How to play charades
Charades is a guessing game: one player acts out a word or title without speaking, and their team tries to guess it before time runs out. You need three or more people and something to pick words from.
Here is the quick version, followed by the signs most groups use and tips for playing with children or big crowds.
How to play, step by step
- Split into two teams. With three or four players, skip teams and play everyone-for-themselves.
- The first actor picks a word: tap Next in the generator, or draw a card from a bowl. Only the actor sees it.
- Start the timer (60 seconds is standard). The actor shows the category sign, then acts out the word in silence.
- Their team shouts guesses. A correct guess before time runs out scores a point.
- The other team takes a turn with a new actor. Keep going until everyone has acted, or until a team reaches the target score.
The rules everyone agrees on
No talking, mouthing words or spelling letters in the air. No pointing at objects in the room that give the answer away. Everything else, from sound effects to props, is up to your group, so agree before the first turn.
Playing with young children
Whisper the word or show a picture instead of making them read. Skip the syllable and "sounds like" signs, allow animal noises, and let shy children act in pairs. Short, easy words keep everyone involved; the starter list below is a good place to begin.
Playing with a big group
With ten or more, try reverse charades: the whole team acts and one person guesses. It keeps everyone busy and nobody has to perform alone.
Try it now
Taking out the trash
Starter words for your first round30 of 426
This set has 426 ideas. Start with "Brushing teeth", "Dog", "Noah's Ark" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.
- Brushing teethEasy
- DogEasy
- Noah's ArkEasy
- Blowing out candlesEasy
- The Very Hungry CaterpillarEasy
- PirateEasy
- Christmas treeEasy
- HappyEasy
- PizzaEasy
- DoctorEasy
- FrozenEasy
- FireworksEasy
- UmbrellaEasy
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarEasy
- SoccerEasy
- SpongeBob SquarePantsEasy
- Jumping ropeEasy
- CatEasy
- Adam and EveEasy
- Birthday cakeEasy
- The Cat in the HatEasy
- CowboyEasy
- SnowmanEasy
- SadEasy
- Hot dogEasy
- NurseEasy
- The Lion KingEasy
- Counting down to midnightEasy
- TrainEasy
- Baby SharkEasy
Questions
How many people do you need to play charades?
Three is the minimum: one actor and two guessers. Six or more lets you play in teams.
Can you make noises in charades?
Traditional charades is silent. Many families allow sound effects for young children; agree before you start.
How do you show the number of words?
Hold up that many fingers at the start. Then hold up one, two, three fingers to show which word you are acting.
What happens if nobody guesses?
No points are scored and play passes to the next team. Some groups let the other team steal with one guess.
How do you win charades?
The team with the most correct guesses after an agreed number of rounds wins. Or play to a target score, such as ten.