for a second.

In stories and comics, writers use ha to show different kinds of laughter: a villain might say mwah ha ha with an evil laugh, while someone laughing nervously might manage only a weak ha ha. The tone behind the ha matters as much as the sound itself.