raillery
Say it: RAY-luh-ree /ˈreɪləri/ · noun
What “raillery” means
Gentle teasing meant in a friendly way.
More precisely: Good-humoured teasing.
Example: “He took the raillery about his new moustache with good grace.”
When to use it
Use it for good-natured teasing, especially in literary writing; it is less common in everyday speech than banter.
Similar words
banter, teasing, ribbing
Where it comes from
From French raillerie, from railler, 'to tease'.
Quick check
Your friends affectionately joke about your enormous sunhat, and you laugh along with them. Their teasing is…
raillery or ridicule?
Show the answer
raillery
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