how to write a humorous speech

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How to Write a Funny Speech

Last Updated: April 18, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 171,950 times.

Writing a speech is already a challenge, so why bother adding humor? Successful humor will relax the audience, making them more attentive and receptive. It can break down perceived barriers between you and the audience, fostering a sense of camaraderie with the audience. Read on to learn how to use humor to your advantage when giving a speech. [1] X Research source

Choosing Your Topic

• Think about -- and then make -- a list of things you know a lot about or enjoy talking about. Single out the topics you’re knowledgeable about but also know you can be funny about. This might rule out topics that are hard to joke about, like poverty, domestic violence, etc.
• Use this list (in combination with the next step) to select a potential topic.

• What’s the general age of your audience?
• What do your audience members have in common?
• What kind of speech are they expecting to hear?
• What kind of humor are they likely to appreciate?

• If you’re writing a speech whose primary goal is to convey information or ideas, you’ll want to integrate humor while focussing on the ideas you want to convey. So draft the informative parts of your speech first, then integrate jokes and humor.
• If you’re writing a speech whose primary goal is humor -- perhaps a satire or parody -- then you’ll want the humor center stage from the beginning. Choose a topic that lends itself to your sense of humor as well as to what the audience is likely to find amusing.

Writing Your Speech

• Remember to choose a specific topic -- if your main idea/topic is too broad, you won’t do it justice in a relatively short speech. Choose something that you can describe in reasonable depth in the time allotted.
• For example, if you’re writing a humorously informative speech about early American cinema, your main idea might be, “the advent of sound in film hurt rather than helped the medium by detracting from its visual potential”. This is specific enough not to be overwhelming while still leaving you room to develop substantial supporting points.
• If, on the other hand, you’re writing a satirical speech, say, about reality television, your main idea might be, “nothing has contributed more to the cultural and intellectual richness of American society than reality television”.

Mine your own unique experiences for inspiration. "It's always good to take something that's happened in your life and make something of it comedically."

• Write down your main idea.
• Below it, write out everything that comes to mind when you think about that idea. Use whatever visual or textual brainstorming method you prefer (eg, clustering, listing, freewriting, etc.).
• Eliminate anything that’s too far away from the topic, that you don’t feel comfortable discussing, or that would require too much time and depth to cover.

• I. Introduction (where you state your main topic and the points you’ll make)
• II. Main point one
• III. Main point two
• IV. Main point three
• V. Conclusion (in which you sum up the main points, re-state your main idea, and issue a call to action from the audience, if appropriate)

• Effective hooks include humorous personal anecdotes, surprising or entertaining examples, or direct questions to the audience that invite their participation and give them a chance to laugh at themselves. [10] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• For example, if you’re writing a speech about studying abroad, you might start by asking if anyone has ever wished they had an accent or intentionally faked one. You can then suggest they do it right and live somewhere they’ll actually have a legitimate accent.

• Err on the side of clarity over style, subtlety or artistry. Unlike a written piece, a speech is as much about delivery as it is about content, and the audience will be less attuned to the intricacies of sentence construction and more attuned to your overall message and the expressions as you give it.
• Avoid overly long and complicated sentences. Long and difficult sentences will be hard to follow. Simplify your point and/or break complicated sentences into smaller, more easily digested ideas.

• For example, a word like “incendiary” is both more vivid, specific, and aurally interesting than a word such as “controversial”. “Incendiary” communicates the idea of something explosively provocative, while “controversial” is a more general term for something that generates disagreement.

Incorporating Humor

• Consider generational differences with humor -- use references and jokes that address topical issues for that age group. For example, if you’re writing a speech about volunteering to an audience of high school students, relate the information in your speech to specific things and events relevant to teenagers. You might make a joke about volunteering versus staying home and trying to be Jimi Hendrix on Guitar Hero. Or you might pick a guitarist more recent than Jimi!
• Know what the audience members have in common. Use it when writing jokes oriented around those shared elements, which are more likely to hold the audience’s attention. Doing so is invariably a crowd-pleaser. For example, if you’re addressing teachers, you might make a humorous reference to students’ most bizarre homework excuses.
• Situational and observational humor that’s tailored to its audience is often particularly effective.

• Watch your favorite funny movie, television show, or comedian.
• Read works by your favorite humorous writers.
• Don’t hesitate to take cues from their delivery -- learn from what they do to make a joke successful. (But don’t plagiarize!)
• Pay attention when you make people around you laugh. Note the things you do or say that make people laugh and how you do it.
• If, for example, your friends can’t stop laughing when you humorously re-enact stressful situations or conversations, try to incorporate similar elements into your speech.

• Targeting particular people or groups is not only inconsiderate, it can alienate members of your audience.
• Avoid jokes that are made at the expense of one side or another in a contentious issue, like jokes about one side of a political or religious debate.
• Don’t make jokes about experiences you don’t understand. A good general rule is to write what you know. So if you, for example, have a learning disability, you might make a joke about the difficulties of dealing with standardized tests. But if you don’t have a learning disability, don’t make jokes about those who do -- you don’t share their specific experience, so you may unintentionally be making jokes about sensitive, potentially even hurtful, issues. [13] X Research source
• Also take the taste level of your audience into consideration when deciding if a joke is going to be offensive. If you’re giving a speech to a room of educated adults, you’ll probably want to avoid overly bawdy or sexual humor.

• The more relevant your jokes are to the specific matter at hand, the more likely they are to be successful with and entertaining.

• But don’t go to extremes of self-loathing, as that will have the opposite effect. The audience won’t know whether to laugh or what you’re trying to accomplish.

• Remember just what information it is you need to convey and ensure that it’s clear.
• Don't let the humor become distracting. Humor can be a great tool for enhancing the information you’re conveying, as long as it doesn’t become a larger focus than the informative content itself. [15] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

• Give yourself enough writing time so that you can go through and revise multiple times.
• The more attentive you are to the details, the more successful your speech is likely to be.

Delivering Your Speech

• Read the entire speech aloud until you’re comfortable enough with the material that you don’t need to read directly from your script but can simply use it as a prompt when needed.

• If you watch comedians and humorists closely, you’ll find that they tend to lead in to their jokes in a particular, deliberate way. Specifically, they’ll use a combination of slower speech, significant pauses, and punctuated emphasis. So when you’re leading up to a joke, cue your audience by slowing down your delivery, pausing slightly before delivering the punchline, and emphasizing key words within the punchline. [18] X Research source
• Emphasize important words, but not to the point that it becomes distracting. Practice how you would naturally speak the lines, paying attention to specific places where your tone rises, falls, or becomes more expressive. Keep those inflections in your speech and play them up enough to be animated, but stop short of being continually exaggerated, which will likely distract the audience from the content of the speech itself.
• Watch and listen to speeches you admire. Pay attention to how the speaker manipulates their tone and pacing to enhance the speech and try to apply those same techniques to your own speech.

• It can be somewhat uncomfortable to watch or listen to yourself, but doing so will help improve your presentation enough to be worth the momentary discomfort.

• Think of being somewhat theatrical, you want your gestures to be visible and distinct from a distance. Favor several broad gestures over a series of small ones. [20] X Research source

• Allow yourself to feel nervous. Accept that you’re going to feel that way and decide not to worry about it.
• The more confidently you act, the more confident you’ll eventually feel.
• You have a chance to share your humor and ideas with an interested audience -- enjoy it!

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-publicspeaking/chapter/humor-in-public-speaking/
• ↑ http://www.drmichellemazur.com/2013/04/speech-topic.html
• ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/how-to-use-humor-effectively.html
• ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
• ↑ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-preparation-3-outline-examples/
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/speeches/
• ↑ http://writetodone.com/how-to-write-funny/
• ↑ http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/How_to_add_humor_to_your_speechwithout_being_a_com_47538.aspx

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How to be funny in a speech (when you’re not that funny in real life).

by Kolarele Sonaike

According to a Hertfordshire University study , this is the funniest joke in the world.

“Two hunters are out in the woods when  one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator says, “Calm down. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence; then a gun shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says, “OK, now what?”

Hmm. OK, once you’ve finished laughing, picked yourself up from the floor and wiped away those tears of laughter, lets examine the subject of humour.

There is no lonelier place on the planet, than on stage after a bad joke.

It is possibly the single most painful experience for any public speaker.

Comedians know this, which is why they work so hard at their craft. Comedians aren’t funny in real life. Like any other profession, funny is what they do, not what they are. Comedians work and struggle just like the rest of us to be good at their jobs. Ellen, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock – all the greatest comics write, rewrite and rehearse their routines with incredible care, diligence and attention to detail. They try out material for months, sometimes years in advance, on audiences – sifting out the stuff that doesn’t work, and doubling down on the lines that do.

(Getty Images)

So why, oh why, do so many of us as public speakers always assume that we can just shoehorn a couple of lame one liners (found on the internet) into a barely rehearsed speech, and get big laughs from our audience? This is guaranteed to fail every time, reminding us of the words of writer, Quentin Crisp:

if at first you don’t succeed, failure may be your style – Quentin Crisp

( If you’re pushed for time, you can download the Free Checklist of this article:  Dos & Donts of giving funny speeches )

Being funny in a speech is hard to pull off. But like most hard things, with a little study, much practice, and a healthy dose of chutzpah, anyone can do it. So lets examine the anatomy of a joke in the next section helpfully called “Anatomy of a Joke”

Anatomy of a Joke

All comedy, whether a one liner, long anecdote, or even an entire movie, is basically comprised of two parts: The Set Up and the Pay Off (also known as The Punchline).

With the Set Up, you are setting the scene by giving the audience all the information they need to know so that they will be amused by the Pay Off.

1) Set Up: Knock Knock. Who’s there? Dozen. Dozen who?

2) Set Up: In the movie “Some like it hot” eccentric millionaire, Osgood Fielding III, spends the whole movie chasing Tony Curtis’ character, Jerry (dressed in drag pretending to be a woman).

3) Set Up: Dr Evil (Austin Powers) has been cryogenically frozen for 30 years, so when he meets his evil colleagues, he lays out his plan to extort the world for a huge sum of money.

4) Set Up (in the world’s funniest joke) The hunter dies in the woods and his panicking friend calls the emergency services.

The mistake that most public speakers make that leads to them giving unfunny speeches, is to concentrate all their effort almost entirely on finding that Pay Off, asking themselves ‘what’s the funny line that I can say here?’ Whereas the key to humour is to focus on creating a compelling Set Up so that the right Pay Off just reveals itself.

To create a great  Set Up:

1) Take a subject (ideally one with which you are very familiar)

2) Examine it from all angles looking for the surprising contradictions and unexpected anomalies within the subject.

3) Work out how you can exaggerate those contradictions and anomalies almost to the point of a humorous absurdity. Can you connect one seemingly unconnected topic with another? Can you take a particular approach that will highlight these funny contradictions?

The humour lies in those unexpected findings and exaggeration that are nevertheless real. It’s why you find yourself muttering ‘that’s so true’ through your tears of laughter when listening to a hilarious comedian nail her routine. It’s why a Best Man’s speech works best when it skates on the edge of decency by revealing just enough of the groom’s true nature to the audience (and the Bride).

When you work hard on your Set Up, the Pay Off comes pretty easily because the punchline that ties it altogether seems to reveal itself.

1) Pay Off: Doz-anybody want to let me in?

2) Pay Off: (Some like it hot) Tony Curtis finally comes clean and declares to millionaire Osgood,”I’m a man!” To which Osgood simply replies “Well, nobody’s perfect”

3) Pay Off: (Austin Powers) Dr Evil demands…. 1 Million Dollars

4) Pay Off: (The funniest joke in the world) The friend shoots his collapsed hunter friend.

A very effective method of creating a compelling Set Up is to use a hook or theme that drives the narrative forward.

A great example is the ‘Shit’ sketch by Finnish comedian, Ismo Leikola .  In this hilarious skit, he talks about how he always though there was just one definition or meaning of the word ‘shit’.  But when he went to the US, he realised there were many more meanings like ‘you ain’t shit’, ‘I don’t give a shit’, ‘leave my shit alone’. Because he had found a great hook for the narrative, finding the humour was quite easy.

So, when you’re giving a speech about a serious subject like ‘How the Financial Markets work’, but you want to introduce a little humour to ease the way, consider what are the eccentricities of the financial markets? What parts make little sense if you stand back and look at it? What would your 8 year old son or your 80 year old grandmother make of the way traders?

Or giving a presentation at a small business forum, what eccentricities do entrepreneurs have? What challenges do they all face that you can highlight in a funny way? What mistake does nearly every small business make, which no one admits do, but every one knows?

This is where you’ll find your humour – in the careful analysis of the contradictions within your subject . Once you tap into that zone, a whole new world will open up and the Pay Offs will almost trip off your tongue.

Finally, a few dos and donts to send you on your way

maria bamford (Getty Images)

1) Don’t tell them you are going to be funny.

Anytime I receive an an email with the subject line: “This is funny”, I delete it. It never is. If you’re going to be funny, then be funny.  Don’t announce it.

2) Do have a purpose

As one of the greatest and funniest public speakers, the late Sir Peter Ustinov reminds us

 Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious – Sir Peter Ustinov

Don’t make jokes just for the sake of making joke. Stay focused on the reason you are giving your speech, and use humour to help achieve that objective.

3) Don’t copy. Adapt.

The best jokes are original. Your own material, born of your own experience will always be superior to something copied off jokes.com.

But originality can be hard. So, if you do have to use someone else’s material, approach it like Amy Winehouse covering the song ‘Valerie’ originally by the Zutons (bet you hadnt even heard of the Zuton’s version), and not like a teenage X Factor contestant doing yet another cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘I will always love you’ (which itself was a cover of Dolly Parton’s original song).

Put your own spin on it. Make it your own and it will feel fresh.

4) Do tailor your jokes to your audience

What works for a university fraternity will probably not work for an accountant’s convention. Lawyers love a good naughty joke (it makes us feel dangerous), but you should probably avoid sexist jokes if you’re presenting to the Women’s Institute.

5) Don’t take yourself too seriously

If you can make jokes at your own expense, you’ve got a far better chance of making your audience laugh, than if you are joking about someone else.

Never be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century – And Barry Humphries

And when it comes to your delivery, you want to use your voice to help paint a picture of your ideas in the minds of your audience. Treat it as a song or melody you are singing to your audience. The things you want to think about are:

• timing – uses pauses and speed variation to build interest
• use your body to amplify and reflect your words
• give your voice dynamism i.e. intonation, pitch, volume
• commit (don’t do things half hearted)

Go forth, and be funny!

(Grab the full Checklist of 12 Dos & Donts for giving a funny speech )

Kolarele Sonaike

p.s. Grab your slot for a 1 hour communication skills coaching call with me. It’s free and pretty transformative. Click here to book your slot.

“ The session with Kola had a huge impact. He helped me tap into the passion that is central to my work and message. At an emotional level this showed me how I could start working with a different sense of authenticity, which would be founded upon a new level of confidence and commitment. The session really ‘gave the green light’ for me to tell my story in my approach so I could in turn create genuine impact the people I work with.” – Richard, Performance Coach

“The strategy session with Kolarele was great. In only one hour he was able to provide me with tools to work with to overcome some of my fears and improve my communication skills. I feel I have already made progress. I can only imagine what transformation will look like once we continue working together.” – Belinda, Co Founder

“Understanding how my presentation skills could be improved required me to understand my own long held inhibitions. Identifying this was both scary and enlightening, but seriously made me feel that I could give, not only a great presentation, but achieve my bigger goals. Thank you” – Yves, Marketing & PR (Embassy Liaison) Manager

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6 Ways to Guarantee Laughs During Your Next Speech

We’ve all been there. The spotlight is on you, you’ve set up the perfect joke, you nail the punchline, and… crickets .

It’s never fun to feel like your humor isn’t reading as funny to the audience. That’s why I’m here to teach you my six greatest tips and tricks on how to make a speech funny, or your (metaphorical) money back.

See Related:  Best MC Jokes For A Conference

#1: Tell Relatable Stories

If there’s one thing we learned from Seinfeld , it’s that the everyday is funny . Use this to your advantage in your speech!

Audiences laugh when they see their own experience reflected onstage. Add relatable humor to your speech with these ideas:

Turn Frustration Into Comedy

What got on your nerves this morning? It was something. I know it was. You know it was. We all know it was.

And you know what? I bet it was funny and would be great for your master of ceremonies speech .

Let me guess…

Did your family member turn on a bright light while you were still asleep? Speech material.

Did one of your friends cut you off on the way to work, causing your chai latte to spill on your brand-new pants? Speech material.

Were you (yet again) not Caller #5 and didn’t win your radio station’s giveaway for tickets to John Mayer’s Sob Rock Tour? (I’m terribly sorry – but speech material.)

These sorts of situations may get on your nerves in the moment, but I promise that, when transformed into a joke told with the right spirit, they will be funny and make the audience laugh.

The main idea when writing your funny speech is to shift your own perspective from frustrated to amused.

#2: Use Your Physicality to Communicate

Humor isn’t just about the words you say. A major part of making a good joke and creating a funny speech is using your body language to tell the story.

What do I mean? Well , think about your favorite comedians .

From Ali Wong to John Mulaney, comedians each have their own way of using their bodies to add humor to the funny stories they tell. It’s like a secret, other skill that is so ingrained in their performances, you may not notice it at first.

Every great comic uses gestures and physicality to deliver their material and engage audiences.

Act as characters

In your speech, maybe you’re telling a funny anecdote about a parent-teacher conference you had with your son’s kindergarten teacher. Instead of just speaking about the event, make people laugh by playing it out for the audience!

Go ahead, embody the teacher and her proper, stiff posture. Show guests how utterly ridiculous it looked when you sat down in a tiny chair made to fit a five year-old because the teacher didn’t have an adult-sized chair for you to use.

I can hear the laughter already!

No need to overdo it

Remember, your shifts in body language don’t need to be hyperbolic. During speeches, even the slightest, most intentional changes will go a long way in helping the audience understand your story audibly and visually.

#3: Deliver Originality

Humorous speeches are based in truth . The best way to ground your speeches in truth is to use your own material!

This may seem simple, but it cannot be overstated: if you’ve heard the joke before, I promise your audience has too.

Personalize Your Funny Speech to the Event

It can be tough to create a humorous message that will pull lots of laughter out of your audience! But with practice, I promise you’ll become a pro – just like a regular ol’ event emcee . 

The best way to stay funny, original, and on-task is to remember the primary goal of the event :

What is the goal of the event?

Is it to help new students feel comfortable at a large university? To raise money for a local grassroots nonprofit?

Once you understand what the client hopes to achieve through these events (and, therefore, your speeches), you can begin adding humor that focuses on those particular subjects.

Here’s an example :

If I’m making a humorous speech with the goal of exciting the crowd before a 5K Fun Run begins, I might make a self-deprecating joke about the utter irony of putting the words “fun” and “run” next to each other – lighthearted, relatable for many, and sure to ease some runners’ nerves when they hear it.

Got Writer’s Block?

It happens to the best of us!

Here are some writing prompts to get your creativity, word play, and humor flowing:

• Write about something that made you laugh out loud recently.
• Write about the silliest message you’ve ever received over phone, text, or email.
• Write about the most memorable slip-up you’ve ever made in public.
• Write about a few people who make you laugh – what about them is so funny to you?
• If you are the punch line, write the joke.

Bonus:  What Does An Event Host Do?

#4: Structure Your Jokes

Look, not everything can be funny to everyone (and if you discover the magical meme that is the exception to that rule, please send it to me ASAP).

However, you can do yourself a favor by structuring your comedy with intentionality.

Not Sure How to Structure Your Jokes?

Here are the main categories into which most jokes fall:

We touched on the main points of anecdotal jokes at the beginning – they just involve telling a funny story from your own life!

An incident while baking holiday cookies ? A mix-up that surprised you while picking your child up from school? The sound of a squeaking chair at a very inopportune moment?

As the speaker, your humorous stories are all fair game!

You guessed it – one-liners are jokes told in just one sentence. Deliver one-liners smartly and you will have the room in stitches.

Observational

I mentioned Seinfeld earlier – that show is a classic example of observational humor! Observational jokes comment on the absurdity of everyday experiences and are great to add to your speeches.

A recent example of observational humor in television would be Abbott Elementary . Each episode tells a story about the everyday joys and frustrations that can come with working at a public elementary school in Philadelphia – and finds a way to create humor and heart in every moment.

Topical humor pokes fun at current events, be it the news, celebrity culture, or the latest Tik Tok trend. A dash of topical humor, when used appropriately, can grab your audience’s attention and be an asset to your funny speech.

However, you must stay aware of the client’s needs. If they prefer that politics and pop culture stay out of your presentation for fear of rubbing an audience member the wrong way, you must respect this. In fact, it can be safer to stay away from topical humor unless you know you have the right audience for it.

Self-Deprecating

Self-deprecating jokes are all about finding humor in your own flaws. It’s great to be able to laugh at yourself, but be careful not to use so much self-deprecating humor that it makes your audience feel uncomfortable.

#5: Tone Is Your Friend

In the same vein as physicality, your voice is an incredibly effective tool for making folks laugh.

What Do I Mean?

Say you’re telling an anecdotal joke about your niece’s sixth birthday party. Sure, you could use your everyday intonation to “play” the various roles at the party. But…

Wouldn’t it be funnier to give each character a distinct intonation?

Your six year-old niece’s high-pitched, bell-like voice. Your brother’s gruff, Midwestern tone. The angelic, sing-song-y sound of the actor playing a Disney princess to entertain the kids.

Each character in the story is another opportunity for creativity, and for laughs.

Let’s Take a Tip from Actors

Even when you’re not playing a character other than yourself, your voice is still an incredibly useful instrument. Why?

Your voice is the audience’s guide.

Softness versus loudness. Lightning-quick speech versus indulgent slowness. Serious versus playful.

Whenever you speak, you make a million little choices . Be intentional about those, because your audience is (quite literally) taking your cue!

Convey Confidence

Delivery is everything. If a speaker or corporate emcee can deliver your presentation with a strong sense of confidence, the audience will feel safe to let loose and laugh. But this takes practice!

I feel disappointed when a speaker exudes insecurity. Try your best to put yourself in the audience’s shoes – wouldn’t you prefer to watch someone with great command of the room and confidence in their presentation?

I know I would!

#6: Bring People Together

Your audience is full of different people – many of whom you don’t know, and who will find different things humorous. Here are some tips for making everyone feel comfortable and ready to laugh:

Speak to Universal Experiences

It is important to do your absolute best not to ostracize anyone in the audience. Your client has hired you to help everyone feel comfortable. So, what is the best way to go about doing this in a diverse society?

When writing your speech, focus on humor that is a testament to the human experience , so that most people will relate to it. Adults, kids, everyone!

I don’t mean to be vague – the opposite, in fact. Specificity is funny.

Here are some examples:

There are certain human experiences with which every single person can identify:

• Talk about a time when you felt embarrassed as a teenager .
• Make a joke about an insecurity you had growing up, and still have to this day.
• Surprise the audience with a weird dream you had recently.
• Keep guests laughing with anecdotes about lessons you’ve learned the hard way.

Balance Listening and Speaking

Okay, okay, I know you’re giving a speech – that sort of implies that you’re talking. But listening is an equally important factor in your delivery of a hilarious speech.

It can be scary, but practice including pauses in your speech. Depending on the joke, the audience may need a few seconds to digest it before they begin laughing. Sometimes, your silence is the most entertaining part – if allowed, the audience will often fill that silence with laughter.

And, Scene!

As I’ve said before, humor is subjective – that will always be the case.

If you haven’t been getting the laughs you’ve hoped for, please talk kindly to yourself. Creating a humorous speech that appeals to many people takes lots of practice – you will get there!

Keep Reading:  How To Host A Networking Event

Adam Christing  has been called “The Tom Brady of emcees.” He has hosted more than 1,000  company meetings ,  special events ,  gala celebrations , and more. He is the  author of several books  and founder of  CleanComedians.com .   For more event tips, follow Adam Christing on  Instagram ,  Facebook ,  Pinterest ,  LinkedIn , and  YouTube .

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• Humorous speech contest

The humorous speech

By:  Susan Dugdale  

When funny is NOT enough: lessons learned the hard way

It was that time of year in the Toastmasters' Calendar for the humorous speech contest.

Who would enter?

I decided to. I hadn't entered that particular contest before, despite having given numerous humorous speeches, sometimes, intentionally. It would be a challenge, a stretch and who knows, it might even be a laugh!

So what happened?

I chose a self-deprecating topic, one familiar to most people, procrastination. My version of it poked fun at myself for the game I play over NOT writing the novel, play, short stories, or poems, I promise myself I will. 

I mixed the ingredients carefully.

• melodrama - exaggeration and hyperbole
• a pun or two
• characterization - the taking on of other voices in storytelling
• use of gesture & deliberate movement around the stage
• seeds of truth - enough to make it real
• use of alliteration
• examples of irony
• rhetorical questions - to hook the audience
• interactivity - an invitation to join with me in singing
• changes of pace - slow, medium, fast and very fast
• changes of pitch & volume
• use of the dramatic pause

In short, I included ALL the elements I know make up "funny" in a humorous speech. I've written about some of them on these pages:

• How to use humor effectively
• Types of verbal humor

I threw everything I had into it. And then some.

 Oops! I forgot an obvious and vital ingredient

Unfortunately I forgot one element. 

And that one teeny-tiny oversight was the largest of them all.

I'm tempted to write its name in a very little font because I'm embarrassed. This is definitely from my "should-have-known-better" file, which is, alas, quite large.

I forgot to PRACTICE

Quite simply, I did not practice enough. And definitely not enough with an eye on the clock.

If I had, I would have realized my speech, amongst other things, was too long. The result was inevitable. I got disqualified for going over the time allowance.

Laughing is time consuming

Part of what I hadn't thought through was the laughter.

People laughing take up time! You have to wait for them to finish chortling before you go on.

And neither had I thought through my own capacity to respond to laughter.

I got bigger and better in delivery; encouraged and emboldened by an appreciative audience. The "biggerer and betterer" I got, the longer I took. Until...

...suddenly there was the Timekeeper flashing his red light at me from the back of the room.

For those of you who don't know, speeches given at Toastmasters are timed to teach people to express themselves precisely and concisely. Without waffle.

The Timekeeper resets his timer at the start of every speech. They have three lights: a green, a yellow and a red.

The green is shown when the speaker has spoken for the minimum amount of time required.

The yellow signals it's time to begin winding the speech up. The end is nigh.

The red light means STOP. No more. Shut your mouth. Sit down.

My take-away lessons

Here are my lessons, learned the hard way:

1. Time waits for no man (or woman), not even funny ones. A time limit is finite. In a Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest that is 7 minutes and 30 seconds. 

As that famous old Shakespearean wind-bag Polonius ironically says; "Brevity is the soul of wit".

2. Practice may have made perfect, but I'll never know because I didn't give myself the opportunity to find out.

3. Practice as if you are performing and, if possible, with an audience. (Something I had not done. If I had I would have found what bits worked, what didn't and made the adjustments needed.)

4. Practice with a stopwatch but more than that, know the time you are taking for the introduction, middle and end so you can adjust them if necessary. (Something else I had not done.)

5. Be prepared to ruthlessly cut if you find you're over time. Start with any multiple examples you've used to illustrate a main point. The weakest of these go first.

Repeat until the entire speech is comfortably under the time limit, including pauses taken while waiting for laughter to subside. (Yet another undone thing.)

Practice, practice and then practice some more ...

You'll know what I'll be doing next time the humorous speech contest around.

And there will be a next time because one of the many benefits of Toastmasters is that there is no real or permanent failure. There is experience and experience can be learned from. My career as a humorous speaker may not have begun triumphantly but it is not over yet!

  How to write great funny speeches All the information and resources you need to get yourself started writing a humorous speech

Additional resources on using humor

• Your comedy checklist -  Ask yourself these 10 questions to get the laughs you want. - Gene Perret,  Emmy Award–winning  comedic writer,  Toastmasters Magazine
• Six rules of humor -  Graham Honaker, winner of the  Humorous Speech Contest twice, Toastmasters Magazine

PS. The text for my speech is here*. I converted it into a PDF with the thought others may appreciate learning what-not-to-do from it. It's untouched, as in unedited, just as I gave it. Complete with the original typos. 

( * Note added many years later. On re-reading it I'm happy to say I still like quite a lot of it. However, if I was ever to use the piece again, I would edit it mercilessly.

I know my own writing weaknesses, and I know one of them is adding words. One more example. One more synonym because I like the sound of it. Pffff, indulgence! Those would go. Out. Gone. Cut. Goodbye.

I would also update some of the examples because they are no longer current and therefore won't be known by the majority of the audience.

When you don't know about something and someone is joking about it, it's not funny at all because you have no reason to laugh!

For clarification:  ACC stands for Accident Compensation Corporation . In New Zealand, where I live, when a person gets injured, the state supports them.

Rachel Hunter : a New Zealand born super model.)

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300 Funny Speech Topics to Tickle Some Funny Bones!

Funny speech topics are usually difficult to turn up with. Yet, presenting this kind of speech might put you in trouble if you do not decide on the topic properly.

Better research on the topics motivating starting point. You will be happy to see smiles and laughter on your audience’s faces when you share the funny speech.

Besides, presenting a speech is challenging, and adding humor makes your speech interesting. Successful humor will entertain the listener.

It can break down professed barriers between you and the audience. This article gives some ways to use humor to your advantage while delivering the speech.

To jump to the funny 270 speech topic section, click here . And, to jump to funny speech videos, click here .

A funny speech recommends a joyful response from the audience from the start of the speech. Here every tone and gesture prognosis the significance with the audience.

The general belief and preference appear from the funny speech topic you choose. This type of speech also helps to differentiate you from others in a similar area.

• Persuasive Speech Topics
• Informative Speech Topics
• Argumentative Speech Topics

Indeed, public speech is full of fun usually when humor is added to them. The main usage of humor is to convince the audience with your overview. This can move a long way convincing your solution is the correct one.

For most people, delivering a speech can be like sitting on the cactus plant. It is a great responsibility and with intense pressure.

Due to nervousness, we do not desire to deliver a speech in front of a crowd of audiences.

A speech helps to communicate with an audience allowing them to understand a specific side of a topic. The language, volume, confidence, and body language matter while delivering the speech.

Adding a little humor both in your speech and topic will help to cut the stress. The article deals with funny speech topic ideas for every type of speaker. Relevant to the age group of your audience, better select the topic and carry out the proper research.

Table of Contents

1. Research and find the topic

2. consider and understand your audience, 3. decide the type of speech you are going to deliver, 4. decide your ideas and goal, 5. think about your main points, 6. deliver the speech clearly and understandably, 7. use vivid and particular adjective, 8. get inspired, 9. record the speech you practice, persuasive funny speech topics, informative funny speech topics, impromptu funny speech topics, funny speech videos, how to deliver an effective funny speech.

While deciding on the topic, think about the quality of your speech. It should not only depend on the topic you choose.

Better think about and make a list of the things you enjoy talking about the most. Point out the topics which you understand better and can be funny at the same time.

This might exclude some topics which are difficult to deliver a funny speech. Such topics are poverty, funeral, domestic violence, and much more. Better make proper use of the list and decide on the prospective topic.

Before working on the speech, remember who you are going to deliver the speech. It will be better if you consider and understand your audience. Here are some questions to think about:

• What is the common age of your listener?
• What does your audience have in general?
• What kind of speech do they desire to hear?
• What kind of funny speech did they expect to appreciate?

There are two types of speech. They are humorously informative and humorous speeches. You have to choose among them

A humorously informative speech delivers the information to the audience making them laugh. Besides, a firmly humorous speech aims to make the audience laugh.

Suppose, you are delivering a speech whose main aim is to deliver information or ideas. Here, you might desire to integrate humor while thinking about the ideas you want to deliver. Better draft the revealing part of your speech initially, then include jokes and humor.

After you decide on the topic, you have to focus on the main points of the speech. Think about the key message you desire to get across.

Do not forget to select a particular topic. If the foremost topic is extremely wide, your speech might not be fruitful. These types of speech are hard to complete in a short time.

Think about the main points and use the devising procedure to turn up prospective points. This helps to discuss and support your main idea. Get rid of anything that does not match the topic. Better do not speak on the points that you do not feel comfortable talking about. You can also pick up your strongest points and choose which ones to comprise.

Most of us get 25% of what we learn by hearing . Since your audiences listen to your speech, make sure your language is clear and simple. Unlike writing, speech deals with delivering speaking on the relevant topic.

Here, the audience will be less agreed with the details of sentence structure. They will be more agreed to your complete message.

Also, pay more attention to the expressions while presenting the speech. Avoid too long and complicated sentences. Since these types of sentences will be difficult to follow.

Clear and direct sentence structures are improved the way you express words. These words should be as vivid as possible. The more expressive a word is, the fewer needed to converse a similar concept.

It is much east to talk about humor when you are in a humorous mood. It is much east to talk about humor when you are in a humorous mood. So, earlier than presenting the funny speech, be inspired by the things you find humorous and entertaining.

You can also:

• Make some time for funny movies, television shows, or comedians.
• Read the work done by your favourite entertaining writers.
• Focus more when you make people round you laugh. Note the things you do or say that entertains people and the way you do it.

It is better to video record when you practice the speech. Doing this allows you to observe and tweak both your vocal and physical performance.

But if you are unable to take video, and audio recording can be useful as well.

Observe or listen to the recording to look for the points where the speech lags or where your tone goes down.

Assure you are not presenting too quickly or too slow. Make sure you do not jiggle or say “um” excessively. It can be uncomfortable to listen to yourself. Yet, doing this helps to improve your presentation.

270 Funny Speech Topics 

Find here the list of funny speech topics. Read the topic and make sure you practice more for a good result.

• Why you should never participate in a food challenge
• Describing a yo-yo to an alien
• Practical guide to a toothache
• How do I fire my boss?
• Breakup insurance policy: A must have
• Life should come with a soundtrack
• A petition for comfortable lingerie.
• How to Kill Your Goldfish
• How to Lose the Guy of Your Dreams
• Bad pick up lines are better than good pick up lines.
• Sometimes I talk to myself because I need intelligent conversation
• If failures are a stepping stone, I’ve built myself a ladder to heaven
• Never start a diet on a Monday
• Netflix is a hobby
• My birthday should be a national holiday
• Shoes tell a lot about a person: Crocs for all!
• Why braces are cool
• The Strangest Person I Ever Met –
• Eating things you don’t like
• Children’s Nursery Rhymes: The real meaning behind them
• Internet dating: The best way to find love
•  Why the Barbie Doll is an icon
• Why Mom knows best
• A man’s right to wear skirts
• If I were the Lord of Misrule…
• Mistaken identity: Why I am commonly confused with a movie star.
• Is the ‘Force’ with you?
• My best chat-up lines
• The worst chat-up lines ever
• Why I prefer dogs over people
• Homer Simpson for President
• How to Flunk Out of College
• Why Good Girls Love Bad Boys
• Shifting the blame: the only way to handle difficult situations
• Talk Shows: Airing Our Dirty Laundry
• Taylor Swift: A Role Model For Today’s Youth
• Jared, the Subway Guy: His Rise to the Top
• Bollywood movies and Illuminati
• We Are the People Our Parents Warned us About
• Everything I Needed to Know in Life, I Learned in Kindergarten
• Guaranteed Ways to Ruin Your Credit
• Blaming your dog for things
• Blaming your horoscope for why things went wrong
• Protection from Zombies
• People with mediocre talents have success and high talented people haven’t.
• How teachers spend their time when they are not teaching.
• Coffee tastes bitter, but we want it anyway.
• Are the final exams in schools rigged?
• Why are Dads so weird?
• Reasons why I love doing nothing around the house.
• Internet surfing is a workout.
• Every child should get a cootie shot.
• The funniest amusement parks.
• How to deny reality.
• Wine/beer/cocktail of the month.
• Why I don’t want to be a millionaire.
• When I resign, I will …
• For her/him who doesn’t have to do it, nothing is impossible.
• Once a month, the school should allow kids to host a food fight.
• Short guys are closer to your heart.
• Halloween shouldn’t be the only holiday when we get to wear costumes.
• My younger/elder sibling(s) should treat me like a king/queen.
• Men should never wear skinny jeans.
• Why older women do not want to admit their age.
• Why women say they hate sports.
• Why casino players actually are sad people.
• Why smart people don’t know they have the wrong ideas.
• Women marry much younger men.
• What if plants had feelings?
• Your guide to life.
• Who runs the world? No really, who’s in charge?
• Eating flowers is possible.
• Happy puppies make humans happy.
• Urban running acrobatics.
• Personal bloopers are great funny topics for a speech.
• What women really say when they talk to men.
• Answers on the meaning of life.
• A true story that isn’t true in the end.
• How to pass the blame like a pro
• Why men like action and women like romance movies.
• Five requirements to be called a bestie by girlfriends.
• Why rose is the best flowers’ fragrance many women like.
• The power of foot reading
• Chasing idle dreams is a good habit.
• Rare speed limits and the reasons why.
• What women really say when they talk to men?
• In a fight between superheroes, who will win the battle?
• Life with Harry Potter.
• Calorie counts should be listed on all foods.
• Cleaning your room is overrated.
• Why men are proud of themselves.
• Ways to remember birthdays.
• My most profitable mistake.
• How to find funny speech topics in 24 hours.
• How to bunk college
• How to do make up like a joker
• Why is cheating not included in the course curriculum?
• What to do on a desert island.
• Things to do in the traffic jam.
• How to cope with troubles at a family reunion.
• Why I don’t need money or cash.
• The Ten Commandments in a restaurant boys and girls room.
• Why people look like their dogs.
• Top 5 bad business slogans.
• How lazy students still survive and succeed in life.
• Why my – any fun speech topic – looks cooler than the … of my neighbor.
• Why you need to lie.
•  What do teachers do off duty?
• A guide to efficient lazyness
• How to juggle
• How to carve a pumpkin
• How to catwalk
• How to apply face paint
• Offending your parents: The proper way to do it.
• Why exercise is a scam
• What to say on a first date
• What not to say on a first date
•      How to sell yourself: A guide to proper prostitution
• How to survive a blind date
• How to survive as an incompetent person
• How to cheat at Monopoly
• The 3 biggest lies at school
• How you can tell when you’re drunk
• Why the chicken crossed the road: An analysis
• Questions not to ask people
• The worst jokes ever
• The best jokes ever
• The art of making cereal
• How to give your dog a pill
• How to cheat at poker
• How to dance the twist
• What to do with cold custard
• What Not to Say on a Date
• What Not to Wear on a Date
• Divorce: The escape you’ve been seeking
• How to Screw up a Job Interview
• How to Ruin a Good Thing
• How to Fail at Dieting
• How to Change a Baby’s Diaper (Use a doll)
• How to Succeed in College Without Attending Class
• How to Get Out of A Speeding Ticket
• How to Survive on Minimum Wage
• America’s Dumbest Criminals
• Celebrities Behaving Badly
• An Idiot’s Guide to Cooking Frozen Dinners
• Is this a sign? Learning sign language.
• Get Rich Quick
• Marketing tactics and why they work
• How to Succeed as a Freeloader
• How to Catch a Cheater
• Mastering the art of passive aggressiveness
• Napoleon Dynamite: An American Hero
• American Idol
• The McDonald’s Diet
• Adam Sandler
• Best Excuses For Missing Work
• How to Cheat on a Test
• Unique uses for duct tape
• Fun with super glue
• Quote Shakespeare like a pro
• Yodel like a professional
• Eating well on $5.00 a day
• My apology for global warming
• How to grow grits for fun and profit
• Getting over your fear of speech making
• Plausible conspiracy theories
• Thanksgiving dinner in three easy steps
• How to be a charming host at any event.
• The art of being unbearable
• 10 ways to irritate a telemarketer.
• 10 ways to freak out your roommate.
• What are dentists truly after?
• How to drive the baby-sitter crazy.
• How to cheat poker the nice way.
• How to Lose the Guy of your dreams
• The secret to a successful Thanksgiving dinner
• Tips for merging two households.
• Why modern art is a scam.
• Do’s and Don’ts for a first pregnancy
• Five ways to keep a boring conversation going at a cocktail party.
• Bare funny facts about men.
• Funny facts about women.
• Small things to appreciate for a happy life.
• How to perform a convincing fake laugh.
• Crazy rules men wish women knew. 
• How to give your dog or cat a pill.
• How to determine you are addicted to the Internet.
• How to throw a paper airplane in class.
• What really happened to the toothfairy.
• Ten things you’ve learned from your pet.
• How to become a rat and make a fortune.
• 10 ways to order pizzas.
• Why do rock stars break their guitars on stage?
• The secret behind the most popular tattoos.
• Worst birthday presents ever.
• Why must I clean my room every day
• What magicians don’t want you to know: Magic’s biggest secrets.
• A handy list of excuses to get out of doing things
• How to learn from your parent’s mistakes.
• How to get – more – Valentine’s Day cards next year.
• How to turn the Academy Awards ceremony into funny event
• Why do most mainstream songs make no sense at all?
• What you can’t say in public.
• Making a mud pack facial
• Tips for buying gifts everybody wants.
• Disney theme songs to suit your life.
• Unexpected disasters that can happen.
• Ten fun things to do during an exam.
• Ten ways to order a pizza.
• What are your dreams trying to tell you?
• Worst marriage counseling advice.
• Interesting ancient remedies
• How to get fired in three easy steps.
• How to not promote your products online.
• Do all pop songs sound the same?
• Three elements to creating the next catchy hit.
• Odd foods that you have to try.
• Is tiktok a legitimate career?
• Cheating: The proper way to do it
• If I ruled the World…
• My most effective hangover cure
• My Most Embarrassing Moment
• Are white lies ok?
• How I ran away from home
• Unhappily Ever After
• Funny job applicant stories.
• Being the older child and depression: Coincidence?
• Why the youngest child deserves her own holiday!
• Which celebrity would you like to meet and why?
•      How I choose friends.
• The one time I made my parents proud
• Humor or intelligence: What is the preferred trait?
• Favourite cartoon characters
• My American Idol audition
• A ghost that you want to hang out with
• Last day at school/college
• The party that went wrong
• The joke that backfired
• If I had a time machine
• Out of the Mouth of a Child
• Speech topics are tough
• Funny Names to call your tutors
• Are uniforms necessary?
• My first day at school
• My worst nightmare…
• My best April Fool’s prank
• Funniest Childhood Memory
• My worst day ever
• The perfect television advertisement
• How I ruined a good date.
• How real love is different from movies?
• Caught in a Compromising Position
• Tales From Scribbles on the Bathroom Wall
• A Time I Got Arrested
• My 15 Minutes of Fame
• The end justifies the means
• Your most hated household chore
• Cancel all the seasons other than summer.
• Men behaving badly
• Women behaving badly
• Practical Jokes
• April Fool’s Day
• The Bogeyman
• Blind Dates
• Demonstrate tasting wine in a humorous way.
• If I was my boss, then …
• Funny computer terms and phrases.
• Funny holidays in other countries.
• My most embarrassing moment
• The strangest thing I’ve ever met anyone
• Procrastinators unite! ..Tomorrow?
• Funny first date experiences.
• What I don’t understand about fashion.
• My motto: I´m flexible by indecision
• How I choose friends.
• The time I Ran Away From Home.
• Worst present I’ve ever gotten
• Unusual incidents.
• Does the perfect man exist?
• Crazy things to do in the supermarket.

The guide and topics for humorous speech should get you started with your funny speech. Let me know what you think about this article by commenting below.

How to Write a Funny Speech That Will Have Your Audience Rolling in Laughter

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Delivering a funny speech is a daunting task, and doing it well can seem like a near-impossible feat. But with the right tools and techniques, anyone can successfully craft and deliver a humorous speech that will leave your audience in stitches. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a funny speech that will captivate your listeners and have them rolling in laughter.

Understanding the Basics of Humor

Humor can be a powerful tool for engaging audiences and connecting with listeners. However, successfully integrating humor into your speech requires a thorough understanding of the basics of humor. Here are a few tips to help you master the art of making people laugh:

The Importance of Timing

Timing is everything in humor. The moment you choose to deliver a joke or humorous anecdote can make or break its impact. A joke delivered too soon can fall flat, while one that comes too late may miss the mark. As a general rule, it is best to deliver your punchline just after the set-up, to allow time for the audience to process the joke and react accordingly. Remember, timing is key.

It's important to also consider the timing of the event or occasion. For example, a joke that may be appropriate for a casual gathering with friends may not be appropriate for a professional setting. Understanding the context of the situation is just as important as the timing of the joke itself.

Different Types of Humor

There are many types of humor, ranging from puns and wordplay to satire and irony. The type of humor you choose to use in your speech should reflect your personal style and resonate with your audience. Take the time to experiment with different forms of humor to find the style that works best for you.

One popular form of humor is self-deprecation, where you make fun of yourself in a lighthearted way. This can help to make you more relatable to your audience and show that you don't take yourself too seriously.

Another type of humor is observational humor, where you make humorous observations about everyday situations. This type of humor can be particularly effective as it allows your audience to see the humor in their own lives.

Knowing Your Audience

Humor is subjective, and what one audience finds funny may fall flat with another group. It is important to know your audience and tailor your humor to their tastes and preferences. Consider factors such as age, gender, profession, and cultural background, and adjust your humor accordingly to ensure maximum impact.

For example, if you are speaking to a group of doctors, you may want to use medical humor that they can relate to. Similarly, if you are speaking to a group of college students, you may want to use pop culture references that they are familiar with.

Remember, the goal of humor is to connect with your audience and make them feel comfortable. By understanding the basics of humor, experimenting with different types of humor, and knowing your audience, you can use humor to enhance your speeches and presentations.

Crafting Your Speech Content

The key to writing a funny speech is to strike a balance between humor and substance. Here are a few tips to help you create content that is both entertaining and informative:

Finding Inspiration for Jokes

Inspiration for humor can come from many sources, including personal experiences, pop culture, current events, and even cliches and stereotypes. Take the time to brainstorm ideas and experiment with different forms of humor to find what works best for you.

Incorporating Personal Anecdotes

Personal anecdotes can be a powerful tool for connecting with audiences and adding authenticity to your speech. Consider weaving humorous stories from your own life into your speech to add a personal touch and make your jokes more relatable.

Balancing Humor with Substance

While humor is important, it is equally important to provide substance and value to your audience. Balance your humor with informative content and practical advice to ensure your message resonates with your listeners.

Developing Your Speech Structure

The structure of your speech plays a crucial role in its success. Here are a few tips to help you craft a strong speech structure:

Opening with a Strong Hook

Your opening is your chance to grab your audience's attention and set the tone for the rest of your speech. Consider using a humorous anecdote or joke to start your speech on a high note and engage your audience from the get-go.

Building Momentum with Your Jokes

As you move through your speech, build momentum by gradually increasing the frequency and impact of your jokes. By structuring your speech in this way, you can create a sense of excitement and anticipation among your listeners, culminating in a stronger, more memorable finish.

Ending on a High Note

Your closing is your chance to leave a lasting impression on your audience. Consider ending your speech with a humorous anecdote or joke that reinforces your message and leaves a lasting impression on your listeners.

Mastering Your Delivery

The way you deliver your speech can make a big difference in its impact. Here are a few tips to help you master your delivery:

Practicing Your Timing

Timing is everything in humor, so it is important to practice your delivery to ensure your jokes land at the right moment. Take the time to rehearse your speech to ensure your timing is on point and your delivery is polished.

Using Body Language and Facial Expressions

Body language and facial expressions can be powerful tools for conveying humor and emotion in your speech. Consider incorporating subtle gestures and expressions into your delivery to enhance your jokes and connect with your audience.

Modulating Your Voice for Maximum Impact

The way you modulate your voice can have a big impact on the impact of your speech. Varying your pitch, tone, and volume can help you emphasize key points and add impact to your jokes. Practice varying your voice to add depth and dimension to your speech.

By following these tips and guidelines, you can craft a funny and engaging speech that will have your audience rolling in laughter. Remember to stay true to your personal style and tailor your humor to your audience, and you'll be sure to deliver a speech that leaves a lasting impact.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Funny Speech

Use the following prompt in an AI chatbot . Below each prompt, be sure to provide additional details about your situation. These could be scratch notes, what you'd like to say or anything else that guides the AI model to write a certain way.

Compose a humorous address that will entertain and amuse the audience.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

414 Funny and Humorous Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative, Impromptu]

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Funny and humorous speech topics –  for anyone who wants to talk about silly foolish, casual odd, infrequent rare, bizarre weird, aberrant uncommon, strange or crazy fun subjects. Modify the onliners for the best tailormade results of course!

In this article:

Informative

List of funny and humorous speech topics.

• Boys gossip more than girls do.
• Should Trix stop its discrimination and make them for everyone?
• Blame your horoscope for why things went wrong
• Why you should never take on a food challenge
• Breakup insurance policy should be invented
• Which came first: the chicken or the egg?
• Why men shouldn’t wear skinny jeans
• Vegetables have feelings – stop carrot cruelty
• Camping: the fun and the not so fun
• Why kids should make jokes in class
• Why lying well can be helpful
• Why I should marry Cameron Diaz
• When nothing goes left, go right
• Grown-ups are weird species
• Blame your dog for things
• Why getting lost is the best advice someone could give you
• The reason grass appears greener on the other side is because it is probably fake.
• In order to become old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.
• Yes, you should write that down, because you will forget.
• We can lie but our facial expressions can’t.
• Life should come with background music.
• Chocolate never asks stupid questions.
• Sometimes when you need expert advice you should just have a chat with yourself.
• In order to understand what life is all about you should hang out with a three year old.
• The most dangerous animal out there is a silent woman.
• We don’t mean to interrupt people’s conversations, it’s just that we remember random things and get really excited.
• Wouldn’t it be great to have a six-month vacation twice a year?
• Nothing sucks more than when you are in the middle of an argument and realize that you are wrong.
• When you get older you will regret not taking all those naps as a child.
• I sometimes feel that the internet could do with a sarcasm font.
• Some of the bad decisions are necessary so you can have great stories to tell.
• Sometimes you will need to keep a contact number on your phone so that you can avoid their nuisance calls.
• How many times is it appropriate to say “excuse me”, before you give up and nod instead?
• A woman’s “I will be ready in 5 minutes” is the same as a man’s “I will be home in 5 minutes”.
• “We will see” means it’s probably not going to happen.
• Adults these days can barely do Math without using a calculator but are always claiming to have X amount of problems.
• Being an adult is not an easy task.
• Life feels very much like a test I didn’t study for.
• You are not weird; you are just a limited edition.
• There is no need to sugar coat everything, we can’t all be Willy Wonka.
• Not everyone will like you and that is okay because not everyone has good taste.
• Most people make mistakes five or six times, just to be sure.
• Be happy, it drives people crazy!
• Before you marry someone you should see how they react to slow internet.
• Alcohol clearly increases the size of the send button.
• We all need a day in which we can be just as useless as the ‘g’ in lasagne.
• Those who say they slept like a baby have obviously never had a baby.
• No, underarm farts are not an impressive party trick.
• Why do we panic when our phones fall but laugh when our friends do?
• Why do we remember all the things we forgot to do once we are in bed?
• Stop telling people that your baby is 28 months old!
• Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.
• Why people calculate how many hours of sleep they will get.
• What is it with men and remote control buttons?
• Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
• It is probably wise to keep your Mom off of Facebook.
• Clowns are scary and this is why.
• The true list of Christmas gifts I would like to give my family.
• Why Mondays should be banned.
• It is not okay to be 30 and still live with your parents.
• Men gossip more than women.
• Stop bragging about being at the gym – nobody cares!
• We can lie to the world, but not to ourselves.
• You should never start your diet on a Monday.
• By plans I mean I want to stay home and watch Netflix.
• Why you should smile and wave when someone insults you.
• If you are going to be two-faced at least make one of them pretty.
• Some people truly believe that they know everything, do they think their name is google?
• I wish the world would shock me by saying something intelligent.
• Women shouldn’t treat their faces like a colouring book.
• Some people are so fake, that Barbie is starting to get jealous.
• You are always entitled to your own incorrect opinion.
• Do people expect us to take notes when they tell us what to do?
• Just because it fits it doesn’t mean that it actually fits.
• It’s okay, you can explain yourself out of compromising positions.
• Auto correct could ruin your life.
• Some people are all bark but no bite.
• Why read the book when you can just watch the movie?
• Growing old is mandatory but growing up is completely optional.
• Money does talk and it usually likes to say ‘bye-bye’.
• The good news is that if today is the worst day of your life, then you know that tomorrow will be better.
• Some of the best people out there are crazy.
• Common sense is a flower that does not grow in everyone’s garden.
• Sometimes you just need to take a nap and get over it.
• Daddy is the boss until Mommy gets home.
• To avoid trouble, you must always cut a toddler’s sandwich in the correct shape.
• People often lie on a first date so that they can secure the second one.
• Why wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.
• Yes, actually you can have your cake and eat it too!
• You should never be the party pooper.
• Disney movies are great until they all start singing.
• “Too busy” is just a myth.
• Teenagers need to remember that not that long ago they use to beg their mothers to watch them poop.
• Wouldn’t it be great if when we took a long nap people would be proud of us like they are when kids do?
• You know it is going to be a long day when your partner is upset about something you did in their dream.
• Sometimes our greatest accomplishment is to just keep quiet.
• Why Math feels like Mental Abuse To Humans.
• You need to marry the person who gives you the same feeling you get when you see food coming at a restaurant.
• Touch a pregnant belly at your own risk.
• If you mess with the bull you will get the horns.
• Why exactly did ‘that’s cool’ become ‘that’s hot’?
• People must stop randomly using the word ‘random’ for everything.
• How not wearing any makeup makes people think you are sick these days.
• LOL is usually what people reply with when they have nothing else to say.
• Why exactly is it called a crush?
• If Cinderella’s shoe fit perfectly in the end, why did it fall off in the first place?
• The only reason why we should want to go back in time is to repeat the fun parts.
• When we start to question if a word even exists.
• Before Facebook I had a life.
• Smile while you still have teeth.
• Why laughter is the best medicine.
• Three reasons why … (fill in your favorite cheerleader team here) will win the Superbowl this year.
• Fainting for high school is pretty common and often not a sign of something serious.
• Why rose is the best flowers’ fragrance many women like.
• Girls under 12 should not be allowed to wear makeup.
• Wendy’s / Burger King / McDonald’s (choose your fast food restaurant) has the best service and consumer complaint codes of conduct.
• My favorite Agent 007 James Bond is … (fill in the actor / actress of your choice here. Or do choose another movie hero for alternative humorous persuasive speech topics)
• Design your own How Cool Are You test and persuade your audience to take it.
• Seven signs that she is a real bitch type, and ways how to handle her.
• Five requirements to be called a bestie by girlfriends.
• Three symptoms that show you are definitely addicted to online quizzes.
• Fingerprints are unique for every human.
• Diet or regular drinks: it doesn’t matter at all what you drink.
• We should adapt the Chinese Calender / National Calendar of India.
• We should print small fun items on our coins that symbolizes our nation.
• What you should wear / not wear when giving a prom speech.
• Presidential running mates are politicians who were not able to reach the top themselves.
• How to get – more – Valentine Day cards next year.
• Nomen est omen (latin for name is omen) occurs more often than you think.
• Kung fu training skills should be mandatory for college and high school sports girls and women teachers.
• Vampires and ghosts are only historical legend figures, nevertheless they have much impact on our society when it comes to superstition.
• Thirteen is a lucky number.
• Why there are so many kangaroo, wombats, sheep and koalas in Australia.
• Why Rumpulstilskin is my favorite fairy tale.
• People prefer a clean shaven face instead of a beard or mustache.
• Dating someone who is much older than you are is the only way to date.
• Love at first sight really does exist.
• Lady Gaga has beaten Britney Spears.
• Men like action and women like romantic movies.
• Boyfriends must act romantic.
• (fill in the title of the song of your choice) is the funniest song ever.
• The Human cannonball stunt should be an entertainment event at our next campus event.
• Jay Leno is funny because he has good joke writers.
• Having a third arm is better than a third leg.
• Leather belts with a large buckle look good on guys.
• Experiencing the thrill of a Space Shuttle trip is too expensive.
• Why it’s a good idea to always google a person before you meet her or him for the first time.
• Ten ways to use Twitter with fun public speaking purposes in a maximum of 140 characters.
• Why many students rather text a friend than call her/him.
• Bingo competitions keep grandmas off the streets.
• Don’t take life too seriously – and yourself 🙂
• How to get rid of boring blind dates.
• Blaming your dog for everything that goes wrong is an old way-out.
• 99% percent of the blonds are not stupid at all.
• How to annoy the passenger next to you on a flight.
• The beneficial effects of smoking.
• Some phrases you use to be funny but actually turn out to be boring.
• Jerry Springer ruined America
• Dessert should always be served before dinner
• Golf and Poker: Two things that should never be televised
• Personal things you should always keep to yourself
• Department stores shouldn’t be allowed to sell ugly clothing
• Why you should leave the marriage counseling tips to the marriage counselors
• Facebook is ruining lives every day
• Why the perfect husband just doesn’t exist
• Pigs have better manners than most men
• Rain: It really does have a smell
• Women are much better at handling pain than men
• Why famous people must have a crew of makeup artists and hair stylists following them around all day
• Why Subway is a total rip off
• Totally useless professions
• If only men spent as much time working on their relationships as they do focusing on sports
• Parent fails
• Why everyone wants a pet monkey
• What happens in high school doesn’t really matter all that much

Once you have chosen a topic, you will need to compose the speech structure. This sample of outline will help you getting started. The example topic is: “How to convince the teacher that a household pet ate your homework.”

Start the talk by introducing yourself. For example, “Good Morning, my name is ____.” Then, go for the “gold.” Hit the audience with a statement or question that will grab their attention immediately. Another example: “Who remembers using the excuse that my dog ate my term paper?”

The body of the speech: Three points Hopefully, with the audience waiting with baited breath, the time is ripe to hit them with three good reasons for them to listen to, and agree with, what is being said.

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

• Your sister’s pet hamster died, and she needed a small piece of paper to wrap the body in and used your homework paper.
• Your brother was making bedding for his pet gerbil and ran out of newspaper to cut into strips and used your term paper instead.
• Your new dog has been trained to pee on newspaper on the floor, and your homework papers had slipped off the kitchen counter, and, well….

Closing argument More than three points can be made, if indicated. But at least three points should always be used. To close your argument, summarize and end with a strong reason why the audience should agree with you. For example, “With the number and variety of pets available today, one does not have to use the family dog all the time as an excuse for not doing one’s homework.”

Reverse thinking and applying jokes are possible instruments for inventing lots of amusing and droll funny topic for persuasive speech tips and more expanded funny different from standard or daily norm hints and clues for rationalistic speeches.

• How to make fun every day in life.
• The unusual and abnormal working of Murphy’s Law – if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong.
• Chasing idle dreams is a good habit.
• Unexpected disasters that can happen.
• Absurd and laughable job applicant stories.
• How I choose friends far away and maintain those relationships.
• People with mediocre talents have success and high talented people haven’t.
• Why my – any funny speech topics – looks cooler than the… of my neighbour.
• Rare speed limits and the reasons why.
• When I resign, I will …
• My fantasy jokes and humor multiplier x factor
• My motto: I’m flexible by indecision.
• Ways to remember birthdays on the presents you got.
• For her / him who doesn’t have to do it, nothing is impossible.
• How to give your dog or cat a pill.
• Why men are proud of themselves.
• How to cheat poker the nice way.
• Why I don’t want to be a millionaire.
• Eating flowers is possible.
• How to determine you are addicted to the Internet.
• Wine / beer / cocktail of the month.
• How to be a charming host at any event.
• Demonstrate tasting wine in a waggish way.
• If I was my boss, then …
• Happy puppies make humans happy.
• How to deny reality.
• Ten fun things to do during exams.
• Urban running acrobatics.
• 10 ways to order pizzas and make the Italian food restaurant owner crazy.
• Your guides to life are angels.
• How to throw a paper airplane in class.
• Ten things you’ve learned from your pet.
• Personal bloopers are great funny topics for a speech.
• My most profitable mistake.
• Funny computer terms and phrases.
• What women really say when they talk to men.
• Answers on the meaning of life.
• Funny holidays in other countries.
• How foreigners must sound when speaking to natives in their language
• Card games that hardly require any skill
• What my dog would tell me if he could talk
• What the popular kids are like 15 years after graduation
• Words that are hard to say while drunk
• The best cures for a hangover
• The truth about bromance
• Where did swear words come from?
• If our children had to deal with the computers we had back in the day…
• The worst nicknames you’ve been given
• A time when you were glad you were you
• The male brain vs. the female brain
• What to do if you’re being hit on by a complete weirdo
• The advantages of being a woman
• The advantages of being a man
• The things women go through just to look pretty
• If men had a menstrual cycle
• Does anyone ever clean public restrooms?
• How one dog had 101 Dalmatian puppies
• How to create a new word that other people will actually use
• How to boil water
• How to get fired in less than 24 hours
• How to create monsters out of your children
• How to train your cat to be like a dog
• How to be remembered in high school
• How to make lemonade out of lemons (figuratively)
• The art of pretending to listen when your spouse is talking
• If women had mute buttons
• If men were more emotional than women
• Why babies act very similar to drunk adults
• What to do if you burn the turkey at Thanksgiving
• The ugliest fashions of today
• The newest slang terms and what they really mean
• What men really think about women
• What women really think about men
• My worst road rage stories
• PMS: Because men have it too
• The dumbest thing I ever did while drunk
• As a kid, I thought I knew it all. Boy, was I wrong
• A day at Spencer’s
• So, what do people really think when they see your 1,001 selfies?
• Best pranks to use on your spouse
• Why kids are lucky they are cute
• The best and only way to make your kids leave you alone
• Why I could never be a doctor
• When baby is left with dad all day…
• How incompetent people manage to make it through the day
• Review the challenge to find mentally strange funny speech topics in 24 hours.
• Women marry much younger men.
• Bare funny facts about men.
• Funny facts about women.
• Rules men wish women knew.
• How to become a rat and make a fortune.
• Funny first date experiences.
• A true story that ain’t be true in the end …
• Unusual incidents.
• Helpful pinball strategies.
• Reveal the real names of celebrities.
• Extreme golf courses around the world.
• How to cope with a Feng Shui consultant.
• Hidden subliminal messages in songs.
• Funny names, name meaning or nomen est omen.
• Top 5 most stupid questions and answers.
• Clean jokes that are safe for the whole family.
• Optical illusions in art, also called trompe-loeil.
• Fun houseplants in your home.
• How to decorate a really weird Thanksgiving table.
• Time capsules you like to find.
• How to discover who send you a Valentine card.
• Moving Christmas lights that drive your neighbours crazy.
• Criteria for a childproof X-mas tree.
• How to attract hundreds of birds in record time.
• Unique nativity scene figures.
• Strange New Year resolutions.
• Cliches, figures and any text to speech that should be banned.
• What dreams mean.
• What to do on a desert island.
• Top 5 bad business slogans.
• What I like to invent for mankind.
• How to pretend to be a good international exchange student.
• What to write in a message in a bottle if you’re trapped on an island.
• Things to do in a traffic jam.
• Kids should get more pocket money.
• What do I have to do to receive free chicken?
• Imagine your life as a grandpa / grandma
• How to be lazy like a pro
• What teachers do when they’re not teaching
• Ten ways to annoy your parents
• Being the oldest/youngest sibling
• How to feed your dog your homework
• If video game characters were real
• Why did the duck cross the road?
• How to looks smarter than you are
• A narrow escape from trouble
• It was an unusual friendship
• Eating things you don’t like
• Fear of 12th grade
• Getting water from a rock
• Zombie protection
• 20 weird-sounding words and what they mean
• The worst holiday ever
• If you ruled the world
• Fun with super glue
• How to catch a cold
• Short girl problems.
• I am not anti-social, I am just selectively social.
• Things only people that wear glasses can relate to.
• How not to get a date.
• What not to say on a first date.
• A snoring partner costs you a few years of sleep in a lifetime.
• What we can learn from animals when they are looking for food.
• Why people look like their dogs.
• Three ways to write the best gift card for birthday parties.
• Five ways to keep going a boring conversation at a cocktail party.
• How to act like you are an earth-friendly person.
• Tricks to remember names when you forget them all the time.
• Ways to live on the cheap spending as little money as you can.
• How to drive unwanted visitors crazy by painting a psychedelic wall mural.
• Women want bright-colored, funny and worthless goodies as a gift.
• Do’s and don’ts when visiting a new mother and her little newborn crying out loud baby.
• Being rude is the only way to get off telemarketers.
• Tips to take toll high ways or bridges without paying a penny.
• Let others pay your holiday trips with the perfect collect call strategy.
• Decorating your college apartment with a low budget according to the latest furniture fashion trends.
• How to handle well-meaning people you do not like and try to avoid by all means.
• Effective optical cleaning methods for your home shortly before your parents arrive.
• The ten commandments in a restaurant boys and girls room.
• How to drive the baby-sitter crazy in one hour.
• Tips for choosing a practical lunch box, and above all a cool one.
• Behaving requirements in a chique restaurant when having a dinner with your parents.
• Ways to re-use stickers that are not sticky anymore.
• Odd shaped ice cubes in a snap in the coller fridge at home.
• Three fun games to play at beach without a ball.
• Sleeping a night in the backyard with a friend.
• The funniest amusement parks you have been in your life.
• How to design your own personal placemat.
• How to be the perfect gentleman or lady.
• 10 things you better not say in court.
• Fun things to do on the first day of class or the last day of the high school season.
• Words that are hard to say when you’re drunk.
• The advantages women think of being a man.
• Humorous names you can laugh about.
• Why women say they hate sports.
• The 3 biggest lies on the work floor.
• New York City driving rules explained.
• Inappropriate Christmas gifts.
• 10 ways to irritate a telemarketer.
• What are the signs you have had enough to drink.
• 10 ways to freak out your roommate with special dorm room supplies.
• How to train a cat, or dog or other pet to show fun tricks.
• How to make pictures of a new puppy.
• Why nerds rule our society and not creative artists.
• Why you shouldn’t give marriage advice or marriage counseling tips.
• How to reach your goals with humor.
• The story of the perfect husband.
• Gift wrapping tips for men.
• How to prepare fancy meals using only frozen dinners
• Why men are so terrible at wrapping gifts
• If you want to know the truth about yourself, have a kid
• Why Donald Trump doesn’t invest more money into his hair
• Funny things kids say  that adults couldn’t get away with saying
• The dumbest things American criminals have done
• Topics that aren’t meant to be discussed in public
• My guiltiest pleasures revealed
• Things you shouldn’t say while on a date
• How to confuse a telemarketer
• Things no one really knows how to do/say
• If I ever met Will Ferrell
• The dumb things my cat/dog/pet does almost daily
• How to pull off taking a “sick day” after your sports team loses miserably
• The meaning behind some nursery rhymes
• The dumbest thing I’ve ever done
• The cool way to clean up doggy doo-doo
• My thoughts about Napoleon Dynamite
• How to find the penny your baby just swallowed
• The weirdest names celebrity parents have given their children
• Why you should never call the number on the bathroom stall
• The most embarrassing thing I ever wore
• What to do if your blind date is a horrible failure
• Surefire ways to get out of a speeding ticket
• The difference between Taylor Swift and Kanye West

Many writers have joked about speaking without a script in front of groups or answering questions without any preparation. They are right.

Think about it: when your professor asks you to  prepare  an impromptu; well, it seems to be a contradictio in terminis, a funny contrast in terms.

More than you presume. Why don’t you study these task verbs and prepare yourself better than the rest in your class? In general, the more convincing and relaxed a motivational speaker performs without a text to speech, the more she or he has anticipated at home. And that’s often the case.

• Analyse –> Examine closely pros and cons of dating by means of a sugar daddy website. Do write with humor, otherwise choose other good funny impromptu speech topics.
• Argue –> Provide evidence that something is in and not out in fashion.
• Assess –> Determine the value of a Moon property certificate. Yes, they really exist in the real and also virtual world. And people tend to pay for it too 🙂
• Compare –> Discuss the quality of a being humble instead of yelling a way through life.
• Contrast –> Differences between women and men in dating habits.
• Criticize –> Judge the daily television weather forecast.
• Define –> Make clear what The Meaning of Life is, according to Monty Python Brian in the movie The Holy Grail.
• Describe –> List the do’s and don’ts for a man during a romantic dinner for two.
• Discuss –> The against of a fantasy resume at LinkedIn.
• Enumerate –> Present the steps to simple life.
• Evaluate –> The usefulness of uselessness homework assignments. One of the favorite persuasive speech topics of my daughter 🙂
• Explain –> Make clear why we do fart, and why it’s healthy.
• Illustrate –> What does illustrate mean in the context of a funny impromptu speech topics assignment?
• Interpret –> The value of horse racing stats for gamblers.
• Justify –> The end justify the means no matter how unethical or immoral, ahum 🙂
• Outline –> How to make a funny cartoon character of your professor or public speaking instructor step-by-step.
• Prove –> Inventing a time machine is possible …
• Review –> Describe critically a hangover the day after you had a party.
• Summarize –> Principles of funny tv advertising commercials.
• Trace –> The effective step-by-step method to make studying a bit more fun.

104 Environmental Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative]

10 Salutatorian Speech Ideas Multi-Functional

23 thoughts on “414 Funny and Humorous Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative, Impromptu]”

Just blame the youngest

Tall girl Problems

Why road trips are better with boy and not girls

troubles of being the youngest sibling/child!

Trouble being the oldest sibling/having a younger one

why you should do zumba with morgan from morgans zumba fittness ( MZF )

how covid-19 affected the world

Adults don’t understand kids

Why you should read those emails from your royal Nigerian Prince!

What if all the conspiracy theories that many people believed in were actually true

Why kids should go to boarding school

How can you hear yourself think?

Why 2020’s official flag should be a mask

The troubles of high school : should we care?

Thes are great topics who wrote them

The Friday the 13th theory.

i have a great speech thanks to you and i know heaps others that have them to so tthank you

things I don’t understand

OMG THANKS I NOW I HAVE SPEECH THATS DUE TOMMOROW AND I HAVE IDEAS THANKS TO YOU LIFE SAVERS!!!!! 🙂

What you would do if your best friend committed a crime.

Why we procrastinate and make things harder for ourselves.

why taylor swift is the music industry

nomen est omen is not-

nomen means name est means is omen means sign

((i’m a latin student))

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Funny Speech Topics to Make Your Audience Laugh

Who among us hasn’t been caught off-guard during a speech, struggling to think of something to say, grasping desperately for words to fill the silence?

Whether it’s during a school presentation, a sales pitch, or a TED talk , great public speaking relies on having interesting materials to work with — and that often involves humor. After all, nothing captures people’s attention or puts them at ease like a well-crafted joke!

Today, we’re going to help you get your creative juices flowing and make sure there’s never a dull moment in any of your speeches.

We’ve compiled some of the funniest speech topics to make your audience laugh, starting from the harmless to the outrageous. Whether you’re looking for something light and unassuming or a joke guaranteed to get a chuckle, this list has it all!

So without further ado, let’s dive right in and make sure your next talking points are both memorable and hilarious.

Quick Answer to Key Question

Some funny speech topics could include humorous takes on current events, jokes about popular celebrities, lighthearted observations, and satirical examples of everyday scenarios. The possibilities for humorous content are truly endless – use your imagination to come up with something unique!

What is a Funny Speech?

A funny speech is a lighthearted presentation that focuses on making the audience laugh. It can be delivered as either an informative, persuasive, or entertaining talk, with humorous remarks and jokes to recognize the comic elements in life.

To this end, it often features playful humor, irony, exaggeration, and even farce , but within an appropriate context. As such, funny speeches can help break up tension and serve as a refreshing break from more serious topics .

However, there are drawbacks to using humor in public speaking. First of all, being funny can be difficult, so speakers must cultivate their natural wit and observe trends and topics that may lead to amusing content.

Additionally, though an audience may seem receptive to lightheartedness upfront, it could become easily offended if jokes cross lines of decency. As such, a speaker must judge the energy of the room and deliver material that will evoke laughter without overwhelming their listeners’ sense of propriety.

Ultimately, presenting a funny speech requires finesse and skill. But when done successfully, it can create lasting memories for both speaker and audience alike. With these considerations in mind, let us now transition into the next section which explores ideas for humorous speech topics.

Ideas for Humorous Speech Topics

Humorous speech topics can be great ice breakers at an event or just an entertaining way to pass the time. Whether you are giving a speech in front of your peers or random strangers, you will want to come up with material that is witty, entertaining, and guaranteed to get a laugh or two. Here are some ideas for humorous topics to consider: 1. Discuss why cats are smarter than dogs 2. Compare life before and after cell phones3. Debate whether cake or ice cream is better 4. Talk about the pros and cons of going to bed late versus getting up early 5. Examine the ridiculousness of certain trends 6. Discuss why people overreact when a mistake is made 7. Share your thoughts about extreme diets 8. Laugh about the difficulty of parallel parking 9. Analyze why some people rebel against instructions 10. Debate which reality TV show is the most absurd No matter which topic you choose to discuss, make sure to focus on enjoying yourself and showcasing your humorous side.

While it’s important to focus on making others laugh, it is also essential that you have fun along with them, as this will help create a more authentic and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone in attendance. Now that you have some ideas for humorous speech topics, let’s move on to discussing events.

Talking About Events

Talking about events often brings out the most laughter in an audience.

Whether it’s discussing a current hot button issue or rehashing a comical blunder that happened to a friend, addressing funny topics related to events can be endlessly entertaining.

Though there are some topics that might be deemed too sensitive to address, such as politics or religious issues , many current and past events offer plenty of moments that make for interesting storytelling opportunities.

For example, humorous angles on the latest celebrity news or an analysis behind why sports teams make questionable decisions can be met with laughter and applause.

Similarly, gossiping about relationships or peculiar situations among friends provides plenty of material for comedic discourse. As long as a speaker is able to keep their dialogue respectful, making light of recent happenings often serves as great source material for humor.

That being said, even if the topic being addressed is objectively lighthearted, being mindful of how sensitive it may come off to some members of the audience is important.

When necessary, debaters should employ tact when approaching certain subjects and always strive to treat any individuals involved with respect in their presentations.

Kept within healthy limits, talking about events can be quite amusing and engaging – it can bring out not only laughter but positive conversations between family, friends and participants alike.

Leading into the next section now: Personal topics also provide an abundance of funny speech topics that will surely strike a chord with any group.

Personal Topics

When it comes to comedy, the personal touch can make all the difference. Taking your speech topic from something close to home such as family, work or hobbies can often result in an entertaining and relatable topic.

Whether you choose to do a light-hearted take on a serious issue or bravely share some embarrassing stories, there’s sure to be something funny within your own experience.

For instance, exploring the “family dynamic” is often a great place to start. Even in the tightest of families, the occasional funny moment can emerge. Tell a story about an occasion where everyone was struggling to act their best and you had a laugh at their expense.

Or explore how certain family members are always found in the center of attention (even if they don’t intend to be). If done in good taste and with respect, poking fun at your family can result in some sincere laughs from both yourself and your audience.

These topics provide an opportunity for self-deprecating humor and bring a unique perspective on life that others may find both humorous and intriguing.

Personal insights into everyday struggles, misunderstandings or awkward moments can lead to topics that are surprisingly relatable. You will find that what you feel is ordinary can actually be extraordinary in someone else’s eyes.

Keep in mind, though, that when taking this approach, it is important to never offend anyone with your comments or jokes. Embrace embarrassment but never belittle any individuals or groups who are part of your stories or experiences

By leaning into those funny moments – whether they involve yourself or others – they can become powerful tools that make your speech memorable and enjoyable. Now let’s move onto telling funny stories – which also has its own unique set of advantages!

Personal topics can make comedy writing unique and relatable. Telling stories involving family and funny moments can provide entertainment while being respectful. Touching on ordinary struggles and awkward situations can lead to humor while still avoiding offending anyone directly. Humorously embracing embarrassment will help make speeches memorable.

Telling Funny Stories

Telling funny stories is an effective way to make your audience laugh, as stories are usually much more relatable than jokes.

People of all ages will often enjoy hearing a clever anecdote that they can relate to or that paints a vivid picture in their mind. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when telling a funny story as part of your speech.

First, it is important to remember that time is limited. Try to select anecdotes that have a clear beginning, middle, and end that are not too long-winded or complicated. Make sure the story you choose conveys your point while making it entertaining.

One debate between comedians and public speakers is whether stories should be made up or true. On the one hand, factual stories can be full of fascinating nuances and details and may appeal to some audiences.

True stories allow you to fully describe an experience for the audience’s enjoyment or gain a better understanding of the person telling it.

On the other hand, comedic opinions often say that made-up stories can be even funnier than real events if they present a creative spin on life. Whichever route you choose, always try to turn your story into a humble brag!

No matter which type of story you tell, ensure that it fits in with your overall message, as this helps tie it together for the listener. With any luck your humor will land with the crowd and keep them engaged until you reach the conclusion.

To help prepare for delivering such an important section of your presentation, let’s move on to looking at some useful tips for Writing and Delivering a Funny Speech.

Tips for Writing and Delivering a Funny Speech

Writing and delivering a funny speech can be a rewarding experience, especially if you can make your audience roar with laughter. However, crafting an effective comedic monologue takes skill, confidence and sometimes a bit of trial and error. To help you get started, here are some tips for writing and delivering a funny speech: 1. Understand Your Audience – Study your audience to determine what kind of humor they will respond to. For example, family-friendly jokes will play better at a dinner table than a corporate conference room. Adjust your standards accordingly to ensure the best outcome. 2. Know What Not to Do – A true professional comedian knows what not to say or do during their performance. Avoid vulgar language, off-color jokes and controversial topics that may offend certain members of your audience. Also, it’s important to know how far is too far when making fun of yourself or colleagues. 3. Write Your Speech First – Write out the speech first before even attempting to deliver it in front of others. This will give you more control over the timing and pacing of key punch lines for optimum effect¹. It also eliminates any confusion about the order you want to deliver your jokes in front of an audience. 4. Rehearse – Even if you have written the speech beforehand, practice multiple times until you are comfortable delivering it in public or private settings. Know which visual aids (if any) will engage your audience during key points in the speech. 5. Have Fun – When delivering a funny speech, don’t take yourself too seriously! Relax, have fun and let your personality shine through while you tell your story or jokes³. Then enjoy the applause after each punch line lands! Ultimately, writing and delivering a funny speech requires knowledge, skill and dedication—but done right, it can be very rewarding! Now let’s move on to addressing how we can use humor appropriately in our speeches…

Use Humor Appropriately

When giving a speech, it is important to use humor appropriately. Too much humor can actually dilute the impact of an otherwise persuasive message.

Adding bits of humor throughout the presentation will keep an audience engaged and help make your points easier to remember. But if you attempt too many jokes during your speech, it can be distracting for listeners and actually work against your intended message.

Adopting a humorous persona or mocking people who disagree with you can be dangerous because members of your audience may take offense. It is recommended to base humor on personal experiences or stories that you know your audience can relate to in order to ensure the best response.

Likewise, comedian Jerry Seinfeld suggests avoiding overt political material in your speech–which should come as no surprise considering how polarizing politics has become these days.

Overall, it is important to strike the right balance when adding humor to a speech. Humor should be used sparingly and should stay away from controversial topics unless done skillfully; otherwise, it can backfire instead of unifying your audience or making a strong point. With this in mind, let’s look at some examples of humorous speech topics next.

Examples of Humorous Speech Topics

When it comes to funny speeches, it’s important to find a topic that resonates with your audience. If you can make an audience laugh, the speech will be remembered for years to come. While humor may differ from culture to culture, there are some topics that remain universally funny. Here are a few examples: • The Pros and Cons of Dating an Alien • How to Create an App That Makes Doing Laundry Easier • A Practical Guide To Quitting Your Job and Becoming an Astronaut • Surviving a Zombie Invasion Without Looking Too Silly • How To Be The Life Of Any Party By Creating Inventive Dances • A Tour Of Local Haunted Locations These humorous speech topics could also be used as the basis for some light-hearted debate, offering the opportunity to explore both sides of a comedic argument. Ultimately, with each topic, the possibilities and potentials of making a crowd laugh are endless!

It is clear from looking at the speech topics discussed in this article that humor can be found everywhere and used in a variety of forms. A funny speech does not have to contain jokes or stand up comedy, but can simply use wit, wordplay and well-timed delivery to draw attention and elicit laughter from an audience.

When preparing a funny speech, it is important to consider the topic carefully and ensure that it is appropriate for the context. Some people may find certain topics offensive or inappropriate depending on their preferences, so these should be avoided when giving a humorous speech.

The topics presented in this article cover a wide range of perspectives and provide ample opportunity for crafting an entertaining and memorable speech. If crafting your own material is not something you feel comfortable with, there are many sources available on the internet which provide ready-made humor suitable for speeches.

Ultimately, whatever speech topic you choose, the most important thing is that it resonates with your audience and makes them laugh!

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions with Detailed Explanations

What are some tips for delivering a funny speech.

1. Start by rehearsing your speech – make sure you know it word for word and practice delivering it with the right tone of voice and body language . Rehearsing will also help you memorize what to say if you get nervous during the performance. 2. Keep your audience in mind when choosing your topic. Make jokes and references that your audience will appreciate and understand – don’t try too hard to be funny if others won’t get the joke. 3. Come up with creative ways to capture your audience’s attention from the start – tell stories, anecdotes, or jokes that pique their interest and connect to your overall message. 4. Stay away from crude humour or off-color remarks if they aren’t appropriate for the situation. Make sure whatever jokes you make are lighthearted and not offensive or hurtful to anyone in the room. 5. Have fun! If you come across as too serious or uptight, no one will laugh at your jokes. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate or bring enthusiasm when delivering your speech – it will make it much more entertaining.

What topics are suitable for a funny speech?

Some excellent topics for a funny speech include: 1. Inexplicable Mishaps – Stories about your funniest mistakes, blunders, and bumbles! 2. Unusual Occupations – Share the details of your weirdest job or wackiest hobby. 3. Unforeseen Consequences – Talk about decisions you regret and the hilarious results that followed. 4. Random Animal Facts – Insert some hilarious animal trivia from around the world into your speech. 5. Dumb Criminals – Discuss the most foolish criminals and their failed attempts at avoiding justice. 6. Childhood Memories – Recount humorous moments from your childhood to brighten the mood of your audience. 7. Bad Jokes – Use classic puns, tongue-twisters, and one-liners to get the crowd laughing. 8. Comical Slogans – Talk about corporate catchphrases that are humorous in unintended ways! 9. Upcycled Language – Create new words or tweak old ones to give them a funny spin and make people chuckle! 10. Cultural Commentaries – Discuss deficiencies and absurdities in popular culture that can spark a good laugh from your listeners!

What types of funny speeches would be suitable for different audiences?

When determining which type of funny speech would be suitable for different audiences, it’s important to consider several factors. For instance, the age, gender, interests, and background of the audience will all play a role in deciding on a topic.

For example, if your audience is mainly composed of young students or professionals in their 20s and 30s, you might want to focus on topics that are relevant to their experiences such as relationships, technology, popular culture, and current events. You could also make jokes about self-deprecating humour, sarcasm, and irony.

If the audience is made up of mostly seniors or retirees, you may want to focus on topics like nostalgia, family stories, and observations about retirement. You can use human interest stories and light-hearted anecdotes to make them laugh.

For college audiences with various backgrounds and interests, you’ll want to focus on topics such as sports rivalries, differences between generations or cultures , or even absurdist humour.

Organizing a funny speech around a common experience that everyone in the room can relate to will help ensure it resonates with the whole audience. Doing some research beforehand can provide lots of inspiration for appropriate funny speech topics that are sure to make your audience laugh!

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Six Rules of Humor

I have been fortunate to win the Humorous Speech Contest twice (for District 11, covering Indiana and northwestern Kentucky) and along the way I’ve learned some important lessons about making audiences laugh. My improvement hasn’t come easy—the journey to becoming an effective humorous speaker is the result of a lot of practice. It’s the direct result of at-tending weekly club meetings, volunteering for speaking roles to test my use of humor, and signing up each year to compete in my club’s Humorous Speech contests. Moreover, it’s the result of continually refining my speeches based on club evaluations.

The following six rules of humor can help you draft your next successful humorous speech.

Find Humor in Everyday Life I often hear Toastmasters lament how difficult it is to come up with a humorous speech topic. Some of the best speeches are inspired by life’s everyday occurrences. In 2013, my wife and I flew with our two young children to Europe to visit family. The ensuing chaos on the airplane provided me with more than enough material to compose my winning speech that year. Think about your everyday life and things that may have a humorous twist to them.

Know Your Audience In my 2009 speech, I compared the delivery of my first child to a Toastmasters meeting. This would have made little sense to any audience outside of Toastmasters, but the humorous comparison (using timing cards to help with my wife’s contractions) landed perfectly with my audience. Know your audience—it’s particularly important when trying to land a punchline.

It’s a Humorous Speech Contest: Be Funny! The best Humorous Contest speeches use humor throughout. Some speakers work up to a big laugh at the end, so their speeches are void of humor in the introduction and body. This approach leaves your audience hanging and wondering When do I get to laugh? I like to launch into a joke right off the bat to get the audience warmed up and to kick start my own energy level.

Use Props In both of my winning speeches, I used props. In the 2013 district contest, I brought a suitcase to show how, ideally, one should travel with kids inside a bag. I closed the speech by donning a pilot’s cap. Think about effective props that can enhance your humor.

Don’t Step on Your Laughter One of the greatest challenges a humorous speaker faces, aside from producing laughter, is to avoid stepping on it. It takes practice, but you have to allow your audience the time to laugh and soak in the humor. You can kill a joke entirely by rushing too fast to tell your next one. Effective pauses also enhance jokes. When talking about stuffing my kids into a suitcase, I said, “I see a look of concern on the faces of the audience.” I then took a long pause and concluded with, “I understand your concern, and I realize that the airlines now charge 50 a piece for these bags.” The pause was the key to the joke that generated the biggest laugh in the contest.

Consult with Others Always run your speech by a mentor or trusted advisor. I have seen several contestants essentially eliminate themselves with humor that crossed the line and was deemed offensive. For the 2013 competition, I debated about whether to use one particular joke that I thought toed the line. I sought the advice of five different people and the consensus was to leave it in. It generated big laughs and I am glad I included it, but seeking consultation about risky jokes is imperative. One of the rea-sons I am a fan of self-deprecating humor is that you only risk offending yourself!

Becoming an effective humorous speaker can provide incredible internal rewards. I can think of three in particular:

There’s nothing as heartwarming as seeing your audience react with smiles and laughter. We live in a world often marred by violence, tragedy and darkness. When you impart humor in a speech and inspire laughter, you as a speaker derive a real reward.

Public speaking in general requires courage, but delivering humorous speeches in particular demands real fortitude. Stepping onto a stage with the goal of making an audience of strangers laugh can be daunting. But taking on that challenge and producing gut-busting laughter in an audience can be one of the great thrills in the Toastmasters experience.

While delivery, timing and body language are critical to telling a joke, the joke’s success lies in the author’s ability to conceive it. Writing an original, clean joke that will deliver a punch takes time and patience, and hones one’s creativity. To make humor work, the speaker must also properly place the joke within the speech, build appropriate context around it and structure the speech effectively. The reward is the development of one’s speechwriting skills.

Mark Twain once said, “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.” It’s not often easy to pull off, but a well-constructed, funny speech will bring lots of laughs to the audience and many rewards to the speaker.

A version of this article appeared in the June 2015 issue of the Toastmaster magazine.

About the Author

Graham honaker, acs, cl.

is a member of the Indy Free Speakers Toastmasters club in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Funny Student Council Speech Ideas to Help Everyone Relate to You

Give them a speech they'll never forget. These ideas can help you get started with a funny, creative speech perfect for the student council role you want.

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Megan's contributed both writing and research to a myriad of associations including academic publications, cultural institutions, non-fiction works, and experimental collaborative projects.

When you've got hundreds of kids staring you down, bright lights in your face, and the worst case of jitters the school stage's felt in weeks, take a breath. You can always rely on the funny student council speech you've worked so hard on crafting to perfection to get you through.

So many people can be naturally funny without trying too hard, so if you just relax and let your natural humor shine through in your student council speech, you'll do great. But if you've glued your pinky to the backspace trying to write yours, let us help you with these tips and ideas. 

Funny Student Council Speech Intros for Specific Roles 

When you're running for a student council position, all you've got is your words. So, you need to write a speech that students will remember long after you've graduated. After you've pitched around some  speech ideas for your student council role , it's time to put pen to paper (or fingers to the keys). And what's the best way to get an audience on your side? With laughter, of course. 

• Student Council Speech Ideas & Tips to Help You Win
• Tips for a Winning Student Council Speech for Treasurer
• 15 Powerful Attention Getters for Any Type of Speech
• Student Council Speech Ideas & Tips to Help You Win

Funny President Speech Intro Example 

The other candidates are going to come up here and tell you all the reasons why you should vote for them. I'm going to give you only one reason why you should vote for me. I've got the face of an angel.

Think about it, every time I ask for your concerns, give a speech, or land an interview in the school paper, you're going to have to look at my face. If you want to make this year and school politics Instagram-worthy, consider just whose face you want to stare at every day, mine or theirs.

Hilarious Vice President Speech Opener

My competitors have come up here and given you a laundry list of reasons why they should be elected VP, so I'll keep things short. I'm the brains behind this operation, and I'll marionette puppet our president better than Ratatouille and his little rat hands ever could. Whatever you want, I'll work those strings to make it happen. 

Silly Secretary Speech Intro

Your student council secretary really needs to love words. I love words so much that I'll only eat Alpha-Bits for breakfast. And what's more, I'll only eat the cereal letters I can use to make a word. So, say there's a "T," "Q," and "R" left in the bowl; I can't bring myself to swallow them.

I love pencils so much that I fail every automatically graded exam because I can't bring myself to damage the pencil by using it. I love writing so much that I've got a physical therapist on speed dial for my carpal tunnel. 

Comical Treasurer Speech Opener

If time is money, we're all going to be very rich after this speech. I'm not sure who's responsible for the exchange rate, but I hope it's a good one. As treasurer, I take money lingo just as seriously as I do sticking to our budget, and unlike Al Capone, I won't bust our operation with faulty books and tax fraud. 

• How to Make Life After High School Worth All the Hard Work

Funny Student Council Speech Intros That'll Win Everyone Over 

One of the biggest tips for writing a speech is to connect with your audience on their level. Your classmates will probably respond well to fun and humor, so give your speech a dose of comedy and break the ice with a funny intro.

• Mr. Smith, our beloved math teacher, told us all that we'd use trigonometry one day. I think he's an awesome teacher and I really want him to be right. So, my entire speech will cover things that are opposite and adjacent to the issues of our school, and that will lead me on a tangent.
• When you hear the words "Student Council," you probably envision a bunch of old, bald, white guys sitting around wearing suits with ties and talking about all the problems students cause in the world. Today, to help me get through my stage fright, I'm asking you to imagine me as one of those guys. Preferably, I hope you picture Will Farrel as Mattel's CEO. 
• Today, I'm here to taco 'bout something serious and I've been trying to figure out how to get your vote. You might think school rules and student privileges are nacho business, but you'd be wrong. I won't try to get jalapeño business or get saucy, and I certainly won't burrito around the bush. If you want this year to feel like a fiesta, vote for me for President. In queso you still haven't figured it out, I'm the best woman for the job.
• Everyone, let's take a moment of silence. [Pause]. Thank you for joining me in that moment of silence for the competition that I'm going to slaughter at the ballot box this week. 
• (Pointing phone at the crowd) [High School Name] STUDENT BODY! Let's make some noise for my lovely competition — they've worked so hard — and give yourselves a round of applause for appointing someone as awesome as me to your student council. (Puts phone away.) So I'd like to thank my mother who, without her, I wouldn't be here today, and my father of course, because there's part of him in here too...(dramatic pause). OH, oh sorry everybody, those were my acceptance speech cards. Let me just pull out the right ones here.

Creative Ways to Sprinkle Some Humor into Your Speech 

Speech starters aren't the only places you can toss in a little funny line or two. There are a ton of ways you can incorporate humor into your student council speech to break the ice, grab everyone's attention, or stand out from the crowd. These are just a few of them: 

Poke a Little Good-Natured Fun at a Staff Member

There's nothing teens find funnier than cleverly making fun of their teachers and principals. Just be sure to only poke fun at the ones you know will take the joke well, and keep it good-natured and lighthearted. 

End an Info-Heavy Section With a Witty One-Liner

As a teen, you know kids have short attention spans (curse you TikTok), so you'll start to lose them after a while. Keep their attention by ending any information-heavy section with a funny one-liner. It's hard to stay snoozing when you're laughing. 

It's totally ok to use jokes in a student council speech, but remember the goal of using jokes and humor is to connect with your peers, so make sure they're things that everyone will actually find funny and not anything that could be hurtful or upsetting.

Don't Rush the Delivery

If you've got a line you just know is going to make everyone laugh, don't pull the wind from its sails by speeding through it. People tend to talk faster the longer they're presenting, so make sure your joke lands by pulling back and easing into the delivery. 

Add Something Funny or Unexpected to a Serious Sentence

If you're listing some of the genuine things you bring to the table for your desired student council position, grab everyone's attention by throwing a funny one on at the end. 

Tell a True Funny Story From Your Childhood

Talking about something funny that really happened to you, especially if it's related to the student council role you want in some way, can be a creative and memorable way to stand out. For example, the lemonade stand disaster you had as a kid might just make you a shoo-in for treasurer. After all, you learned from your mistakes. 

End the Speech With a Joke or Funny Slogan 

You can also use a joke or a funny slogan at the end of your student council speech to help make it memorable. A funny, relatable slogan that helps people remember you could have a positive impact when it comes time to vote. 

• School Jokes for Kids of All Ages

Hook 'Em With Humor for a Winning Speech 

The secret for how to win a high school election isn't stuffing the ballot box or teen comedy movie-ing your way to making the competition drop out. Instead, it's about being memorable and connecting with your peers. A funny opening line or hilarious closing one will not only capture their attention, but it'll have them thinking about you when they step up to that ballot box. 

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Better Guide: How to Write a Funny Valedictorian Speech

Table of Contents

Writing a funny valedictorian speech can be both challenging and rewarding. For those who have the knowledge, experience, and wit to pull it off successfully, the rewards are substantial. With the right guidance and techniques, anyone can learn how to write a funny valedictorian speech that will leave the audience laughing and inspired.

This article explores how to make your speech stand out by injecting humor and levity into the mix. But it still maintains a level of professionalism and respect for your audience. To leave the audience smiling as they hear your speech, read on – we’ve got tips and examples to help you do just that!

How to Write a Funny Valedictorian Speech

To inject humor into your graduation speech, follow the tips below and write a speech that enlivens the environment and makes the crowd smile .

Begin With a Lighthearted Quote or Anecdote

To break the ice and get everyone laughing, consider beginning your speech by sharing an amusing quote. You could also share a story related to high school or life in general.

Use Humor That’s Appropriate for All Ages

When incorporating humor into your valedictorian speech, ensure it is age-appropriate and won’t offend any graduates or their families.

Share Humorous Memories

Graduation is a time of nostalgia, so include some funny recollections from high school that everyone can relate to and appreciate.

Don’t Be Afraid to Use Self-Deprecating Humor

As long as it’s done tastefully, self-deprecating jokes about yourself can add levity to your speech. It helps you connect with the audience on a more personal level.

Keep Language Concise yet Descriptive

Choose simple words when possible but don’t sacrifice creativity for brevity. Your grads want to hear something unique and memorable, not a dull and lifeless string of clichés.

Make Eye Contact With the Crowd

Regular eye contact will show the audience you are confident in what you are saying. It conveys that you’re comfortable interacting with them – even if they are not responding with laughter!

Vary Your Speaking Cadence and Pitch

Changing up your cadence will keep the audience engaged and interested throughout your speech, while inflection and pauses can emphasize key points.

Wrap Things up on an Optimistic Note

End your speech with a sincere note about looking forward to the future and wishing each graduate success in whatever comes next.

Examples of Funny Graduation Speech

Here are some examples of funny graduation speeches to help you craft an engaging one for your own:

Graduation Speech Example 1:

I know we’re all feeling rather nostalgic about this momentous occasion. After four years of classroom shenanigans, rigorous exams, and late nights spent procrastinating on homework—we are finally here! Graduation day has arrived.

As a kid, I always imagined the kind of valedictorian speech that would be delivered today—a harangue, perhaps? An ode to our dear teachers and beloved alma mater? Well, let me tell you something—the reality is much more grandiose than any of us could have ever imagined! This graduating class deserves not just the best possible congratulations but an homage of the highest order.

We have worked hard, grown together, learned from one another, and ultimately come out as some of the greats. You see, folks, graduations don’t come around too often, so make sure you soak it up every single second you can get. Live life like no other and appreciate every second of your journey, as it is fleeting but also monumental in its own special way. Don’t forget who you were before graduation because you will need those memories for fuel during moments of challenge and adversity in life. It’s time to part ways and go off into the world with the same courage and spirit that brought us here to begin with. Congratulations, Class of 2022!

Graduation Speech Example 2:

Good morning everyone! Today, on this incredible day of graduation, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation for each and every one of you. As your valedictorian, it’s an honor to address our class before we move on to the next chapters in our lives.

I remember when we first met four years ago; so many uncertain, awkward faces. But here we are now – a group of talented, determined kids ready to take over the world with great confidence. We’ve grown and changed together – making mistakes, learning from them, and coming out stronger than ever. We were always there to support each other, even through tough times. And look at us now – graduating as some of the best students in our school district!

I’d also like to thank our teachers who went above and beyond to ensure we had the highest quality education possible. Each and every teacher helped shape our knowledge and taught us invaluable life lessons that will serve us well in the future. Without their dedication and passion for teaching, none of us would be where we are today. Congratulations to the entire Class of 2021! Here’s to our bright futures ahead.

Graduation Speech Example 3:

Greetings, Class of 2021! As we come to the end of this exciting and challenging journey, I’d like to thank each and every one of you. Thank you for your enthusiasm in making our graduating class one of the greatest and most successful classes ever.

I remember when we first arrived here as a bunch of ragtag kids. We were trying to figure out how to make it through high school with all its trials and tribulations. But look at us now! We have flourished over these past four years by consistently pushing ourselves and our peers outside our comfort zones. We proved that there is always room for growth and improvement.

This graduation ceremony marks an amazing milestone. After today, we can go forth into the world feeling like educated global citizens capable of tackling any challenge or adventure. The skills we have honed here have prepared us well for whatever future lies ahead. And let’s not forget those numerous shenanigans (I’m looking at you, Tom!) that gave us some of our best memories along the way.

It has been my honor to lead this remarkable group of students. Now, it is time for each of us to take what we’ve learned and build something even greater than before. Go, be the best version of yourself that you can be. Do great things, learn new things, travel to places you haven’t seen yet, and never stop striving for excellence!

I’m wishing you nothing but the best on your graduation day and beyond. Congratulations again, Class of 2022!

We hope this guide will help you feel more confident and at ease when writing your valedictorian speech . Now go out there and conquer the world with your fun speech skills!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Monday, July 9, 2012

Toastmasters humorous speeches (for humorously speaking manual projects).

Write A Funny Wedding Speech

• All Roles , Best Man , Bride , Father of the Bride , Father of the Groom , Gay Groom , Groom , Lesbian Bride , Maid of Honour , Mother of the Bride , Mother of the Groom
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Home » Write A Funny Wedding Speech

(*Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out all the different ways the Speechy team can help you write & deliver a great speech. Or check out our new AI-powered team member, SpeechyAI .)

The definition of a joke is ‘ a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter. ’

This means your jokes shouldn’t make your guests groan. Guests don’t want to hear internet gags and the newly hitched deserve more than wedding clichés.

Avoid anything like … ‘ Wales is an unusual honeymoon destination but (groom) insisted he was going to Bangor for a fortnight’.

Cringe. 1994 wants its jokes back. Check out   Hitched’s ‘Tried & Test Jokes for Best Men’   for more lines to avoid.  Generic wedding fodder shows you’re desperate.

A rule we stick to is, if you can cut and paste a joke into a speech about someone else, then you’ve got it wrong.

Humour should be unique, honest and insightful, not just some wedding-related pun. At no point hold up a slice of toast.

The Golden Rule of Comedy

“It’s funny because it’s true”, so said Homer Simpson and probably some clever people we’re less familiar with.

Creating a memorable speech means thinking about the ready-made characters at the Top Table. People will laugh if you identify something that they’ve noticed (even subliminally) but never thought to articulate …The groom’s oddly disproportionate T-rex arms, the bride’s continuing devotion to UGGs, the newlywed’s mutual mannerisms (they both say OMG without any shame).

Pinpointing what makes the newlyweds unique (i.e. slightly odd) is key to making your wedding speech a proper tribute to them.  It shows you actually care if you focus your humour on their true personalities (and not just caricatures of a bride or groom).

Do not make the mistake of talking about how much the bride loves shopping (unless she genuinely out-spends the Kardashians) or how terrible the groom is at opening his wallet  (unless he actually comes out without one). This is clichéd-comedy at its worst. It’s not funny and it’s not fit for a modern wedding speech.

These rules apply whatever your role – best man to bride.

Step By Step Guide

Step 1. Find A Focus

Whatever role you have – groom, father of the bride, best mate – you have to find a comedy focus.

The groom’s target could be himself, his bride or he could set up the notion of a traditional double act (straight bride vs foolish husband).

A father of the bride might choose his ‘drama queen daughter’, the ‘hard-done father’ or the ‘dubious groom’ as the focus of his humour. You get the idea.

Some people reckon the bride should never be the comedic focus. They seem to think that as soon as a woman puts on a white dress she can only be told she’s beautiful & wonderful; a Beyonce / Mother Teresa hybrid.

We don’t agree. Just because a woman’s wearing her best knickers and has a ring on her finger doesn’t mean she’s lost her sense of humour.

The key is to keep the humour affectionate and loving. Of course, you should have a proper heartfelt tribute towards the end of your speech but feel free to have a laugh along the way.

Step 2. Ask Lots of Questions

The first thing we do when working with clients is ask them lots of questions. We ask the obvious ones (who’s marrying who and why) but we also ask some random ones too.

With grooms, we might ask ‘What annoys you most about your bride-to-be’. It doesn’t sound like appropriate material to put in a wedding speech but actually, it’s those sorts of questions that often lead to great nuggets of content for us.

So, grab a bottle of (insert alcoholic beverage of choice) and have a brainstorm. Write down everything that comes to mind when you think about the person you’re going to be talking about. The food they love. The tunes they like. Their claims to fame. Their questionable dress sense…  Think about their standout qualities & the characteristics that define them. Is it their obsession with the gym, their bossiness, or their lack of hair?

Step 3. Get help if you need

Ask mates round. Ask relatives. Ask the bride if you’re the best man and she’s not giving a speech herself.

You need to load up your arsenal of humour before you can hope to fire out any cracking gags. There are loads of ways of finding a laugh, here’s some techniques to test out…

• Turn your target into a comedy character –  Think about the classic sitcom characters – Basil Fawlty (the hotel owner who didn’t like tourists), Doc Martin (the doctor who was scared of blood), Del Boy (the hapless businessman). Exaggerate your target’s qualities and push their weaknesses to the extreme.
• Play with contrasts – is the bride obsessively tidy while the groom can’t change the hoover bag? Does the bride balk at Primark prices and the groom spends like a Kardashian? Couple contrasts always generates good material.
• Tell us something we don’t know – Do you know a secret about the bride or the groom? Nothing downright embarrassing but if the bride used to fancy Ed Milliband or the groom won a Butlins Talent Contest as a teenager (his twerking  was genuinely amazing) then now might be the time to mention it.
• Exaggerate – if the bride or groom have a reputation for something, then have a laugh with it. Is the groom pretty rubbish at golf? Fair to say then that ‘the only hole in one he’ll get is in his Primark boxers’ . If the bride loves her spinning class you could say ‘her legs have done more rotations than the best man’s head when the bridesmaids walked in’ . You get the idea.
• Be the butt of the joke – Yes even if you have another comedy target, make sure you laugh at yourself too. People like you more if you do.

Step 4. Grab Your Quote Love, You’ve Pulled

Plagiarism isn’t allowed but quoting witty people is. Not only are you legitimately allowed to steal their laughs, but you also end up looking rather well read.

We’ve curated the best wedding quotes to use (i.e. the ones that aren’t too obviously ‘wedding-y’) so tuck in for inspiration…

• Groom speech  
• Best man speech  
• Father of the bride speech 
• Bride speech 
• Mother of the bride speech  
• Maid of honour speech 

Don’t say we’re not blooming good to you.

Step 5. Pace Your Laughs

People relax once you’ve made them laugh so try to script a funny line within the first 20 seconds.

A good opener is something like ‘ Can you believe it? (The Bride) has finally given up holding out for Ryan Gosling and decided a kebab-munching, golf-obsessed Project Manager from Basingstoke is a better option instead .’ Simple, but bespoke.

Of course, the opening is just the first hurdle. Your speech needs to be peppered with humour throughout. Even the ‘thank yous’ should raise a smile so make sure you script more than just the usual platitudes about your in-laws ‘passing down such wonderful traits to their daughter’. Yawn.

Keep your content pacey and your jokes short. If it’s impossible to sub down a lengthy anecdote then leave it for the bar later.

Funny Wedding Speech Do’s & Don’ts

• Ask friends and family for stories – It’s not cheating, it’s research  
• Start writing early – ideas will keep popping in your head once you get going
• Cut your first draft in half – having three average jokes does not add up to one big laugh
• Read it out loud – you’ll work out your pacing and hear what works and what doesn’t
• Get advice – Read it to a trusted mate. If you have to explain a joke it ain’t working
• Use a Speechy Template   – Unlike other speech templates on the market, this ones helps you create original humour based on the people you know! Specific templates for dads, brides, grooms, besties – whoever wants to grab that mic!

DON’T

• Feel you need to include every random funny anecdote in the speech – some just won’t add to the overall story you’re telling
• Resort to Googling jokes   – if you found that quip then others will have seen it too
• Be rude, overly embarrassing or go further than innuendo – never appropriate even if you know the ‘rugby boys’ would love it
• Include ‘in jokes’ – your humour needs to be inclusive
• Forget to leave room for the laughs on the day – don’t spend months worrying about the speech and then swallow up the laughter by delivering your speech too quickly
• Drink too much before you deliver your speech – sadly ‘Dutch courage’ is a myth. Alcohol increases nerves so don’t go overboard too early.

The Speechwriting Experts

The Speechy team  are TV-trained scriptwriters/comedians by trade & we’ve helped 1,000s of speakers around the world deliver their dream speech.

Our advice has been quoted everywhere from  The New York Times  to  Grazia  and from Forbes to The Observer . Our founder has also featured on the  BBC Sounds’ Best Men podcast with Jason Manford and written ‘ The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’ , published by Little, Brown.

How can we help you?

Speech edit service, £ 245, bespoke speech writing service, £ 495, delivery coaching, £ 150, bespoke celebration speech, celebration speech edit service, or check out our range of speech templates from just £ 29 :, we’re rated ‘excellent' on trustpilot for a reason....

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How To Write A Killer Best Man Speech (With Templates)

A funny, heartfelt speech from the best man is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. Here’s how to give a great toast (without embarrassing yourself).

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A best man speech is the perfect way to send your brother or friend the best wishes in their marriage, but standing up in front of the crowd can be super nerve-wracking. If you’ve been invited to be the best man at a wedding but have no idea what to say in your speech, you’re not alone! 

Over 75% of the population cites public speaking as one of their biggest fears. Thankfully, it’s a people skill that anyone can develop. A great event toast can be a game-changer and make you feel like a celebrity amongst the wedding guests. 

Watch our video to learn the best (and worst) speech openers:

Here’s how to overcome your public speaking anxiety and give a knockout best man speech that will incite laughter, smiles, or even sentimental tears. 

Quick Answer: How to Write a Best Man Speech Fast (with Template!)

A killer best man toast has a formula:

• Start with a funny or complimentary introduction
• Lead into a short story
• Add a dash of vulnerability
• End with genuine congratulations to the bride and groom. 

You won’t want to wing the speech after you’ve had a few drinks when you feel strapped for time before the wedding. Instead, take just 30 minutes of planning and note-making to save you (and the bride & groom) the embarrassment of an excessively long or inappropriate ramble. 

If you want to write a best man speech fast, follow this brief template for a great toast. Your toast should be roughly 3 to 5 minutes long. You can use numbered index cards to jot down the highlights of each section. Then, rehearse a few times in the mirror in the days leading up to the event. 

The most straightforward speech outline includes seven main components: 

• A great one-liner : This could be a funny joke, a compliment, or an inspirational quote about brotherhood or marriage. The first 15 seconds of the toast should capture the audience’s attention and leave them excited for more. Modify this:

“I’d like to begin by congratulating the groom for his superb taste in choosing the best man [chuckle].” 

• Compliment the wedding : Build your respect with the guests by highlighting things you like about the wedding. For example, you can compliment the beauty of the venue, the delicious food, or the great choice of music. Modify this:

“All jokes aside, this is a beautiful wedding. The bride and groom look like a movie star couple together. And if you didn’t taste the cake, you are missing out!” 

• Express gratitude : Say “thank you” to those who made the wedding possible and show appreciation to the groom for choosing you as his best man. Modify this:

“I am so grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Zimerman for hosting us here today, and thank you to the bride and groom for inviting me to be part of their special day.” 

• Tell a story : Did you and the groom meet as kids on the baseball field? Were you there when he first met his bride? Did you share a funny experience in college that is appropriate to share? The “meat” of the speech will be a short story about your relationship with the groom. A great story sounds like this:

 “When I first met Jeff, he was in a period of transition in life, like we all go through. He had just started a new job at my office in San Francisco, and we met because of our mutual addiction to double shot espressos (iced with a little cream) at 6 AM every morning from the corner coffee shop Bob’s Cup O’ Joe. When we both arrived at the office at the same time, 3 days in a row with eyes like this [widen eyes big], I knew we would be friends for life. A million espressos, meetings, and after-work beers later, I am so proud to call Jeff my best friend. When he told me about meeting a beautiful blonde named Anne at Bob’s Cup O’ Joe a few years later, I knew something would become of it. She even drank the same double shot espressos, iced with a little cream!”  

• Admire the couple : Strengthen your bond with the newlyweds by expressing your support for their marriage. If you know a bit about the bride and groom’s relationship, list a few things you admire about their bond. You may emphasize how the bride has positively impacted the groom’s life or how they make a great team. 

“Jeff and Anne are a perfect pair, and it seriously warms my heart to see a couple so amazingly in love. They compliment each other in every way and radiate joy when they are together.” 

• Summarize your thoughts : Before you wrap up your speech, go back and highlight your key ideas. You can pre-write 2-3 crisp sentences summarizing your support of the couple’s marriage. Modify this:

“I wish I could say I predicted this day would come, but Jeff’s incredible character and charm won Anne over. I am so grateful to be friends with both of them and to join you all in this celebration.” 

• Toast to the future : At the end of your speech, raise your glass for a toast to the couple’s love. Modify this: 

“Please join me in raising our glasses to a lifetime of happiness and espressos for Jeff and Anne Allison!” 

Here is an awesome example of a short and sweet 4-minute toast that left the crowd cracking up:

It’s best to memorize your speech, but there is no shame in bringing a few index cards in your pocket to reference if you get nervous. Don’t forget to prepare and rehearse in advance. 

For a more in-depth speech, see our step-by-step guide below. 

What to Say in a Best Man Speech (Do’s and Don’ts)

A best man’s speech traditionally takes place at the wedding reception after the maid of honor gives her speech. The best man’s speech should be positive, respectful, and congratulatory. It can last 3 to 5 minutes and should focus on a central theme or story about the groom. 

Remember, a best man speech is not the time to “wing it.” If you do that, there may come the point when everything suddenly goes silent, and a crowd of 50-100+ people is staring at you, waiting for what you’re going to say about the groom. You probably don’t want to end up with a cringing audience while telling a story about the groom’s previous relationships:

Instead, remember these key best man speech tips for a successful toast: 

Here are a few examples of what you should say in a best man speech:

• How did you meet the groom?
• What is one of your favorite memories with him?
• How did the groom meet the bride? Were you there?
• What is special about the groom?
• What do you like most about him? 
• What are his positive traits? 
• Playful banter : You don’t want to be too corny and cheesy with your bro. Depending on your relationship with the groom and the culture of the wedding, you may want to throw in a little banter with your dude. For example, you might make a funny joke about how much the groom loves going out to eat:

You should also avoid some key topics in a best man speech. 

Do not mention:

• The groom’s past relationships
• Sexual jokes
• Drugs, alcohol, or past mistakes
• Insecurities of the groom
• Financial or personal information 
• Insults to the bride or the wedding guests 
• Overly embarrassing stories
• Teasing the bride
• Anything that could potentially harm your friendship

Keep things positive and lighthearted. While a little witty banter or playful teasing can be fun (depending on your relationship with the groom), you should avoid insulting him or highlighting any major insecurities. The “playful” part of the speech is an excellent fun icebreaker, but it shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel publicly embarrassed in front of their wedding guests.

How to Write a Best Man Speech for Best Friend or Brother: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re ready to prepare something more in-depth than the quick ideas above, this step-by-step guide can help you write a thoughtful speech that the groom may remember forever. After all, being named the best man at your friend or brother’s wedding is a tremendous honor. But like any honor, it comes with some responsibilities. After you finish all your bachelor party and wedding duties, an epic best man speech can be like the fireworks at the show’s end. 

Here are 5 simple steps to make it count:

#1 Start with a theme

Before you start writing and rehearsing your speech, it helps to decide on a theme for your talk. This will give a nice flow to the speech. A theme ensures that you stay on track to communicate your congratulations and appreciation to the groom. 

What is the main message you want to get across? A few theme ideas include:

• Anecdotes : Best man toasts center around storytelling. This theme is the easiest way to stay on track because you are telling a simple story from beginning to end. 
• Humor : Whether you’re naturally funny or working on your jokes ,  your speech is the perfect opportunity to get the audience laughing. Best man speeches are known for getting a little saucy, but you must be careful about offending the crowd or making crude jokes that might insult the bride and groom. If you want to tease the groom with some witty banter, it helps to make fun of yourself or reference an appropriate inside joke.
• Inspirational : Have you and the groom achieved an important business goal or accomplishment together? Do you have a shared role model or favorite motivational book you both read in college? This speech theme can leave the audience feeling inspired.
• Morality : Use your speech to highlight the great person the groom is. Perhaps you give examples of his integrity, trustworthiness, or generosity. You can emphasize how lucky you are to know the groom and how glad you are that he found a woman to spend his life with. 
• Sentimentality : When humor and storytelling aren’t your fortes, it doesn’t hurt to get a little corny. Sentimental speeches require a level of emotional vulnerability, but they can leave a huge impact on the newlyweds and their attendees.

#2 Create an outline

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a navigation system, so don’t go into your speech without a plan. The best toasts and speeches follow the same structure. Pull out a piece of paper and brainstorm some ideas using this format, then use the following steps to fill in the details:

• Hook/Opening statement : The opening statement should be a 1 to 3-line description about the groom. The first 7 seconds of the speech should hook the audience immediately. It warms them up to you and makes them want to pay attention to the amusing stories. You’ll find an abundance of opening-line ideas in the next section. 
• Background context : Now comes the why of your speech. This is where the context of your relationship with the groom comes in. You can throw in some funny jokes and a few details about your experience with him. Use this intro to build up the anticipation for the story to come. Write down a few ideas of stories you can tell. 
• Tell the story : Choose 1-3 short stories about the groom that is funny, slightly embarrassing, or interesting. Jot down a few of the sensory elements you want to reference, like the smelly locker room or the squeaking of tire wheels. Most stories follow a bell-curve pattern—they start with an intro, lead to rising action, peak with a capstone moment, then tie back to the beginning. Keep this in mind as you brainstorm and follow the story-planning steps below. 
• Take-home message : After you get a good laugh or “awww” out of the audience, you’ll want to bring the story back to the beginning. What do you want them to remember about your speech and friendship with the groom? 
• Thank the wedding party : Use a quick sentence to thank the wedding party and hosts. Express your genuine gratitude for being invited. 
• Closing toast and congratulations : After wrapping up the story and thanking the wedding party, you should invite the audience to toast the bride and groom with you. For an extra cheery finale, act as if you are speaking on their behalf and include lots of well-wishes for the newlyweds. 

Pro Tip : Before filling in your outline details, watch this video for an overview of how to give a memorable toast. Human behavior expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains the most common mistakes (don’t start with “I,” “me,” or “my”) and a few secrets to getting the audience to perk up in their seats. 

#3 Nail the opening line 

Once you have your outline, it’s time to dig into the details. People decide their first impression of you within 7 seconds, so it’s extra important to nail the opening line of your speech. Best men use this opportunity to crack a joke, compliment the wedding, or set a sentimental tone for the speech. 

Avoid making the first lines about you. No “me”, “I”, or “my”. Instead, start with a juicy or mysterious line about the groom, for example:

If you need a little inspiration, here are some hilarious and quirky best man speech opening lines: 

• “Caring, loyal, honest, good-looking, and an all-around-great guy… OK, enough about me, onto the groom…!” 
• “This is the perfect chance to tell you about [Groom] and how talented, special, smart, good-looking, and… sorry, man, I can’t read your handwriting here.” 
• “I’d like to give a toast to the bride and groom.” [pull a piece of toasted bread from your pocket and give it to them]
• “[Groom’s name] is the kind of person you call when you lock yourself out of the dorm bathroom without any clothes on.” 
• “The bride and groom asked me not to share embarrassing stories or crude jokes during my speech… so that’s it from me! Thanks for listening, everyone.”
• “I’d like to start by congratulating the groom for his excellent taste in choosing the best man.” 
• “[Groom] had a tough time choosing his best man. First, he called his most handsome friend, but he said no. Then, he called his smartest friend, and he said no. Then, he called his most successful friend, who also said no. Then he called me, and I said, ‘Bro, I can’t say no to you four times.'”
• “What can I say about [Groom]? I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. He was born on [groom’s birthday]. Our parents were hoping for a girl, but I’ve always said… close enough.”

Here is a genuinely funny opening line from a best brother wedding speech:

Pro Tip : Don’t forget to pause for laughter. If it doesn’t come, you can chuckle at yourself and cue the audience that they are supposed to laugh by saying, “This is where you are supposed to laugh,” or joking, “Sound guy, can you please cue the laugh track?” Then, keep going with your speech.

Don’t worry. You need not be a jokester to give a great opening line. If you want to go the nostalgic or tearjerker route, be sure it is highly personalized and thoughtful. Here are some sentimental opening line ideas:

• “There are friends, and there is family, but friends also become family. This is so true for [Groom] and me. We’ve been best friends since we were X years old, and I’ve always considered him my brother.” 
• “There’s an old Irish proverb that says a good friend is like a four-leaf clover—hard to find and lucky to have. I think that’s true. Good friends are hard to find, and I’m lucky to have called [Groom] my best friend for the last X years.” 
• “I’ve heard that the best relationships come from the foundation of a deep friendship. Experts say that laughter, mutual respect, and enjoying each other’s company are the ingredients for a long-lasting, joyful marriage. After knowing [Groom] and [Bride] for X years, there is no doubt in my mind that they will make a great pair.” 
• “In Good Will Hunting , Robin Williams said, ‘It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect as long as they are perfect for each other.” Anyone who has seen [Groom] and [Bride] together can agree that this is true for them. I haven’t seen a perfect pair, and I’m happy to be part of this celebration of their love.” 

To learn more about the best speech openers, use this guide on How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers . Some top tips include:

• Avoid starting with a lackluster nicety like “thanks for having me.” 
• Don’t mention your nervousness.
• Avoid mentioning technical difficulties like the microphone or saying, “Can you hear me?” 

Bonus Tip: Learn the Art of Stage Presence

Did you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do not have a natural stage presence. Not true!

Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them naturally. 

Watch our video to learn 7 steps to overcome stage fright and beat performance anxiety:

Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.

• How to make a first impression with an audience
• How to have stage presence
• Powerful body language
• How to speak with a commanding voice
• What to do with your hands while speaking

For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel.

If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign up for our course…

Master Your People Skills

• Create a Memorable Presence
• Communicate with Confidence
• Achieve Your Goals

Have a question about the presentation or People School? Email Science of People support .

#4 Background context

Now that you’ve grabbed the audience’s attention, it’s time to give them a little background on why you are giving a speech in the first place. This is another sneak peek at some details you’ll cover in the speech. 

The whole point of this part is to tell them how you know the groom—but it isn’t about you. You’ll often hear wedding speeches that start with a drab, “I met the groom in college” or, “My name is ___, and I’m the best man.” You can do better than that! Try saying:

• “The groom was the first friend I made on the high school football team. I had no idea we would become roommates in a bachelor pad throughout college.” 
• “As little kids, the groom and I were known to be a dangerous duo in the neighborhood. He always carried the eggs and toilet paper, then instructed me where to throw them. But you can guess who always took the blame for his antics….” 
• “The groom and I have been friends and business partners for X years, and as you’ll hear shortly, he is the main reason I broke my arm during the last office basketball game. But first, I want to tell you a less embarrassing story….” 

Pro Tip : Focus on the groom, and don’t make it about you. One of the biggest mistakes people make during wedding speeches is talking too much about themselves. Your speech shouldn’t discuss where you’re from, what you think, or how you ended up at the party. The best man’s speech is a time to focus on the groom and his bride. 

#5 Tell the story  

After your punchy opening line and background info, it’s time to tell the perfect story about the groom. Depending on the length of your speech and the details of your story, some best man speeches cover 1 to 3 short stories. 

Reference back to the memories you wrote when brainstorming. Pick a story that includes the most of these captivating elements:

• A little bit of embarrassment : Whether it’s you, the groom, or a mutual friend, it helps to poke some fun at someone in the story. If you fear being offensive, the best person to joke about is yourself.  
• Audience member references : You can get major bonus points if you bring wedding guests into the storytelling moment. You might say, “Mom, you might want to close your ears on this one!” or, “Brian, we’re talking about you!” 
• Sensory details : What did the scenery look like? What were the prominent smells, sounds, and tastes at the moment? A great story should make the audience feel like they were with you. Don’t forget to mention the frigid cold lake you jumped into or the outrageously spicy food that left you both panting and crying for water. 
• A final punch line : Ideally, the best story ends with a shocking moment or funny line. It should leave the audience laughing, crying, surprised, or even gasping. For example, in an epic adventure story about you and the groom on a hunting trip, you may end with, “Just as the shark was about to bite the line, Joe reeled in the massive bluefin and yelled, ‘I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat!’”

Pro Tip : If you have to ask, “Is this appropriate?” it probably isn’t. Some stories are better for late-night beers than they are for weddings. Avoid telling stories related to sexual topics, drugs, alcohol, illegal activities, or anything you wouldn’t want grandma to hear. 

#6 Take-home message

When the story finishes, you’ve hopefully elicited some laughter or maybe some tears. All jokes aside, there is a reason you were the best man, and you are probably a significant person to the groom. This is a great time to emphasize the best qualities of the groom and why you’re so happy for his new love. 

Here is an excellent example of tying together the opening and closing lines with a heartfelt message about finding the perfect soul mate:

#7 End your speech with a heartfelt toast

We’ve all heard “let’s raise a glass to [Bride] and [Groom]” before. You can do better than that! The final toast is like the fireworks at the end of your best man speech. Instead of something mediocre, invite the audience to join you in a genuine, thoughtful congratulations. Examples include:

• “Please join me in raising our glasses to the beautiful bride and handsome groom. May your lives together be long, healthy, and happy. We love you so much and are excited for you. Cheers!” 
• “Lift your glasses to thank Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s Parents] for hosting this beautiful wedding. Let us all toast to the perfect union of the bride and groom. We wish you a bright and beautiful future. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the past, for all you’ve learned. Here’s to the present for this beautiful moment we all share. Here’s to the future for all you’ve got to look forward to. Cheers to the happy couple!” 

Pro Tip : Make your toast inclusive and communal, so the audience feels like they’re cheering for the couple with you. Use words like “we”, “lets”, and “us”. This congratulation invites them to join as if you are speaking on their behalf. 

#8 Use a best man speech template

A template makes things simple if you’re still feeling uneasy about writing your best man speech. You can take the structure of an example speech and incorporate your ideas and stories to make it your own. 

Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“Tonight, you’ll learn why the groom was destined to marry [Bride]. The year was 2002, and we were all in a bar with friends on New Year’s Eve in New York City. Snow was falling outside, and we were sipping champagne, waiting for the big ball to drop. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman with a red dress entered the room, and everything seemed to stop. All the bachelors in our group were captivated, but only [Groom] had the guts to walk up to her. Rumor has it that his first opening line was ‘

Everyone talks about a woman’s glow when she’s falling in love, but I swear that [Groom] was smiling from ear to ear from the second they met. We could hardly get him to stop talking about her by the following week. We’d be watching football and drinking beers only to have [Bride’s] name brought up every 5 minutes. 

Fast forward 3 years, and we’ve all seen how much [Bride] has positively impacted his life. When he came to me to tell me he was proposing, my only response was, ‘ Finally, dude !’

There’s something extra special about these two. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. They love and respect each other so much. [Bride] was the one for [Groom] from the second they locked eyes in that hazy NYC bar. We are all so happy to be here for your big day. Let’s raise our glasses to the beautiful bride and groom! Cheers!” 

Another Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“The groom was the first friend I made on the high school basketball team. He wasn’t very good [pause for laughter]. I was the tallest player and obviously had the best free throw, but I was majorly lacking in the ladies department. Thankfully, [Groom] took me under his wing and showed me how to be a true gentleman. That includes opening doors for women and carrying their bags instead of just running in with my own. What would I have done without you, man?

Even though he was no good at basketball, [Groom] always had his head on his shoulders. He’s a respectful, intelligent, and relatively clean-cut guy. All joking aside, it’s no surprise that he ended up with a woman as intelligent and beautiful as [Bride]. You both deserve a lifetime of love, happiness, and success together. Please raise your glasses and join me in congratulating the bride and groom! We love you!” 

#9 Practice your body language

Public speaking isn’t only about what you say but how you carry yourself. Your body language can drastically affect your confidence, your delivery, and how the audience perceives you. Use these body language hacks to take your speech to the next level: 

• Signal “friend” : Smile and show your open palms to send the message that you are the audience’s friend. This makes people feel more comfortable with your presence and more likely to listen.
• Stand up straight : When you look confident, you also feel more confident. Check your posture if your voice is a little shaky before the speech. Roll back your shoulders and tuck your shoulder blades down towards your back. Slightly lift your chest and chin as you speak. 
• Make eye contact: Throughout the speech, you should change your eye contact with different audience members. As you mention specific compliments or thanks, make eye contact with the bride, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride’s father.
• Genuinely smile : Smiling may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you feel so focused on a perfect delivery. At the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re fake smiling throughout the speech. Use these 9 Simple Tips to Smile Better (in any situation!)
• Use your hands : It’s easy to let your nerves get the best of you and feel like a “deer in the headlights.” Instead of tucking your hands in your pockets, widen your stance and take up space. Use your hands and gestures while you talk to show that you are comfortable and happy during the speech. 

Want more tips? Here are 17 Body Language Presentation Cues to Use in Your Next Speech . 

#10 Rehearse before the big day

Experts say you should rehearse a speech 10 times before performing it. Research also shows that people who mentally prepare themselves before a speech by imagining it going well are more likely to perform fluently and easily. So before you get in front of an audience, be sure you’ve gone over your speech at least 10 times, either in your head or out loud. Better yet, practice in the mirror, on camera, or in front of a trusted friend. 

It also helps to review the gist of the speech with the groom (without giving away any secret details) to make sure it’s alright with him. A few weeks before the wedding, you may pull him aside and ask, “Hey man, is it OK if I tell the story about ____ in my best man speech? I think it’ll get some good laughs.” 

Although this example is long, this best man very clearly rehearsed his speech for a near-perfect performance without any notes:

Key Takeaways: Express Gratitude and Sentimentality in 3-5 Minutes

Ultimately, a best man speech is an opportunity to make your best bro look good in front of all his friends and family. Your speech should demonstrate how much you value your brotherhood or friendship. At the same time, you can enjoy 5 minutes of wedding fame without making things all about you. A great toast can make you a memorable celebrity at the wedding and have people laughing at your

Before jumping up at the reception and speaking off the cuff, remember to:

• Outline and plan your speech ahead of time. Use notecards if needed.
• Focus on the groom and his bride. Don’t go on and on about yourself. 
• Nail the opening line with a funny joke, quote, or teaser that leads into a great story. 
• Avoid inappropriate or cringey topics that could embarrass the groom.
• Express gratitude to the groom and wedding hosts. 

Giving a toast or speech is an essential social skill that can make you one of the most likable people in a room. If you want to learn more about the art of giving showstopping toasts, read this guide on How to Give an Awesome Toast: Advanced Strategies for Speeches . 

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15 Powerful Persuasive Speech Examples to Inspire Your Next Talk

• The Speaker Lab
• June 24, 2024

Table of Contents

Crafting a persuasive speech that captivates your audience and drives them to action is no easy feat. If you’re hitting the books, climbing the corporate ladder, or just dreaming of rocking the stage with your speeches, having a killer set of persuasive speech examples can totally change your game. In this post, we’ve curated some of the most compelling and inspiring persuasive speech examples to help you elevate your own speaking skills. So buckle up and grab your pen, because we’re diving into the secrets behind these unforgettable speeches.

What is a Persuasive Speech?

When we talk about a persuasive speech , we refer to a form of communication that seeks to influence the audience’s beliefs or actions. In the course of a persuasive speech, a person will present compelling arguments—backed by evidence and persuasive techniques—in order to convince listeners to embrace a specific viewpoint or take a particular course of action. Persuasive speeches are used in many different areas of life, such as in a school or university setting, in a job, or in a social setting.

When preparing to give a persuasive speech, always choose a topic or cause you’re interested in and passionate about. If you want to convince other people to agree with your stance, you must be seen to believe in it yourself. In addition, it helps to choose a topic that people care about and hasn’t been overdone.

Funny Persuasive Speech Examples

Looking for some funny persuasive speech examples to inspire your next presentation? You’ve come to the right place. Humor is a powerful tool when it comes to persuasion. It can help you connect with your audience, make your message more memorable, and even diffuse tension around controversial topics.

One classic example comes from David McCullough, Jr.’s high school commencement speech entitled “You Are Not Special.” While the title might not sound funny, McCullough delivers a hilarious reality check to graduates, poking fun at the coddling and praise they’ve received growing up. His ultimate message—that true success comes from hard work and taking risks—is made all the more powerful by his humorous approach.

But what makes funny persuasive speeches so effective? For one, humor helps the speakers build rapport with their audiences. Laughter is a shared experience that brings people together and makes them more open to new ideas. Additionally, injecting some levity into a speech can make the overall message more palatable and less preachy.

Of course, using humor in a persuasive speech requires some finesse. The jokes should be tasteful, relevant to your overall message, and not offensive to your audience. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. After all, a flat joke is better than one that leaves listeners cringing.

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Persuasive Speech Examples About Public Policy

Policy persuasive speeches advocate for a particular course of action on a public policy issue. These speeches go beyond simply raising awareness about a problem – they propose concrete solutions and try to sway the audience to support a specific plan.

One powerful policy persuasive speech example comes from Greta Thunberg’s address to the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 . Thunberg doesn’t mince words when lambasting world leaders for their inaction on climate change. But she also lays out clear policy demands, like immediately halting fossil fuel subsidies and drastically reducing carbon emissions. Her message is clear: we know what needs to be done and we need to do it.

When crafting your own policy persuasive speech, it’s important to back up your arguments with solid evidence. Use statistics, expert testimony, and real-world examples to show why your proposed solution is feasible and necessary. Anticipate counterarguments and address them head-on. And most importantly, make a clear call to action. Ask yourself: what exactly do you want your audience to do to support your policy goals?

Value Persuasive Speech Examples

Value persuasive speeches aim to change people’s beliefs or attitudes about a particular issue. Rather than advocating for a specific policy, these speeches try to shift the audience’s underlying values and assumptions.

A classic example of a value persuasive speech is Mary McLeod Bethune’s “ What Does American Democracy Mean to Me? ” address. As an African American woman born into poverty, Bethune faced countless obstacles and injustices throughout her life. But in this speech, she reframes the narrative around American democracy, arguing that our nation’s highest ideals are worth fighting for, even if we haven’t yet lived up to them. By appealing to shared values like freedom, justice, and equality, Bethune inspires her audience to keep pushing for change.

The key to a successful value persuasive speech is tapping into your audience’s existing beliefs and values. Use vivid language and storytelling to paint a picture of the world you want to see. Make your case in moral and ethical terms, not just practical ones. And don’t be afraid to show some vulnerability. By sharing your own experiences and struggles, you can create an emotional connection with your listeners.

Persuasive Speech Examples About Social Issues

Social issues make for compelling persuasive speech topics because they touch on deeply held beliefs and affect people’s everyday lives. Whether you’re talking about racial justice, gender equality, or income inequality, these speeches require a deft touch and a willingness to engage with complex, often controversial ideas.

Talking About Mental Health

One powerful example of a persuasive speech about mental health is Kevin Breel’s “ Confessions of a Depressed Comic ” from TEDxKids@Ambleside. As a stand-up comedian, Breel knows how to get laughs, but he also knows the pain of living with depression. In this speech, he shares his own story of struggling with mental illness and calls on society to break the stigma around talking about mental health. By speaking vulnerably, Breel makes a compelling case for why we need to take depression seriously and support those who are struggling.

Addressing Physical Health

Another great example of a persuasive speech about health is Jamie Oliver’s TED Talk “ Teach Every Child About Food .” As a celebrity chef, Oliver has seen firsthand the impact of poor nutrition on people’s health. In this speech, he makes a passionate plea for better food education in schools, arguing that it’s a matter of life and death. With shocking statistics and personal anecdotes, Oliver paints a grim picture of the obesity epidemic and calls on parents, educators, and policymakers to take action.

Persuasive Speech Examples About the Environment

Environmental issues are some of the most pressing challenges we face as a society. From climate change to pollution to habitat destruction, the stakes couldn’t be higher. That’s why persuasive speeches about the environment are so important. By inspiring people to take action, they make a true difference.

One of the most famous environmental speeches of all time is Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” lecture, which was later turned into an Academy Award-winning documentary. In this speech, Gore lays out the scientific evidence for climate change and argues that we have a moral imperative to act. With compelling visuals and a sense of urgency, Gore makes a powerful case for why we need to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to renewable energy sources.

Another great example of an environmental persuasive speech is Severn Suzuki’s address to the UN Earth Summit in 1992. At just 12 years old, Suzuki delivered a heartfelt plea for action on behalf of her generation, arguing that adults were stealing children’s future by destroying the planet. Her speech went viral and helped galvanize the youth environmental movement. By speaking from the heart and calling out the hypocrisy of world leaders, Suzuki showed that you’re never too young to make a difference.

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FAQs on Persuasive Speech Examples

What are some examples of a persuasive speech.

Think climate change action, voting rights, or the importance of mental health awareness. They push for change.

What are 5 examples of persuasive essay?

Gun control laws, school uniforms debate, death penalty perspectives, animal testing ethics, and social media impacts make the list.

What’s an easy persuasive speech topic?

“Why recycling matters” is straightforward and impactful. It connects with everyday actions and broader environmental goals.

What is an example of a persuasive statement?

“Switching to renewable energy sources can significantly reduce our carbon footprint.” This urges action towards sustainability.

Persuasive speech examples show us how to inspire, motivate, and transform the way we communicate our ideas to the world. By studying these remarkable speeches, you’ve gained valuable insights into the art of persuasion and the techniques that make a speech truly unforgettable.

Remember, winning people over with your words takes more than just knowing the right things to say. It’s about practice, caring deeply, and tuning into the folks listening. Take the lessons you’ve learned from these examples and apply them to your own unique style and message. Pouring your soul into your speech can truly move an audience emotionally, altering their thinking for good.

Now your moment in the spotlight is here, so show off those persuasive speech skills. Go forth and create a speech that not only informs and entertains but also inspires and empowers your audience to take meaningful action. The world is waiting to hear your voice, so make it count!

• Last Updated: June 21, 2024

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Become a pro at giving a speech in 2024

Jun 22, 2024

Posted by: Regine Fe Arat

Giving a speech can be daunting, but it’s an incredible opportunity to inspire, persuade and make a lasting impact on your audience. 

Whether you're speaking at a conference, a wedding or in a classroom, the ability to deliver a powerful speech is a valuable skill that can open doors and create meaningful connections. 

From Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech to Steve Jobs' commencement address at Stanford University, we’ve seen many amazing speeches. History is full of speeches that have inspired generations and shaped the world. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps to crafting and delivering a memorable speech that will leave a lasting impression on your listeners.

Crafting an effective main message

At the heart of every great speech is a clear, compelling message. This main idea or theme is what you want your audience to take away from your speech. 

To craft an effective message, start by asking yourself what you want your audience to think, feel or do after hearing your words. 

Once you have a clear goal in mind, distill your message into a single, powerful statement that sums up your main point. 

Imagine you're giving a speech about the importance of volunteering. Your main message might be: "Giving our time and talents to others can create a more compassionate and connected world."

Connecting with your audience through body language

Your body language impacts how your audience perceives and engages with your speech.

It's important to use nonverbal cues that convey confidence, warmth and authenticity to create a strong connection with your listeners. 

Some key body language tips to keep in mind include:

• Maintaining eye contact: Look directly at your audience members, making brief but meaningful eye contact throughout the room.
• Using gestures : Emphasize key points and add visual interest to your speech by using natural, expressive gestures.
• Smiling : A genuine smile can put your audience at ease and create a positive, welcoming atmosphere.
• Standing tall : To project confidence and authority, maintain good posture with your shoulders back and your feet planted firmly on the ground.

Using natural adrenaline to boost confidence

It's normal to feel nervous before giving a speech, and you can use these feelings to boost your confidence and performance. 

The key is to reframe your nerves as excitement and use that energy to fuel your passion and enthusiasm for your topic. 

Some techniques for channeling your adrenaline in a positive way include:

Power posing

Before your speech, take a few minutes to stand in a confident, big stance (such as the Superman pose) to increase your sense of power and self-assurance.

Positive self-talk

Use affirmative statements to remind yourself of your strengths and abilities, such as "I am well-prepared and ready to share my message."

Visualizing success

Picture yourself delivering your speech with clarity, confidence and impact, with your audience responding positively to your words.

Preparing for a successful speech

Effective speech writing involves a systematic process of researching, organizing and refining your content:

Choose and cite authoritative sources

First, you need to research your topic. Look for compelling facts, statistics and examples to illustrate your key points and make your message more memorable.

To give your speech credibility and impact, choose sources that support your key points. Look for references that are:

• Reputable : Look for information from well-known, respected organizations, institutions or people in your field.
• Current : Use the most up-to-date information available to ensure accurate content.
• Relevant : Select sources that directly support your main points and contribute to your overall message.

When citing your sources in your speech, credit the original authors or creators properly. This demonstrates your commitment to academic integrity and helps your audience trust the information you're presenting. 

Some common ways to cite sources in a speech include:

• Verbal attribution : Mention the author or organization name when referencing their work, such as "According to a recent study by Harvard University..."
• Slides or handouts : If you're using visual aids, include a list of references or sources for your audience to refer to later.

Draft a compelling speech summary

Next, summarize your speech's main point or argument. This is usually best near the end of your introduction as a roadmap for the rest of your speech. 

To craft the best summary, consider the following tips:

• Be specific: Avoid broad statements — focus on a clear, specific claim or argument.
• Be arguable: Present a perspective or position with evidence and reasoning.
• Be concise: Aim for a single sentence that captures your main point clearly and directly.

For example, if you're giving a speech on the benefits of meditation, your summary might be: "Regular meditation practice can reduce stress, improve focus and promote overall well-being."

Outline your speech

Once you have a solid foundation of information and your main argument, begin outlining your speech. 

Break your content down into logical sections, such as an introduction, main body and conclusion. Within each section, organize your points to flow naturally and build toward your message.

As you write your speech, focus on clear, concise language. It should be easy for your audience to understand and follow. Use short sentences, active voice and concrete examples to make your points more engaging and memorable. 

Remember to also include transitions between sections to help your audience follow your train of thought and see the connections between your ideas.

If the audience needs a call to action, include it in the conclusion. 

Tighten up sentence structure and flow

The way you structure your sentences and paragraphs can impact how your audience understands and engages with your speech.

To create a clear and compelling flow, consider the following tips:

• Vary your sentence lengths: Alternate between short, punchy sentences and longer ones to create a dynamic and engaging rhythm.
• Use parallel structure: When listing ideas or examples, use the same grammatical structure for each item to create a sense of balance.
• Use transitions: Phrases like "however," "in addition" and "as a result" show the connections between your ideas and help your audience follow your train of thought.

11 tips for effective speech delivery

Practice your microphone technique.

If you're using a microphone during your speech, take some time to practice with it beforehand. 

Get a feel for the optimal distance and angle to hold the microphone, and experiment with your volume and tone to ensure everyone can hear you.

Remember, the microphone is there to project your voice, so you don’t need to yell into it. 

Speak directly into the microphone. Avoid turning your head away while speaking as this can reduce the volume of your voice.

Timing is important

One of the most important things to remember when delivering a speech is to be concise. 

Aim to keep your speech within the allotted time frame and avoid going off on tangents or including unnecessary details. 

A good rule of thumb is around one minute of speaking time for each main point. A concise speech ensures you hold your audience's attention and drive home your key messages.

Consider what your audience wants to hear

When crafting and delivering your speech, keep your audience's needs and interests in mind. 

Research your audience beforehand, and tailor your content and delivery style to their specific needs and preferences. 

For example, if you're speaking to a group of experts in your field, you may want to use more technical language and discuss your topic in more detail. 

However, a general audience will prefer more accessible language and less jargon. Focus on the broader essence of your message and keep it straightforward.

Pick a theme and stick to it

It's important to choose a clear theme and stick to it throughout a speech to create a cohesive and memorable presentation . 

Avoid trying to cover too many different topics or ideas. A confusing, jumbled speech can quickly turn an audience off. 

Instead, focus on developing a single, powerful theme that ties your main points together and reinforces your overall message. 

For example, if you're giving a speech on the importance of sustainability, you might choose a theme like "Small changes, big impact.” You could use examples and anecdotes that illustrate how individual actions can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Speak slowly

When delivering your speech, it's important to speak at a pace that allows your audience to follow along and absorb your message.

Many speakers rush through their material when they're nervous, making it difficult for their audience to keep up. 

To avoid this, practice speaking at a slower, more deliberate pace. Use pauses strategically to emphasize key points or give your audience time to process what you've said. 

If you find yourself speeding up, take a deep breath and consciously slow down your delivery.

Tell a couple of jokes

Incorporating humor into your speech can be a great way to engage your audience and make your message more memorable. 

A well-placed joke or funny anecdote can break the ice, lighten the mood and create a more relaxed and receptive atmosphere. 

However, it's important to use humor carefully and ensure your jokes are appropriate and relevant to your topic. Avoid offensive or insensitive humor, and don't rely too heavily on jokes at the expense of your core message.

If telling jokes doesn’t come naturally, avoid them entirely or practice them until you sound like a seasoned comedian. 

Don't be afraid to repeat yourself if you need to

Repetition is a powerful tool in speech-making, as it reinforces your key points and makes them more memorable. 

A technique known as "the rule of three" suggests that people are more likely to remember information in groups of three. 

So don't be afraid to repeat your primary message or points throughout your speech with slightly different language or examples each time. 

Only use the visual aids you need

Visual aids, such as slides, charts or props, can reinforce your message and make your speech more engaging. 

However, it's important to only include those that are truly necessary to support your points. 

Avoid cluttering your presentation with too many slides or images, as this can detract from your overall message. 

Instead, choose a few key visuals that are clear, relevant and easy to understand. Use them strategically throughout your speech to enhance your words.

Ask for feedback

One of the best ways to improve your speech delivery is to seek feedback from others.

Consider joining a public speaking group, course or Toastmasters club to practice your skills in a supportive environment. 

You can also ask friends, colleagues or mentors to listen to your speech and provide feedback on your content, delivery and overall impact. 

Another challenge of public speaking is being aware of your body language. When certain movements feel normal, you might not realize it’s distracting for those watching. 

Ask a friend or colleague to watch you practice your speech and provide feedback on any awkward mannerisms.

They may notice that you fidget with your hands, sway back and forth or use filler words like "um" or "like" frequently. 

Becoming aware of these habits means you can work to minimize them and project a more confident, polished presence on stage.

Remember that feedback is a gift, and constructive criticism can help you grow as a speaker.

Practice regularly

The key to becoming a confident and effective public speaker is regular practice. The more you practice your speech, the more comfortable and natural you'll feel when delivering it.

Dedicate time each week to work on your public speaking skills, whether you practice a specific speech or work on general techniques like vocal projection, gestures or eye contact.

Consider recording yourself speaking and watch the video to identify areas for improvement. You can also practice your speech in front of a mirror or with a small group of friends to build your confidence.

Look around the room

When delivering your speech, it's important to make eye contact with your audience to create a sense of connection and engagement. 

However, many speakers make the mistake of focusing on just one or two people throughout their entire speech. 

To avoid this, make a conscious effort to look around the room and make eye contact with people in different sections of the audience. 

This will help you connect with a wider range of people and make your speech feel more inclusive and engaging. 

Don’t let your gaze wander aimlessly or linger too long on anyone, as this can be distracting or uncomfortable for your audience.

Overcoming fear and nervousness

One of the most effective ways to calm your nerves before and during a speech is to practice deep breathing techniques. 

Deep breathing slows down your heart rate, relaxes your muscles and calms your mind, which can help you feel more centered and focused. 

To practice deep breathing:

• find a quiet place where you can sit or stand comfortably,
• place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly, 
• take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, 
• allow your belly to expand as you inhale,
• hold the breath for a moment, then exhale slowly through your mouth, 
• feel your belly fall as you release the air,
• repeat this process for several minutes and
• focus on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of your body.

How to effectively handle impromptu speeches

Impromptu speeches can be particularly nerve-wracking, as they require you to think on your feet and organize your thoughts quickly. 

To handle an impromptu speech effectively, try the following tips:

Take a moment to collect your thoughts

Before you start speaking, take a deep breath and give yourself a few seconds to gather your thoughts and choose a main point or theme to focus on.

Use a simple structure

Organize your speech into a basic structure, such as an introduction, three main points and a conclusion. This will help you stay focused and avoid rambling or getting off track.

Speak from experience

Draw on your experiences, knowledge and opinions to provide examples and anecdotes that support your main points. This will help you speak more authentically and confidently.

Embrace the unexpected

Remember that impromptu speeches are an opportunity to showcase your ability to think on your feet and adapt to new situations. Embrace the challenge and try to have fun with it.

Preparing for Q&A sessions and panel discussions

Many speeches are followed by a Q&A session or panel discussion, which can be an opportunity to engage with your audience and provide additional insights and perspectives on your topic. To prepare for these sessions, consider the following tips:

Anticipate common questions

Before your speech, brainstorm a list of questions that your audience may ask, and practice your responses. This will help you feel more prepared and confident when fielding questions.

Be concise and direct

When answering questions, aim to be concise and to the point, while still providing enough context and detail to fully address the question.

Defer to other experts

If you're part of a panel discussion, don't feel like you need to answer every question or dominate the conversation. Defer to other panelists when appropriate and build on their ideas to create a more dynamic and engaging discussion.

Stay positive and professional

Even if you receive a challenging or hostile question, try to remain positive and professional in your response. Avoid getting defensive or argumentative. Instead, focus on providing a thoughtful and measured perspective.

Examples of persuasive speeches

To help illustrate the techniques and strategies we've covered in this guide, let's take a look at a few examples of persuasive speeches that have made a lasting impact:

“The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown

This popular TED Talk by researcher Brené Brown uses humor, personal stories and scientific data to argue that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness and that it's essential for building authentic connections and living a meaningful life.

"I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr.

This iconic speech, delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, is a powerful example of using rhetorical devices. King mastered the use of repetition, metaphors and emotional appeal to convey a message of hope and unity.

"The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In this TED Talk, novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses personal anecdotes and storytelling to illustrate the importance of seeking out diverse perspectives and challenging stereotypes.

“Ain’t I A Woman?” by Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 and escaped from her master in 1827. She’s a prime example of an early feminist and anti-slavery speaker. In her famous speech, ”Ain’t I A Woman?” she used repetition and thought-provoking questions to highlight the poor treatment of Black women. 

"The Price of Shame" by Monica Lewinsky

In this powerful TED Talk, Monica Lewinsky draws on her own experiences with public shaming and cyberbullying to argue for a more compassionate and empathetic online culture.

The last card

Giving a speech can be challenging but rewarding. It allows you to share your ideas, inspire others and make a positive impact on the world. 

Follow the strategies and techniques outlined in this guide to become a more confident, effective and persuasive speaker. 

Remember to start by crafting a clear and compelling main message, and use body language, vocal techniques and storytelling to engage and connect with your audience. 

Practice regularly, seek feedback from others, and don't be afraid to embrace your natural nervousness and use it to your advantage.

How do I start giving a speech?

To start giving a speech, try:

• opening with a fun or hard-hitting fact,
• making a joke,
• sharing an anecdote,
• asking the audience a question,
• quoting someone famous and
• setting the scene — if you’re solving a problem, tell a relatable, relevant story

What are the steps of preparing for a speech?

• Choose a topic you're passionate about that will resonate with your audience.
• Research your topic thoroughly and organize your ideas into a clear and logical structure.
• Craft an attention-grabbing opening to hook your audience, like a joke or hard-hitting fact.
• Practice your speech, focusing on your delivery, body language and vocal techniques.
• Seek feedback from others and continue refining your speech until you feel confident and prepared.

What are the 4 stages of giving a speech?

The four stages of giving a speech are:

• Preparation: Research your topic, organize ideas and craft your speech outline and content.
• Practice: Rehearse your speech, focusing on your delivery, body language and visual aids.
• Delivery: Give your speech to your audience, using the techniques and strategies you've practiced to engage and persuade them.
• Reflection: After your speech, reflect on what went well and what you could improve. Seek feedback from your audience or a mentor, and use that feedback to continue refining your skills.

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Middle East Crisis White House and Netanyahu Spar Over His Complaints About U.S. Support

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• A displaced Palestinian packing a tent before fleeing Rafah, southern Gaza. Bashar Taleb/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Israeli police disperse Ultra-Orthodox Jews blocking a highway in Bnei Brak, Israel, during a protest against conscription into the Israeli military. Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• An Israeli military vehicle near the Israel-Gaza border. Amir Cohen/Reuters
• Palestinians receiving food aid in Jabaliya, northern Gaza. Mahmoud Issa/Reuters
• Israeli protesters blocking a highway in Tel Aviv, demanding the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza. Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

Follow news updates on the crisis in the Middle East .

Netanyahu’s comments are ‘deeply disappointing,’ the White House says.

The White House and the Israeli prime minister traded barbs on Thursday over the support the United States is providing Israel for its military operations in Gaza, in the latest sign of tensions between the two allies over the conduct of the war.

John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, said on Thursday that the Biden administration has expressed disappointment to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli leader lashed out on Tuesday at the United States for withholding some heavy munitions.

Mr. Kirby said that there was “no other country that’s done more, or will continue to do more, than the United States to help Israel defend itself,” adding that Mr. Netanyahu’s comments were “deeply disappointing and certainly vexing to us.”

In response, Mr. Netanyahu said on Thursday that he was “willing to absorb personal attacks if that is what it takes for Israel to get the arms and ammunition it needs in its war for survival.”

It was the latest back-and-forth between leaders of the two staunch allies that have increasingly diverged on how Israel is conducting the war, as both leaders face an avalanche of domestic and international pressure to change course.

Since the Hamas-led attack in Israel on Oct. 7, the United States has largely supported Israel, offering weapons and, for the most part, backing at the United Nations, but the relationship has frayed. Last month the Biden administration blocked a shipment of heavy bombs and artillery shells to Israel — while allowing other weapons to flow — and earlier this month the administration backed a U.N. resolution for a cease-fire over protests from Israel.

At particular issue for Mr. Netanyahu has been the continued weapons support, and this week he has ensured that the dispute remained in the public eye, describing White House actions and words as affronts to him and to Israel.

On Monday, President Biden overcame congressional opposition to one of the biggest arms sales ever to Israel, an $18 billion deal for F-15 jets .

On Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu released a video statement calling it “inconceivable” that the Biden administration was withholding weapons from “America’s closest ally, fighting for its life.”

The administration said there were no new developments on that score and nothing had been withheld apart from the shipment 2,000 pound bombs , under review since early May over concerns about their use in densely populated parts of Gaza. A White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, said of Mr. Netanyahu, “We genuinely do not know what he is talking about.”

In his comments on Thursday, Mr. Kirby reiterated that no one had done more to help Israel defend itself than the United States.

“I mean, my goodness, this president put U.S. fighter aircrafts up in the air in the middle of April, to help shoot down several 100 drones and missiles, including ballistic missiles, that were fired from Iran proper at Israel,” he said, adding that Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks were disappointing “given the amount of support that we have, and will continue to provide Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

The spokesman for the State Department, Matthew Miller, echoed Mr. Kirby’s remarks, asserting the U.S. commitment to Israel was “sacrosanct.”

“We have proved that not just with words but with deeds,” Mr. Miller said. “I don’t think it is productive to engage in an intense public back and forth about this.”

Johnatan Reiss contributed reporting from Jerusalem.

— Daniel Victor and Erica L. Green

Key Developments

U.N. experts say arms makers supplying Israel may be violating international law, and other news.

A group of U.N. experts warned arms manufacturers, including Boeing, Caterpillar and Lockheed Martin, that transferring any weapons or weapon components to Israel could make them complicit in serious violations of international humanitarian law, even if those transfers are carried out under existing export licenses or indirectly through an intermediary country. In a statement on Thursday, the experts also warned financial institutions invested in those arms manufacturers, including Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase, that their business relationships could potentially move them from “being directly linked to human rights abuses to contributing to them, with repercussions for complicity in potential atrocity crimes.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel demanded on Wednesday that his coalition partners “get a hold of themselves” and “put aside all extraneous interests” to focus on the war, as divisions within Israel’s government become sharper and more public. Mr. Netanyahu has clashed with members of his own party and with far-right and religious party leaders in his coalition. The wide-ranging conflicts include how far to go in requiring military service by ultra-Orthodox Jews, who controls the assignments of rabbis, leaks to the news media and how much of a voice the far right should have in setting war policy.

The troubled humanitarian pier built by the United States off the coast of Gaza is back up and running, Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, said at a news briefing on Thursday. The pier was “re-anchored and reestablished” on Wednesday, he said, and “overnight, the transfer of humanitarian assistance from Cyprus to Gaza resumed,” with more than 1.4 million pounds being delivered to a marshaling area, where it is loaded onto trucks. General Ryder said the pier was always intended to be a temporary solution and added that, “contrary to some press reporting on the matter,” there was no end date established for the mission. Aid groups have said that they are hesitant to deliver aid from the marshaling area because of security concerns and that supplies are piling up there.

Cross-border aerial attacks between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continued across the border of Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, with dozens of rockets launched at Israeli towns and an Israeli strike on a Hezbollah commander, according to the Israeli military. Approximately 60 projectiles, including rockets and anti-tank missiles, hit open areas in northern Israel, according to an Israeli military spokesperson. No casualties were reported. The Israeli military also said it had killed Fadel Ibrahim, identified as a commander of Hezbollah’s ground forces, in an airstrike near Deir Kifa in the south of Lebanon. Tensions at the northern border have risen for months, and the prospect of a full-fledged war between the two forces looms.

U.S. lawmakers called for some Palestinians fleeing Gaza to be granted refugee status. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday, 70 members of Congress called for more pathways for relief for Palestinians affected by the war who are relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. “Historically, the U.S. has resettled very few Palestinian refugees,” the lawmakers noted, including just 56 refugees, or 0.09 percent of the total number of resettled refugees, in 2023, and 16 so far in 2024. “Given the dire conditions currently on the ground in Gaza, it is time for this to change,” said the lawmakers, who were led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois.

Israel’s energy minister threatened a “power outage for months” in Lebanon if the Israeli electricity grid were hit and disabled for even a few hours by Hezbollah. The statement came from Eli Cohen, the energy minister, in a post on social media on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Shaul Goldstein, the chief executive of the government company responsible for managing the country’s electric grid, said that Hezbollah “could easily bring down the electricity grid in Israel.” Mr. Goldstein’s comments sparked outrage among right-wing media commentators, and Mr. Cohen’s response appeared to be designed to send a message that Israel could not be easily crippled.

Israel’s use of 2,000-pound bombs and other heavy weapons in densely populated areas of Gaza may have consistently violated international law and could constitute war crimes, the United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday. In a report that focused on six attacks last year, the office said Israeli forces “took an expansive approach to targeting” that apparently considered members of Gaza’s civilian administration and Hamas political structures, who were not directly involved in hostilities, as military targets, possibly violating the laws of war. Israel issued a 12-page rebuttal that said the U.N. report was legally unsound and revealed “numerous biases.”

A quiet administrative change advances a far-right Israeli minister’s effort to control the West Bank.

Israel is putting key responsibilities in the occupied West Bank under an administrator who answers to a hard-line government minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who favors annexation of the territory, in what analysts and human rights activists describe as the latest step toward the far right’s aim of expanding Israeli settlements there.

The administrative move has been a longtime goal of Mr. Smotrich, the finance minister and settler leader, and increases his formal authority over many areas of civilian life, including building and demolition permits, a crucial tool for settlers who view construction as a way to strengthen their grip on the West Bank.

It is the latest of several changes over the past two years that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing in Israel’s history, has made to the way that the West Bank is ruled. Since early 2023, the government has eased the planning process for new settlements and gradually transferred more powers from the defense minister, Yoav Gallant, to Mr. Smotrich, a longtime settler activist who wants to prevent the possibility of creating a Palestinian state in the territory.

The moves stop short of fully placing the West Bank under civilian control, and they have limited effect in the 40 percent of the West Bank that is administered by the Palestinian Authority, a semi-autonomous Palestinian-run body. But critics say that they collectively take Israel a step closer to annexing the territory in all but name.

For decades, Israel has defended its control of the territory there by saying that it is a temporary military occupation since the 1967 war that complies with the international laws applicable to occupied territories, rather than a permanent annexation that places the West Bank under the sovereign control of Israel’s civilian authorities. But the empowerment of Mr. Smotrich, a civilian minister, tests that argument to its limits.

The latest move, which creates a civilian head of an area previously overseen only by the military, was finalized by the Israeli military on May 29, according to copies of two military orders seen by The New York Times. It names a deputy head of the civil administration in the West Bank who will answer to Mr. Smotrich, an ultranationalist member of Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition who has a broad portfolio in the West Bank.

Settlers like Mr. Smotrich want to build more Israeli settlements across the West Bank on land that Palestinians hoped would be the core of a future Palestinian state. While previous Israeli governments and generals have built and protected hundreds of settlements, the latest order would likely accelerate that process, analysts and activists said.

Critics have already accused the government of failing to clamp down on illegal settlement construction and violence committed by settlers, and of thwarting measures to enforce the law.

Since the war began in October, the government has cracked down on the territory with near-daily military raids it says are aimed at terrorists. The government has also emboldened settlers and enacted new regulations that have put additional economic pressure on Palestinians .

“We are speaking about a change with a very clear political dimension to permit all kinds of plans for building settlements very quickly and without any obstacles,” said Michael Milshtein, an author and expert in Palestinian studies at Tel Aviv University.

The military has for decades been responsible for civil administration in most of the West Bank as well as for security, and critics say the shift to civilian administration, a longstanding aim of Mr. Smotrich, ties decision-making more closely to Israeli domestic politics. Analysts noted, however, that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would retain input and could block certain measures.

Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at Ir Amim, an Israeli nongovernmental organization, said that the order was “historic,” because “for the first time you have in a formal way management in the West Bank that is not done through the army but through the Israeli civil political system.”

The civilian political influence over the military administration already existed to some extent, though it was hidden from view, he said, “but now it’s stopped playing the games.”

A spokesman for Mr. Smotrich did not respond to a request for comment.

The person named to fill the new administrative post, Hillel Roth, is a settler and a member of the religious nationalist community who will likely act to facilitate Mr. Smotrich’s agenda, analysts said.

Mr. Milshtein noted that Mr. Smotrich had separately aimed to weaken the Palestinian Authority, which administers some parts of the West Bank. Mr. Smotrich announced in May that Israel would withhold revenue from the authority, worsening its severe fiscal crisis. In June, Mr. Smotrich said that he had ordered about $35 million in tax revenue that Israel collected on behalf of the authority to be diverted to the families of Israeli victims of terrorism .

Since Israel occupied the West Bank, previously controlled by Jordan, in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, the government has encouraged Jews to settle there, providing land, military protection, electricity, water and roads. More than 500,000 settlers now live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the territory.

Most of the world considers the settlements illegal. Some Israeli Jews justify settlement on religious grounds, others on the basis of history — both ancient and modern — while some say Israel must control the territory to prevent armed Palestinian groups from taking power.

Patrick Kingsley contributed reporting.

— Matthew Mpoke Bigg

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