I was kidding or I was joking

Question

Only for curiosity, are there any differences between these two sentences?

I was kidding

I was joking

Thank you.

out of curiosity - 00494d19, ABR 24, 2010

From time to time, I have seen "out of curiosity" but I never thought it could mean "sólo por curiosidad". There must be so many things to learn. - nila45, ABR 24, 2010

Nila - understand it like this "From the fact that I am curious" - "Out of the fact ..... - = "Out of curiosity - ian-hill, ABR 24, 2010

Thank you, Ian. That does make sense to me. What a mess!. This thing of learning English is ...... - nila45, ABR 25, 2010

Tell me about it. 66 years and still learning, hehe. - Eddy, ABR 25, 2010

Answer 1

I can't speak for what is used in England, but in the states (from my own experiences), all of the following are commonly said with the same (or at least very similar) purpose in mind:

Just/only kidding

Just/only joking

I was (just/only) kidding

I was (just/only) joking (around)

I was just horsing around

I was (just/only) playing (around).

I was just/only pulling your leg

I was just messing with you.

I was only fooling

I was just/only teasing

I was just tarding - dgaf, ENE 11, 2012

Answer 2

In the USA, the two sentences are usually used to mean exactly the same thing. En general, los dos son iguales. En hecho, en este momento, no puedo pensar de ninguna diferencia entre los.

Answer 3

Nila, here in the U S "just kidding" is probably used more often that "just joking" however both are very common and correct. Really, I'm not fooling.

Answer 4

Hmm, kidding is more used in the States, joking more in England I think, joking is formal.

Yes! Brits rarely use 'kidding'... though not sure we'd consider 'joking' formal. Another one we would say is 'joshing'! - torrontes75, ABR 24, 2010

everything in England is more formal:) - Yeser007, ABR 24, 2010

Especially in the "Old" Hampshire :) - ian-hill, ABR 24, 2010

Just 'avin' a larf, larkin' about, only/just teasing ya ;) - galsally, ABR 25, 2010

Answer 5

no.. no.. mi chavo

that's the slang way in spanish.

Answer 6

Nowaday kids and students also say... "Kidding!" - when they just said anything they want to take back. Como se dice en espanol? Broma?!

We say:

Estoy hablando en broma.

Estoy de coña (very colloquial or too colloquial, only with friends or relatives)

Estoy de broma.

No estoy hablando en serio.

No estoy hablando en serio = I wasn't being serious (tal vez) - webdunce, ABR 25, 2010

Answer 7

If you're asking it in english , well , joking is doing or saying something to make people laugh but kidding is saying something unseriously.. For example saying " You are a dumb dude!!" is kidding but telling a joke aims to make laugh..

Answer 8

kidding is more used in the States, joking more in England I think, joking is formal.

I knew there had to be any differences because I am used to saying "kidding" since I am in the forum. But, from my point of view, they sounded the same.

Answer 9

I use "joking" most of the time, but they are the same.

(United States)

Answer 10

no.. no.. mi chavo.

Answer 11

There really are no differences between the two. Both are used so commonly that no one would ever be confused.

Answer 12

Aquí en Australia decimos "just kidding"; "just joking" o quizas "just joshing", pues, en realidad decimos "just kidin", "just joken" o "just joshin"

Answer 13

Nowaday kids and students also say... "Kidding!" - when they just said anything they want to take back.

Como se dice en espanol? Broma?!

Answer 14

in spanish or in english, I didn't understand?

¿de dónde eres dugu? - 00494d19, ABR 24, 2010

soy de turquía.. :) - culé, ABR 24, 2010