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Who Invented the Knock-Knock Joke?

Apr. 2, 2011

Knock-knock! Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad you visited Wonderopolis today?

April is National Humor Month, so get ready for a side-splitting look at the history of the knock-knock joke!

Have you ever wondered…

  • Who invented the knock-knock joke?
  • Do knock-knock jokes have a practical purpose?
  • Are knock-knock jokes told all over the world?

Did you know?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard — and told — many knock-knock jokes. Knock-knock jokes are very common in all English-speaking countries. They’re popular in many places around the world, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Australia, Canada, South Africa, the Philippines and India.

A type of pun or play on words, the knock-knock joke is a “call and answer” exercise in which there’s a person who tells the joke (the protagonist) and a person who plays along (the antagonist). The basic five-step format of the knock-knock joke is well-known:

1. The protagonist:      “Knock, knock!”
2. The antagonist:        “Who’s there?”
3. The protagonist:      <response — a name or a word>
4. The antagonist:        <response — a name or a word> plus “who?”
5. The protagonist:      <response — a name or a word> plus a pun or play on words

Here’s an example of a popular knock-knock joke:

Knock-knock!
Who’s there?
Dwayne.
Dwayne who?
Dwayne the bathtub, I’m dwowning!
(a play on “drain the bathtub, I’m drowning!”)

It seems like knock-knock jokes have been around since the beginning of time, and no one really knows how they came about. There are a couple of theories, but neither has proved to provide definite proof of the joke’s origins.

Some people believe knock-knock jokes developed as a result of “call and answer” routines that castle guards used to identify people after dark in the Middle Ages. When people would approach the castle after dark, they would have to call out to the guards to get inside.

The guards would answer, “Who’s there?” They would then carry on a back-and-forth conversation about their identity and reason for wanting into the castle. Guards must have occasionally teased people with this routine, perhaps to alleviate the boredom of keeping watch throughout the night.

Others believe knock-knock jokes may have gotten their start with William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In this famous play, a funny character delivers a long, humorous speech that follows the familiar pattern of the modern knock-knock joke.

Today, knock-knock jokes can provide more than just a chuckle. Developmental psychologists now study young children telling knock-knock jokes to assess their language development skills!

Here are a couple more examples of popular knock-knock jokes:

Knock knock!
Who’s there?
Little old lady?
Little old lady who?
Hey! I didn’t know you could yodel!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
José
José who?
José can you see by the dawn’s early light?
(a play on “Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light?”)

Try it out!

Many believe that laughter is the best medicine. If you want to enjoy some chuckles with your friends and family, check out the jokes at the sites listed below. Have fun laughing together!

Wonder words to know and use:

  • pun
  • protagonist
  • antagonist
  • theories
  • definite
  • origin
  • routine
  • monologue
  • comic relief

Still wondering?

Do you love to read funny books? Check out ReadWriteThink’s Irreverently Funny and Worth Reading and Tickle Your Funny Bone audio podcasts to discover some new books that are sure to put a smile on your face!

Wonder what’s next?

You can count some things on your fingers and toes, but there aren’t enough fingers and toes on Earth to count what we’ll be counting in Wonderopolis tomorrow!

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64 responses to "Wonderopolis"

  1. Tanya Zinn Jones
    2. Apr, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Hi! I’m attending the NCFL conference this weekend, and here is
    my favorite knock knock joke:

    Knock knock
    Who’s there?
    Jamaica.
    Jamaica who?
    Jamaica me crazy!!

    Gotta say the last line with an accent!!

    Thanks!

    Tanya Zinn Jones
    Title I Reading Teacher
    Fairfax County, VA

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 2:19 pm

      That’s a GREAT one, Tanya! Thanks for sharing with everyone! :-)

  2. cynthia shelton
    2. Apr, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    Hi! I’m attending the NCFL conference this weekend, and here is
    my favorite knock knock joke:

    Knock Knock
    Who’s there?
    Ada!
    Ada who?
    Ada burger for lunch!

    A southern said this of course! :)

    Thanks!

    Cynthia Shelton
    Kentucky Adult Education
    ESL Instructor
    Bowling Green, KY

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 4:10 pm

      Ha, ha! That one is super funny, Cynthia! But, now we’re super hungry! :-)

  3. Louis Colon
    2. Apr, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Knock! Knock!
    Who’s there?
    Demon!
    Demon who?
    Demonstrator!

    Louis Colon
    Family literacy instructor
    Rochester, NY

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 4:11 pm

      Clever, Louis…good job! Thanks for posting! :-)

  4. Lakechia Grant
    2. Apr, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Hi I am here at the conference also. Here is mine.

    Knock Knock
    Who’s there?
    Atlas!
    Atlas?
    Atlas it’s the weekend!

    Lakechia Grant
    Mississippi Even Start Coordinator
    Jackson, MS

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 4:59 pm

      We’re with you on that one, Lakechia! Wonderopolis weekends are the BEST! :-)

  5. crystal cox
    2. Apr, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Knock, knock.
    Who’s There?
    Olive.
    Olive Who?
    Olive you.

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 5:55 pm

      Awww. We love you, too, Crystal (and all of our other Wonder Friends)! Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis today! :-)

  6. Charity Walker
    2. Apr, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    Knock knock
    Who’s there?
    Interrupting cow
    Interrupting…moo!

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 5:56 pm

      That’s a very MOOving knock-knock joke, Charity! :-)

  7. Magdalena Benton
    2. Apr, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    Knock Knock
    Who’s there?
    Interrupting cow
    Interr-Mooo

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 6:52 pm

      Looks like bovine knock-knock jokes are pretty popular today! Thanks for posting this funny one, Magdalena! :-)

  8. maria almazan
    2. Apr, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Knock knock.
    Who’s there?
    Lettuce
    Lettuce who?
    Lettuce try again tomorrow!

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 6:54 pm

      Awesome one, Maria! Did you know you CAN try again tomorrow? Be sure to check tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day to comment on a celestial Wonder Quest! :-)

  9. Frances Belling
    2. Apr, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    Knock Knock
    Who”s there?
    Boo
    Boo who?
    Why are you crying/

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 6:56 pm

      We’re not crying, Frances…we’re laughing…at that great knock-knock joke of yours! We’re also smiling because of all the awesome Wonder Friends we’re meeting today! :-)

  10. Lori LeGendre
    2. Apr, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    Guess where I am?!!!!

    Knock Knock!

    Who’s there?!

    Woo.

    WooWho???

    WOOHOO! FINALLY MADE IT TO THE GALT HOUSE AND THE NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY CONFERENCE IN LOUISVILLE!!! :)

    Lori LeGendre

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 8:19 pm

      Thanks for your enthusiasm and for a WONDERful knock-knock, Lori! We share your excitement! :-)

  11. Jon Fines
    2. Apr, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Knock Knock

    Who’s there?

    Little Old Lady

    Little-old-lady-who?

    I didn’t know you could yodle?! ;)

    Jon Fines (Devoted Wonder-friend)
    @Mr_Fines

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Apr, 2011 at 8:57 pm

      We KNOW you’re a devoted Wonder Friend, Jon! We appreciate you AND your contribution to the knock-knock jokes! :-)

  12. Jon Fines
    2. Apr, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    Knock Knock

    Who’s there?

    Dishes

    Dishes who?

    Dish-es me – who-ish you?

  13. Nancee Pond
    2. Apr, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    I am at the NCFL conference and here is my knock knock joke for the day:

    Knock Knock
    Who’s there?
    Tom Sawyer.
    Tom Sawyer who?
    Tom saw yer underwear!

    Hahaha.

    (I have children 8 and 5 and anything involving underpants is funny. Well, tothem anyway.)

    Nancee Pond

    • Wonderopolis
      3. Apr, 2011 at 5:31 am

      Funny one, Nancee! Thanks for posting! Have an AWESOME time at conference! :-)

  14. Angela McDonald
    2. Apr, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Knock knock
    Who”s there?
    Howee
    Howee who?
    How we doing tonight?

    • Wonderopolis
      3. Apr, 2011 at 5:32 am

      We’re doing GREAT, Angela, thanks for asking! :-)

  15. Kelly Sloan
    2. Apr, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Knock Knock?
    Who’s There?
    Banana.
    Banana who?
    Knock Knock?
    Who’s There?
    Banana.
    Banana who?
    Knock Knock?
    Who’s There?
    Orange.
    Orange you glad I didn’t say Banana?

    • Wonderopolis
      3. Apr, 2011 at 5:32 am

      A tried and true knock-knock that always makes us laugh! Thanks for making us smile, Kelly! :-)

  16. Sherie Tillman
    3. Apr, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    789,334,456,789,999

  17. sydney
    6. Apr, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    knock knock. who’s there?
    Dwain’
    Dwain who?
    Dwain the bath tub I’m dwoning

    • Wonderopolis
      7. Apr, 2011 at 10:06 am

      Funny one, Sydney! Thanks for making us laugh today! :-)

  18. jebkay
    27. Apr, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    whats the scariest fruit?
    banananaaaaaa (scary voice)

    • Wonderopolis
      27. Apr, 2011 at 5:51 pm

      That DID sound scary, jebkay! Thanks for your comment and for being a friend of Wonderopolis! :-)

  19. Paul Hodge
    3. May, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Knock Knock.
    Who’s There?
    Interuppting Swan.
    Inter…HONK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Wonderopolis
      3. May, 2011 at 10:27 am

      That’s a funny one, Paul! A great knock-knock joke from a great Wonder Friend! Thanks for commenting today! :-)

  20. Jaden
    19. Jul, 2011 at 2:52 am

    Here’s mine.

    Knock Knock.
    Who’s there?
    Ant.
    Ant who?
    An Ant in the water!!!!
    Help!!!!

    • Wonderopolis
      19. Jul, 2011 at 10:07 am

      That’s a GREAT one, Jaden! Thanks so much for making us laugh this morning! :-)

  21. MahimaTEAM
    19. Oct, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    Hi, Wonderopolis. I like knock-knock jokes because they’re funny. Some of them are not funny, though. Do you have a funny knock-knock joke you want to share? I do! “Knock-knock?” “Who’s there?” “Lettuce!” “Lettuce, Who?” “Lettuce us eat some salad, we’re hungry!”

    It’s funny how they use the word protagonist and antagonist. Well, thanks for putting together a great wonder, Wonderopolis! :-)

    • Wonderopolis
      20. Oct, 2011 at 8:49 am

      That was a GREAT knock-knock joke, Mahima, thanks for sharing it with us today! We laughed a lot, and now we have a strange craving for SALAD! :-)

  22. jourdan
    21. Nov, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Knock-knock.
    WHO’S THERE?
    HELP.
    HELP WHO?
    HELP, ME GET OUT OF HERE! :) HAHAHAHA! THAT MAKES ME LAUGH ALL THE TIME!

    • Wonderopolis
      22. Nov, 2011 at 6:07 am

      That’s a good one, Jourdan! Thank you for sharing your knock-knock joke with us today! :-)

  23. Paige
    27. Nov, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    Deer Wonderopolis,

    Got ya! Get it? DEER Wonderopolis instead of DEAR Wonderopolis. Sorry, I thought of that, so I had to type it. I was wondering…if an orange is called its color, why isn’t every fruit called its color?

    Thanks

    • Wonderopolis
      27. Nov, 2011 at 5:20 pm

      You DID get us, Paige! Thanks for stopping by Wonderopolis and making us laugh today! Your question about fruits and colors would make a GREAT future Wonder of the Day®! Thank you so much for WONDERing about it and for suggesting it! :-)

  24. Wonder Friend 18
    2. Dec, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    I INVENTED THE KNOCK KNOCK JOKE, SEE: KNOCK KNOCK. WHO’S THERE? BANANA PEEL. BANANA PEEL WHO? DON’T STEP ON THE BANANA PEEL!!!! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!

    • Wonderopolis
      2. Dec, 2011 at 5:07 pm

      That’s a good one, Wonder Friend 18! Thanks so much for sharing your knock-knock joke with your friends in Wonderopolis today! :-)

  25. Rachael
    9. Dec, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Knock knock
    Who’s there?
    Donut.
    Donut who?
    Donut open the box!!

    • Wonderopolis
      10. Dec, 2011 at 8:25 am

      Ha, ha, ha! That was a WONDERful knock-knock joke, Rachael! We liked it very much…we’re still chuckling about it! Thank you so much for sharing your awesome humor with us today! :-)

  26. Rachael
    10. Dec, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Thank you for reading it! Also, can the next wonder be about how ice cream is made?

  27. Rachael
    10. Dec, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Cool! I think I’ll check that out real soon! But, I’m too busy now. :( Sorry.

    • Wonderopolis
      11. Dec, 2011 at 7:14 am

      That’s OK, Rachael! Wonderopolis will be here for you whenever you get some more free time! Thanks for being such a GREAT Wonder Friend! :-)

  28. Rachael
    11. Dec, 2011 at 10:11 am

    You’re welcome! I think I’m going to check out the ice cream now!! Not actually checking it out at the store, I mean checking out- err LOOKING at the ice cream wonders!

    • Wonderopolis
      11. Dec, 2011 at 6:53 pm

      We knew what you meant, Rachael! We hope you have fun exploring the ICE CREAM Wonders! :-)

  29. justin
    10. Feb, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Knock, knock. Who’s there? Achilles. Achilles, who? Achilles mosquitoes with a flyswatter…wack!!!

    • Wonderopolis
      10. Feb, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      That’s a SUPER knock-knock joke, Justin! Thank you for sharing it with us today and for making us laugh! :-)

  30. Wonder Friend
    12. Mar, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    People need to make good jokes.

    • Wonderopolis
      12. Mar, 2012 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks for sharing what you think about jokes, Wonder Friend! We appreciate your comment. :-)

  31. Julia
    29. Mar, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    I have one
    Knock Knock
    who’s there
    Owl
    Owl who
    That’s right owls who!

    • Wonderopolis
      29. Mar, 2012 at 9:31 pm

      That’s a REALLY GREAT knock-knock joke, Julia! Thanks so much for making us laugh out loud today! :-)

  32. devan
    30. Mar, 2012 at 8:51 am

    I got to dissect a frog. You should do a Wonder on comparing a homosapien’s organs and functions to other animals, because it was really fun and we got to see how our bodies work…but I feel bad for the frogs.

    • Wonderopolis
      30. Mar, 2012 at 10:10 am

      Thanks for sharing about how you got to dissect a frog, Devan! We think it’s fun to learn how our bodies work, too! In fact, we have some super cool Wonders about just that in our HUMAN BODY category! Check them out: http://wonderopolis.org/category/human-body/. :-)

  33. Shailey
    24. Apr, 2012 at 11:50 am

    1. Knock Knock.
    2. Who’s there?
    1. Shelby.
    2. Shelby who?
    1. Shelby coming round’ the mountain when she comes!!

    I hope y’all like it:)

    • Wonderopolis
      24. Apr, 2012 at 2:40 pm

      We sure did, Shailey! That was a SUPER knock-knock joke! Thanks for making your Wonder Friends smile today! :-)

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