What phrase do jokesters often shout to reveal an April Fools' Day prank?

Jokesters often shout “April Fools!” to reveal an April Fools’ Day prank.

The phrase identifies the person who has been tricked as an “April fool,” while also naming the day associated with practical jokes, hoaxes, and playful deception. It is commonly said immediately after the victim accepts a false story or discovers a staged situation.

April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1 in many countries, although customs and reveal phrases differ. In Germany, for example, pranksters traditionally say “April, April!” The English phrase “April Fools!” is not a universal legal or ceremonial formula; it is a familiar social convention used to signal that the deception was intended as a joke.

The holiday’s exact origin is disputed. One widely discussed theory connects it with calendar changes in sixteenth-century France, when New Year celebrations shifted from late March or early April to January 1. Earlier springtime festivals and traditions of role reversal may also have influenced the custom. Famous media hoaxes have helped make the day internationally recognizable.