This is the 18338th most frequent Russian word.
шутка
Joke.
In this sentence, 'шутка' is used to describe a humorous statement or joke made in conversation.
Эта шутка была очень смешной.
This joke was very funny.
Here, 'шутка' represents a non-serious statement made to amuse or mislead, not intended to be taken seriously.
Ты понимаешь, что это была всего лишь шутка?
You understand that it was just a joke, don't you?
In this sentence, 'шутка' is contrasted with seriousness, emphasizing that the topic being discussed is serious and not to be taken lightly.