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780+ Charades Ideas for Kids, Adults and Christmas

4+ players15-45 minutesAges 5+Full list (788)

One phone, two teams, a loud timer and hundreds of words you can actually act out. No sign-up and nothing to print.

On this page
  1. How to play
  2. Rules and variations
  3. Tips for a good game
  4. How to play without a phone

Charades is a team guessing game where one player acts out a word or phrase without speaking, and their team shouts guesses before time runs out. This version runs on one phone. It deals the words, runs a 60-second timer with beeps, and keeps score for two teams. Pick from more than 780 actable ideas in 12 categories, from easy words for kids to Christmas, Thanksgiving and expert-level phrases.

How to play

You need one phone, at least four people and a bit of space to move.

  1. Make two teams. Split the room into two teams that sit on opposite sides. Mix ages and loud and quiet players on each side so the teams feel fair.
  2. Pick categories. Choose the categories you want on the setup screen and press Start. For a family group, Easy for kids, Animals, Actions and Everyday objects are a safe mix. Add Hard phrases or Expert once everyone is warmed up.
  3. Act. The first actor holds the phone so only they can see it, reads the word, and puts the phone face down or hands it to a player on the other team to work the buttons. The timer starts. The actor acts the word out with no talking, no mouthing and no pointing at things in the room that give it away.
  4. Guess and score. The actor's team shouts guesses. When someone says the exact word, tap Correct and the next word appears. If the word is too hard, tap Pass and move on. Keep going until the timer ends.
  5. Switch. Hand the phone to the other team. A new actor goes each turn, so everyone gets a go. The phone keeps the score and never deals the same word twice until the deck is used up.

The first team to an agreed score wins, or play a fixed number of rounds and count up at the end.

Rules and variations

The classic rules are simple: no talking, no sounds and no spelling words in the air. Most groups allow a few standard hand signals. Hold up fingers to show how many words are in the phrase. Tap your forearm with that many fingers to show which word you are acting. Tug your ear for "sounds like", then act a word that rhymes.

Try these variations to keep the night fresh:

  • Speed round. Cut the timer to 30 seconds and see how many words each team can get. Great for adults who already know the hand signals.
  • One word only. The actor must get the team to say the full answer, but can only act one word of it. This works well with Hard phrases like "raining cats and dogs".
  • Freeze frame. The actor may not move their feet. Everything happens with the face, hands and upper body. Funny with Animals and Feelings and faces.
  • Relay charades. One player sees the word and acts it to a teammate, who then acts what they think it was to the next teammate. The last player guesses. The gap between the start and the end is the fun part.
  • Holiday night. Turn on only the Christmas or Thanksgiving category. Acting out "untangling lights" or "loosening your belt" after a big dinner gets the whole table laughing.

Tips for a good game

Host it, do not just play it. One person reads the rules out loud, picks categories and keeps the pace up. Short breaks between turns kill the energy, so have the next actor ready before the timer ends.

Match the deck to the room. For mixed ages, keep level-1 categories on and leave Expert off. Kids can act "a penguin" or "brushing teeth" with no help. Teens and adults usually enjoy Hard phrases, where they have to act an idea, not a thing.

Help shy players. Nobody has to act alone if they hate it. Let a nervous player act in a pair with a friend, or let them keep score and work the phone for a round first. Most shy players join in once they see someone else look silly.

Be generous with close guesses. Decide before you start whether "bunny" counts for "rabbit". For kids, near enough is good enough. For adults, ask for the exact word to make it harder.

Use the Pass button. A stuck actor slows the game for everyone. Passing early is a good tactic, not a failure.

Make room. Push chairs back and clear the floor. Charades is a moving game, and people act bigger when they are not worried about the coffee table.

How to play without a phone

You can play charades with paper and a watch. Write words on small slips of paper, fold them and put them in two bowls, one for each team. Each team writes words for the other team, which adds a fun twist. Use a kitchen timer or a phone clock for the minute.

The actor draws a slip, reads it, and starts acting. One player on the other team watches the time and counts correct guesses with tally marks. Put passed slips aside so they do not come back in the same round. When both bowls are empty, add up the points.

If you do not want to write your own words, open this page before the party and print the list below. Cut it into strips by category and you have a ready-made charades bowl.

All 788 words

Easy for kids

  1. brushing teeth
  2. eating spaghetti
  3. riding a bike
  4. blowing bubbles
  5. jumping rope
  6. sleeping
  7. crying baby
  8. flying a kite
  9. swimming
  10. reading a book
  11. building a sandcastle
  12. licking ice cream
  13. washing hands
  14. hopping like a bunny
  15. climbing a tree
  16. playing piano
  17. catching a ball
  18. tying shoes
  19. taking a bath
  20. brushing hair
  21. going down a slide
  22. swinging on a swing
  23. waving hello
  24. sneezing
  25. yawning
  26. blowing out candles
  27. opening a present
  28. eating corn
  29. drinking milk
  30. painting a picture
  31. talking on the phone
  32. roller skating
  33. digging in sand
  34. picking flowers
  35. walking a dog
  36. feeding a fish
  37. splashing in puddles
  38. tiptoeing
  39. marching
  40. clapping hands
  41. hugging a teddy bear
  42. making a snowman
  43. sliding on ice
  44. wearing a crown
  45. being a robot
  46. playing drums
  47. playing guitar
  48. singing
  49. peeling a banana
  50. putting on socks
  51. buttoning a coat
  52. falling asleep
  53. waking up
  54. stretching
  55. watering plants
  56. making a sandwich
  57. popping a balloon
  58. riding a horse
  59. driving a car
  60. flying like a bird
  61. blowing a whistle
  62. eating a cookie
  63. drinking through a straw
  64. brushing a dog
  65. petting a cat
  66. washing your face
  67. putting on a hat
  68. bouncing on a trampoline
  69. rowing a boat
  70. eating soup

Actions

  1. juggling
  2. skipping
  3. doing a cartwheel
  4. ironing clothes
  5. vacuuming
  6. mopping the floor
  7. sweeping
  8. folding laundry
  9. hanging up laundry
  10. washing dishes
  11. drying dishes
  12. flipping a pancake
  13. chopping vegetables
  14. stirring soup
  15. baking a cake
  16. frosting a cupcake
  17. pouring juice
  18. shaking hands
  19. giving a high five
  20. taking a selfie
  21. typing on a laptop
  22. texting
  23. checking the time
  24. waiting for a bus
  25. hailing a taxi
  26. carrying groceries
  27. pushing a shopping cart
  28. opening an umbrella
  29. walking in the rain
  30. shoveling snow
  31. raking leaves
  32. mowing the lawn
  33. planting seeds
  34. sewing a button
  35. knitting a scarf
  36. threading a needle
  37. putting on makeup
  38. shaving
  39. getting a haircut
  40. tying a tie
  41. zipping a jacket
  42. putting on gloves
  43. walking a tightrope
  44. riding an elevator
  45. climbing stairs
  46. banana peel slip
  47. stepping on gum
  48. losing your keys
  49. looking for glasses
  50. missing the bus
  51. ringing a doorbell
  52. knocking on a door
  53. opening a jar
  54. blowing your nose
  55. taking a photo
  56. playing video games
  57. doing a puzzle
  58. stacking blocks
  59. bouncing a ball
  60. pumping up a tire
  61. changing a light bulb
  62. hammering a nail
  63. painting a wall
  64. walking on the moon
  65. washing the car
  66. making the bed
  67. setting an alarm
  68. carrying a heavy box
  69. waddling like a penguin
  70. pulling a wagon

Animals

  1. dog
  2. cat
  3. elephant
  4. giraffe
  5. monkey
  6. kangaroo
  7. penguin
  8. snake
  9. frog
  10. rabbit
  11. lion
  12. tiger
  13. bear
  14. horse
  15. cow
  16. pig
  17. chicken
  18. duck
  19. owl
  20. eagle
  21. dolphin
  22. whale
  23. octopus
  24. crab
  25. lobster
  26. turtle
  27. snail
  28. butterfly
  29. bee
  30. spider
  31. ant
  32. mosquito
  33. bat
  34. gorilla
  35. zebra
  36. rhino
  37. hippo
  38. crocodile
  39. flamingo
  40. peacock
  41. parrot
  42. ostrich
  43. camel
  44. goat
  45. sheep
  46. donkey
  47. mouse
  48. squirrel
  49. hamster
  50. hedgehog
  51. porcupine
  52. skunk
  53. sloth
  54. koala
  55. panda
  56. polar bear
  57. seal
  58. walrus
  59. jellyfish
  60. starfish
  61. seahorse
  62. woodpecker
  63. hummingbird
  64. bull
  65. deer
  66. moose
  67. worm
  68. caterpillar
  69. grasshopper
  70. chameleon
  71. dinosaur
  72. goldfish
  73. puppy
  74. kitten
  75. swan

Jobs

  1. teacher
  2. doctor
  3. nurse
  4. dentist
  5. firefighter
  6. police officer
  7. chef
  8. baker
  9. farmer
  10. pilot
  11. astronaut
  12. mail carrier
  13. bus driver
  14. taxi driver
  15. waiter
  16. cashier
  17. hairdresser
  18. barber
  19. photographer
  20. musician
  21. ballet dancer
  22. magician
  23. clown
  24. lifeguard
  25. mechanic
  26. plumber
  27. electrician
  28. carpenter
  29. gardener
  30. scientist
  31. veterinarian
  32. zookeeper
  33. librarian
  34. judge
  35. news reporter
  36. weather presenter
  37. DJ
  38. tour guide
  39. flight attendant
  40. ship captain
  41. train conductor
  42. garbage collector
  43. window cleaner
  44. construction worker
  45. crane operator
  46. babysitter
  47. sports coach
  48. referee
  49. personal trainer
  50. yoga teacher
  51. tailor
  52. florist
  53. fisherman
  54. beekeeper
  55. cowboy
  56. surgeon
  57. architect
  58. sculptor
  59. pizza delivery driver
  60. ice cream seller
  61. street performer
  62. mime
  63. orchestra conductor
  64. opera singer
  65. painter and decorator
  66. lumberjack
  67. dog walker
  68. pet groomer

Sports and games

  1. soccer
  2. basketball
  3. baseball
  4. tennis
  5. golf
  6. bowling
  7. volleyball
  8. table tennis
  9. badminton
  10. ice hockey
  11. figure skating
  12. skiing
  13. snowboarding
  14. surfing
  15. skateboarding
  16. scuba diving
  17. gymnastics
  18. pole vault
  19. high jump
  20. long jump
  21. hurdles
  22. marathon running
  23. sprinting
  24. cycling
  25. horse racing
  26. kayaking
  27. rock climbing
  28. weightlifting
  29. push-ups
  30. sit-ups
  31. yoga
  32. bungee jumping
  33. skydiving
  34. water skiing
  35. high diving
  36. synchronized swimming
  37. curling
  38. bobsled
  39. cricket
  40. rugby
  41. American football
  42. hula hoop
  43. limbo
  44. tug of war
  45. sack race
  46. egg and spoon race
  47. musical chairs
  48. hopscotch
  49. leapfrog
  50. freeze tag
  51. hide and seek
  52. frisbee
  53. fishing
  54. jumping jacks
  55. doing the splits
  56. chess
  57. billiards
  58. mini golf
  59. relay race
  60. water polo
  61. hiking
  62. sailing
  63. roller coaster ride
  64. cheerleading
  65. jogging

Everyday objects

  1. toothbrush
  2. umbrella
  3. scissors
  4. stapler
  5. laptop
  6. smartphone
  7. camera
  8. hair dryer
  9. vacuum cleaner
  10. washing machine
  11. refrigerator
  12. microwave
  13. toaster
  14. blender
  15. kettle
  16. alarm clock
  17. remote control
  18. television
  19. lamp
  20. flashlight
  21. ladder
  22. broom
  23. bucket
  24. hammer
  25. screwdriver
  26. tape measure
  27. glue stick
  28. pencil sharpener
  29. eraser
  30. backpack
  31. suitcase
  32. wallet
  33. keys
  34. revolving door
  35. rocking chair
  36. bed
  37. pillow
  38. blanket
  39. mirror
  40. sunglasses
  41. zipper
  42. belt
  43. necklace
  44. wristwatch
  45. headphones
  46. computer mouse
  47. keyboard
  48. printer
  49. calculator
  50. light switch
  51. faucet
  52. shower
  53. spoon
  54. chopsticks
  55. frying pan
  56. rolling pin
  57. can opener
  58. trash can
  59. paper airplane
  60. yo-yo
  61. jack-in-the-box
  62. rubber duck
  63. pogo stick
  64. sprinkler
  65. wheelbarrow
  66. coat hanger
  67. clothespin
  68. doorbell
  69. piggy bank
  70. stopwatch

Movies and stories

  1. Cinderella
  2. Snow White
  3. Sleeping Beauty
  4. Rapunzel
  5. Little Red Riding Hood
  6. Goldilocks
  7. The Three Little Pigs
  8. Jack and the Beanstalk
  9. Hansel and Gretel
  10. The Ugly Duckling
  11. The Little Mermaid
  12. The Frog Prince
  13. Puss in Boots
  14. Pinocchio
  15. Peter Pan
  16. Alice in Wonderland
  17. The Wizard of Oz
  18. The Jungle Book
  19. Robin Hood
  20. Treasure Island
  21. Robinson Crusoe
  22. Gulliver's Travels
  23. Moby Dick
  24. Black Beauty
  25. Heidi
  26. Little Women
  27. Charlotte's Web
  28. The Secret Garden
  29. Aladdin
  30. Ali Baba
  31. Sinbad the Sailor
  32. King Arthur
  33. Humpty Dumpty
  34. Tortoise and the Hare
  35. Boy Who Cried Wolf
  36. The Emperor's New Clothes
  37. The Gingerbread Man
  38. Rumpelstiltskin
  39. Princess and the Pea
  40. Thumbelina
  41. Beauty and the Beast
  42. The Lion King
  43. Finding Nemo
  44. Toy Story
  45. Frozen
  46. Mary Poppins
  47. The Sound of Music
  48. Singin' in the Rain
  49. Back to the Future
  50. Winnie the Pooh
  51. Paddington
  52. Shrek
  53. Madagascar
  54. Ice Age
  55. Ratatouille
  56. Up
  57. Cars
  58. Moana
  59. Coco
  60. Inside Out
  61. Three Billy Goats Gruff
  62. Chicken Little
  63. Elves and the Shoemaker
  64. Stone Soup
  65. Rip Van Winkle
  66. The Pied Piper
  67. Oliver Twist
  68. Don Quixote
  69. Swan Lake
  70. Bambi
  71. Dumbo
  72. Tarzan
  73. Jumanji
  74. Matilda
  75. Night at the Museum

Christmas

  1. Santa Claus
  2. reindeer
  3. Rudolph
  4. Christmas elf
  5. decorating the tree
  6. hanging stockings
  7. wrapping presents
  8. shaking a present
  9. singing carols
  10. sledding
  11. ice skating
  12. building a gingerbread house
  13. baking cookies
  14. leaving milk for Santa
  15. sliding down the chimney
  16. sleigh ride
  17. jingle bells
  18. candy cane
  19. untangling lights
  20. placing the tree star
  21. angel
  22. nutcracker
  23. snow angel
  24. throwing snowballs
  25. ugly sweater
  26. hot chocolate
  27. roasting chestnuts
  28. sitting by the fireplace
  29. hanging a wreath
  30. hanging an ornament
  31. tinsel
  32. A Christmas Carol
  33. Scrooge
  34. The Polar Express
  35. The Nutcracker ballet
  36. North Pole
  37. Santa's workshop
  38. naughty list
  39. checking the list twice
  40. stocking stuffer
  41. Christmas morning
  42. waiting for Santa
  43. writing to Santa
  44. Santa's sleigh
  45. toy soldier
  46. snow globe
  47. Christmas dinner
  48. fruitcake
  49. gingerbread cookie
  50. carrying a tree
  51. peeking at presents
  52. pulling a cracker
  53. paper crown
  54. advent calendar
  55. snowflake
  56. snowplow
  57. mittens
  58. earmuffs
  59. ho ho ho
  60. Christmas pajamas
  61. reindeer games
  62. dancing elf
  63. Christmas lights
  64. carolers
  65. Mrs. Claus

Thanksgiving

  1. turkey
  2. carving the turkey
  3. stuffing the turkey
  4. mashed potatoes
  5. pumpkin pie
  6. cranberry sauce
  7. gravy
  8. pilgrim
  9. Mayflower
  10. parade
  11. giant parade balloon
  12. watching football
  13. breaking the wishbone
  14. saying thanks
  15. food coma
  16. eating too much
  17. loosening your belt
  18. setting the table
  19. passing the potatoes
  20. kids' table
  21. leftovers
  22. turkey sandwich
  23. jumping in leaves
  24. harvest
  25. cornucopia
  26. scarecrow
  27. hay ride
  28. apple picking
  29. pumpkin patch
  30. baking a pie
  31. rolling out dough
  32. peeling potatoes
  33. family photo
  34. hugging grandma
  35. holiday traffic
  36. long drive home
  37. napping on the couch
  38. gobble gobble
  39. turkey trot
  40. football in the yard
  41. Black Friday shopping
  42. basting the turkey
  43. turkey timer popping
  44. pie for breakfast
  45. second helping
  46. sweet potatoes
  47. green bean casserole
  48. dinner rolls
  49. corn maze
  50. tracing a hand turkey
  51. dozing at the table
  52. grabbing the drumstick
  53. marching band
  54. turkey costume
  55. whipped cream

Feelings and faces

  1. happy
  2. sad
  3. angry
  4. scared
  5. surprised
  6. bored
  7. tired
  8. excited
  9. nervous
  10. proud
  11. shy
  12. confused
  13. jealous
  14. grumpy
  15. silly
  16. embarrassed
  17. disgusted
  18. hungry
  19. thirsty
  20. freezing cold
  21. too hot
  22. itchy
  23. dizzy
  24. lonely
  25. worried
  26. brave
  27. relieved
  28. curious
  29. impatient
  30. sunburned
  31. brain freeze
  32. stage fright
  33. the giggles
  34. hiccups
  35. allergic to cats
  36. sore muscles
  37. stubbed toe
  38. lost
  39. late for school
  40. winning a prize
  41. losing a game
  42. first day of school
  43. eating a sour lemon
  44. grossed out
  45. ticklish

Hard phrases

  1. raining cats and dogs
  2. piece of cake
  3. break a leg
  4. spill the beans
  5. under the weather
  6. cold feet
  7. hit the road
  8. cry over spilled milk
  9. fish out of water
  10. cat nap
  11. night owl
  12. early bird
  13. couch potato
  14. butterflies in your stomach
  15. walking on eggshells
  16. head in the clouds
  17. on cloud nine
  18. elephant in the room
  19. in hot water
  20. pulling someone's leg
  21. hold your horses
  22. time flies
  23. break the ice
  24. cool as a cucumber
  25. busy as a bee
  26. needle in a haystack
  27. out of the blue
  28. over the moon
  29. missing the boat
  30. two left feet
  31. all thumbs
  32. sleeping like a log
  33. eating like a bird
  34. sitting on the fence
  35. hit the hay
  36. frog in your throat
  37. drawing a blank
  38. on thin ice
  39. parallel parking
  40. assembling furniture
  41. losing your phone
  42. a job interview
  43. stuck in traffic
  44. missing a flight
  45. a flat tire
  46. a broken umbrella
  47. the floor is lava
  48. stepping on a toy
  49. phone battery dying
  50. waiting in line
  51. forgetting someone's name
  52. talking while muted
  53. slow internet
  54. spilling coffee
  55. pigeon stealing lunch
  56. running for the bus
  57. trying to fall asleep
  58. pretending to work
  59. walking into glass
  60. a mosquito at night
  61. sleepwalking
  62. a surprise party
  63. a first driving lesson
  64. reading a map
  65. pitching a tent
  66. fixing a leaky faucet
  67. teaching grandma to text
  68. dog chasing its tail
  69. stuck in an elevator
  70. a bad hair day

Expert

  1. time travel
  2. gravity
  3. jet lag
  4. déjà vu
  5. procrastination
  6. photosynthesis
  7. the internet
  8. a black hole
  9. a solar eclipse
  10. an earthquake
  11. a tornado
  12. a volcano erupting
  13. an autocorrect fail
  14. buffering
  15. a software update
  16. airplane mode
  17. a group chat
  18. reply all
  19. a password reset
  20. a pop-up ad
  21. Monday morning
  22. a long weekend
  23. spring cleaning
  24. small talk
  25. an awkward silence
  26. a plot twist
  27. a cliffhanger
  28. slow motion
  29. magic trick fail
  30. a mirror maze
  31. a domino effect
  32. a chain reaction
  33. an escalator
  34. a time-lapse
  35. an optical illusion
  36. a tongue twister
  37. a quiet library
  38. an elevator pitch
  39. a standing ovation
  40. a photobomb
  41. a sugar rush
  42. a power nap
  43. a fire drill
  44. tip of the tongue
  45. a lost sock
  46. a parallel universe
  47. artificial intelligence
  48. virtual reality
  49. a 3D printer
  50. an ant farm
  51. the butterfly effect
  52. a robot vacuum
  53. a self-driving car
  54. a houseplant dying
  55. a spelling bee
  56. writer's block
  57. a second wind
  58. beginner's luck
  59. a photo finish
  60. an echo

FAQ

How many people do you need to play charades?

Four is a good minimum, so you can make two teams of two. Charades works well with up to about 20 people. With a big group, keep two teams and rotate who acts.

What are good charades ideas for kids?

Pick actions and animals kids already know: brushing teeth, flying a kite, a kangaroo, a penguin, blowing bubbles. The Easy for kids, Animals and Actions categories on this page are made for ages five and up.

What are the hand signals in charades?

The common ones are: fingers on your forearm for the number of words, then fingers for which word you are acting. Pretend to crank an old camera for a movie, open your hands like a book for a book title, and tug your ear for 'sounds like'.

How do you win charades?

Each correct guess is one point for the acting team. After an agreed number of rounds, or when everyone has acted once or twice, the team with the most points wins.

How long should each charades turn be?

Sixty seconds is the default here and suits most groups. Give young kids 90 seconds, and try 45 seconds once adults get fast.

Can you play charades over a video call?

Yes. One person shares the word privately with the actor by text, the actor performs on camera, and someone on each team keeps score. Make sure the actor's whole body fits in the frame.

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