Father’s Day 2025: From “Hi Hungry” To “Nobody Nose,” The Dad Joke Era Lives On

“Hi Hungry, I’m Dad.”

If that line made you smile (or roll your eyes), congratulations—you’ve been Dad-joked.

This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating not just the fathers who taught us how to ride bikes, change tires, or whistle loud enough to call you from two streets away, but the ones who also insisted on telling the most cringe-worthy, eye-roll-inducing, yet oddly heart-warming jokes.

We’re talking about Dad jokes: the puns that land with a thud, the one-liners that get more groans than laughs, and the playful jabs that dads across the globe deliver with the comedic timing of a stand-up comic… from the 1980s.

Where did they come from?

The term “Dad joke” may sound like a relic of the internet age, but its roots stretch further back. Shakespeare was throwing out puns like “Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer…” centuries ago—so maybe he was the original Dad joker.

The modern version of the Dad joke, however, crystallised in a particular type of fatherly humour: clean, pun-heavy, often told with more enthusiasm than accuracy.

For Prachi Deodhar, 26, a Senior PR Executive, her dad’s wordplay has become a source of warmth and nostalgia. “My dad has this habit of cracking puns, making cheesy (but surprisingly clever) wordplay, and playfully teasing Marathi vocabulary. Even if it sometimes gets on my nerves, these little jokes are something I’ll always hold close to my heart—I wouldn’t trade them or the laughter they bring for anything. Some moments are meant to be cherished as those timeless father-child memories because to them, you’re still the little kid they just dropped off at school yesterday.”

What’s with the jokes?

Sure, Dad jokes make us groan. But underneath all that punny nonsense is something kind of sweet. Most dads aren’t aiming to be comedians—they just want to make you laugh. Or at least smile. Or, okay… roll your eyes while secretly smiling. These jokes are their way of saying, “I care,” without getting all emotional about it. And honestly, that’s kind of perfect. Experts even say that when dads tell these goofy jokes, they’re actually helping kids learn how to deal with awkward moments and laugh at themselves. So those cheesy one-liners? Turns out they build character.

Embarrassing? Definitely.
Pointless? Not even close.
Thanks, Dad.

Dr. Sandeep Vohra, founder of nwnt.ai and a psychiatrist, highlights the deeper role fathers play in shaping emotional well-being, “Relationship between a father and a child is one of the most important aspects from child’s psychological development perspective as a strong bond between the two leads to healthy development of that child who not only turns out to be optimistic & confident but also develops emotional stability. Father’s backing & support in case of any type of crisis in the life of a child at any stage of his or her life helps them sail through the crisis with relative ease. Strong bonding with father can lead to foundation of a child’s successful, healthy & fulfilling life. Blessed are those who have loving & supportive fathers and they must reciprocate love & affection in any possible way to express the same on Father’s day.”

Science of the sigh-laugh

So why do we groan and grin at the same time? Neuroscience tells us that humour often comes from misdirection—your brain expects one thing, then gets another. Dad jokes lean into that, often using wordplay and simple setups.

In other words, Dad jokes trick your brain into liking them, no matter how loudly you protest. A legacy of laughter lives on through the generations. For some dads, these jokes are more than a moment—they’re a rite of passage, a symbol of affection passed down in puns.

Shailesh Prabhu, an investment banker and proud Gen Z dad, believes these jokes signal a cultural shift as well: “As a Gen Z dad from a Desi family with a 19-year-old, I think Dad jokes have stuck around. Plus, for Desi dads especially, it’s our way of soft-launching our ‘uncle’ era — with pride. I remember when the word ‘rizz’ was first said in our house—full confusion was triggered. I thought it was some new disease going around! Then my daughter explained to me, apparently, ‘rizz’ means style, charm, confidence… the ability to impress. Something I’ve had since the 90s.”

Meanwhile, for Robin Singh, Indian international footballer and content creator, the magic lies in shared giggles and goofy lines, “My favourite dad joke is — what do you call somebody with no body and no nose? NOBODY KNOWS… and then I take his nose. I think they’ve stuck around for so long, in my opinion, is for the fact that having your child laugh with you is the sweetest moment a Father and son can share. The most cringeworthy joke that I’ve told him is more of a sentence, which is—‘my fingers aren’t French fries, you little potato’—and for some reason, it always cracks him up and says I’m gonna eat you.”

More than just a punchline

Behind every bad joke is a dad trying to make someone smile. So this Father’s Day, don’t just buy a tie or fire up the grill. Let your dad drop that pun he’s been waiting to say all week. Laugh, groan, or roll your eyes—but know that moment is a memory in the making.

And remember: someday, you might find yourself saying, “I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.” And when you do, know you’ve joined a proud, pun-loving legacy.

Happy Father’s Day to the kings of cringe and the emperors of eye-rolls. May your jokes forever be so bad they’re Dad.

P.S. Heard about the restaurant on the moon? Great food… no atmosphere.

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