Difference between "broma" and "chiste"?

Question

Both words *broma* and *chiste* translate to the English word *joke*. What's the difference between these two Spanish words, and how do I know when to use each one?

Answer 1

While both "broma" and "chiste" translate to joke in English, their connotation is a little different. A "chiste" is joke usually in the form of a short story such as "Why did the chicken cross the road"? "Broma" is more like a prank that is played on someone.

¿Quieres escuchar a un chiste? (Do you want to hear a joke?

¡Hay una rata en la cocina! Es una broma, estás bien. "There's a rat in the kitchen"! It's a joke, you're fine.