Want to liven up your next party or gathering? Ditch the small talk and embrace the hilarious chaos of Charades, a classic party game with roots in 18th-century France. This engaging and easy-to-learn acting and guessing game involves players (or teams) communicating through silent gestures and creative interpretations, turning simple words and phrases into laugh-out-loud entertainment. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a first-time player, Charades guarantees an unforgettable social experience filled with fun, laughter, and perhaps a touch of dramatic flair. Get ready to unleash your inner actor and put your guessing skills to the test!
How to Play Charades

Setting Up a Charades Game:
To start a game of Charades, gather your group and divide everyone into two or more teams. Ideally, teams should have an equal number of players for balanced competition, but don’t worry if you have an odd number. A neutral player can act as the “word master”, or simply embrace the slight imbalance. You’ll need some basic game materials: paper, pens, and optionally a timer for each round.
After dividing into teams, each player writes down several words or phrases on slips of paper. Aim for a mix of easy and challenging options to keep the game dynamic. Stumped for ideas? Use these common Charades categories as inspiration:
Category | Gesture | Examples |
---|---|---|
Book Title | Open your hands as if opening a book | The Cat in the Hat, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hunger Games |
Movie Title | Pretend to crank an old-fashioned film camera | Frozen, The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars, Jurassic Park |
Song Title | Mime singing (no sound!) | Bohemian Rhapsody, Happy Birthday, Let It Go, Stairway to Heaven |
TV Show Title | Draw a rectangle in the air like a TV screen | Friends, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, The Simpsons |
Play Title | Mime pulling open stage curtains | Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera |
Quote | Make air quotes with your fingers | “To be or not to be,” “Life is like a box of chocolates,” “May the Force be with you” |
Object | Pretend to hold and use the object | Toothbrush, phone, key, umbrella, hammer |
Action/Activity | Mime the action or activity | Brushing your teeth, playing basketball, driving a car, painting a picture |
Stuck for ideas? We provided examples of Charades word lists in the last section.
Playing a Charades Round:
With your word slips ready, a player from one team selects a slip without peeking and prepares their performance. The actor must communicate the secret word or phrase solely through non-verbal cues: gestures, facial expressions, and body language. Absolutely no talking or sound effects are allowed!
Set a timer for each round (one to three minutes is typical), and let the acting begin! Teammates work together to guess the word or phrase, using logical deduction and building on each other’s suggestions. A close guess may earn a subtle nod or head shake from the actor as a non-verbal clue.
A successful guess within the time limit earns the team a point. If time runs out and the mystery remains unsolved, no points are awarded. However, the shared laughter and creative attempts are often reward enough.
Scoring and Winning the Game
Gameplay continues with teams taking turns acting and guessing. The first team to achieve a predetermined number of points wins the game.
Traditional scoring involves awarding one point per correct guess. However, feel free to introduce variations to customize your Charades experience, such as bonus points for exceptionally creative acting or quick guesses, or even penalties for incorrect guesses. House rules can add a unique and fun twist to the game!
Charades Gestures and Signals: Mastering Non-Verbal Communication

Gestures and signals form the heart of Charades, your toolkit for non-verbal communication. Mastering these will elevate your game from fumbling beginner to confident Charades pro.
Essential Gestures – The Foundation of Your Charades Vocabulary
Categories: Clearly indicating the category of a word or phrase sets the stage for successful guessing. Clarity in these initial gestures is paramount. Here are some standard category indicators:
- Book Title: Open your hands as if opening a book (e.g., Moby Dick).
- Movie Title: Mimic cranking an old-fashioned film camera (e.g., Citizen Kane).
- Song Title: Pretend to sing (silently!), perhaps holding an imaginary microphone (e.g., Bohemian Rhapsody).
- TV Show Title: Draw a rectangle in the air to represent a TV screen (e.g., Stranger Things).
- Play Title: Mime pulling open stage curtains (e.g., Hamlet).
- Quote: Make air quotes with your fingers (e.g., “To be or not to be”).
- Object: Pretend to hold the object (e.g., a toothbrush).
- Action/Activity: Mime the action or activity (e.g., playing tennis).
Number of Words/Which Word: Indicate the total number of words in the phrase by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. Then, use your fingers again to show which word you’re currently acting out.
Syllables/Word Length: Tap the number of syllables on your forearm. For word length, pinch your fingers together for a short word, extend your arms wide for a long word, or “chop” a long word into syllables with a karate-chop motion.
“Sounds Like”: Cup your hand behind your ear to indicate a phonetic similarity.
Common Words: Use these shortcuts for frequently occurring words:
- “A”: Point to your thumb.
- “The”: Make a “T” shape with your hands.
- “And”: Link your pinky fingers.
“On the Nose”: Point to your nose and then point to the person who made the correct guess to confirm their accuracy.
Advanced Gestures – Taking Your Skills to the Next Level
Tense (Past, Present, Future):
- Past Tense: Sweep your hand back over your shoulder, as if indicating something that happened in the past. Example: For “walked,” mime walking, then perform the past tense gesture.
- Present Tense: Point downwards towards your open palm facing upwards, like you’re presenting something currently happening. Example: For “singing,” mime singing, then perform the present tense gesture.
- Future Tense: Point forward, as if pointing towards the future. Example: For “will dance,” mime dancing, then perform the future tense gesture.
Plurals: Link your pinky fingers together. Example: For “apples,” mime holding and eating an apple, then link your pinky fingers.
Word Length Variations
- Shorter Word: Pinch your thumb and index finger close together, leaving a small space between them. Example: For “cat,” hold up three fingers for the number of letters, then use the “shorter word” gesture.
- Longer Word: Extend both arms out to the sides, indicating a longer word. Example: For “elephant,” hold up eight fingers for the number of letters, then use the “longer word” gesture.
Indicating Letters of the Alphabet: Adopt a consistent system like tapping on your arm. You can divide your arm into segments (upper arm, forearm, wrist) or use finger positions for more precise indication:
- A-E: Tap the top of your arm near the shoulder, then use fingers 1-5 respectively for the letters A through E. Example: For “A,” tap high on your arm and then hold up your first finger or tap your thumb.
- F-J: Tap the middle of your upper arm and then use fingers 1-5 for F through J.
- K-O: Tap your forearm near your elbow and then use fingers 1-5.
- P-T: Tap the middle of your forearm and then use fingers 1-5.
- U-Y: Tap your wrist and then use fingers 1-5 (skipping over W since it uses two gestures).
- Z: Tap the palm of your hand.
- W: Tap the wrist for “U” through “Y” and perform two fingers using the W gesture.
Example using the letter system:
To convey the word “DOG”:
- Hold up three fingers to indicate a three-word phrase or letter.
- Indicate and spell the first letter “D”: Tap near your elbow, and then hold up/tap your fourth finger.
- Indicate and spell the second letter “O”: Tap the middle of your forearm and then hold up/tap your fifth finger.
- Indicate and spell the third letter “G”: Tap near your elbow, then hold up/tap your seventh finger for G.
Proper Nouns (Person, Place, or Thing): Use these gestures to clarify proper nouns: pointing to your palm for a person, making a circle with your fingers for a place, and miming holding the object for a thing.
Foreign Words: Translating foreign words requires a strategic approach. Try breaking the word down phonetically using “sounds like” gestures, acting out related concepts, or even miming the stereotypical actions or objects associated with the word’s country of origin.
By mastering these essential and advanced Charades gestures, you’ll significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively and have a blast playing the game. Remember, clear and distinct gestures are key to successful Charades performances!
Charades Variations and Advanced Rules

Ready to transform your Charades skills from basic to brilliant? These game variations and advanced rules will inject a fresh dose of fun and challenge into your gameplay, offering endless opportunities for customized entertainment.
Themed Charades – Focus the Fun
Thematic variations add a unique spin to your Charades experience. Tailor the game to your group’s shared interests with these themed charades ideas:
- Niche Themes:
- 80s Movie Mania: Think iconic films like Back to the Future, The Goonies, E.T., or Ghostbusters.
- Disney Delights: From animated classics like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast to live-action hits like Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Literary Legends: Challenge your bookworms with titles like Pride and Prejudice, The Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter.
- Rockin’ Charades: Focus on song titles from specific genres like classic rock, pop, or country.
- Decades: Transport your game back in time with themes like 80s movies, 90s songs, or 70s TV shows.
- Genres: Narrow your focus to specific genres like horror films, fantasy books, comedies, or musicals.
- Holidays: Celebrate festive occasions with themed Charades around Christmas carols, Halloween costumes, or Thanksgiving dishes.
Pictionary-Charades Mashup: Combine the excitement of Charades with the creative challenge of Pictionary. Alternate between acting and drawing for a hilarious hybrid game experience.
Charades with Props:
- Hats: A cowboy hat for a Western theme, a chef’s hat for cooking-related words, a crown for royalty.
- Scarves: A superhero cape, a magician’s scarf, a pirate’s bandana.
- Kitchen Utensils: A whisk for baking, a spatula for cooking, a rolling pin for…well, rolling!
Team Challenges – Amplify the Competition
Add a strategic layer and boost engagement with these team challenges:
- Point Stealing: If a team can’t guess their word, the opposing team has the opportunity to steal the point. (Specific rules for point stealing can be established beforehand.)
- Option 1 (Timed Steal): If the acting team runs out of time, the other team has a set amount of time (e.g., 15 seconds) to confer and make one guess.
- Option 2 (Open Steal): If the acting team runs out of time, any player from the other team can shout out a guess. The first correct guess steals the point.
- Option 3 (Clue-Based Steal): If the acting team is struggling, the opposing team can “buy” a clue from the word master for a point deduction.
- Bonus Rounds: Example Bonus Round Ideas:
- Ridiculously Long Phrases: Challenge teams with movie quotes, song lyrics, or book titles that are exceptionally long.
- Tongue Twisters: Incorporate tongue twisters for an added layer of difficulty and hilarity.
- Expert Level: Use obscure words or phrases related to specific fields like science, history, or literature.
- Challenge Categories: Designate specific rounds with challenging categories like “Foreign Words and Phrases” or “Celebrity Names” to test players’ knowledge and creativity.
Difficulty Levels – Customize the Challenge
Tailor the challenge to your players’ experience levels:
Beginner (New to Charades or Younger Players):
- Simple Words & Phrases: Stick to easily recognizable words and actions. Avoid complex phrases or abstract concepts.
- Longer Time Limits: Give beginners more time to act and guess (e.g., 3 minutes).
- Skip Point Stealing: Focus on collaborative fun rather than intense competition.
- Themed Charades: Choose broad, accessible themes like “Animals”, “Foods”, or “Actions”.
Intermediate (Comfortable with the Basics):
- Longer Phrases & More Complex Words: Introduce more challenging words and phrases, including some idioms or common expressions.
- Standard Time Limits: Use a standard time limit of 1-2 minutes.
- Introduce Point Stealing (Optional): Add a competitive edge with point stealing. Start with the “Timed Steal” option for a more balanced approach.
- Themed Charades: Explore more specific themes like “Movie Titles”, “Book Titles”, or “Song Titles”.
- Charades with Props (Optional): Introduce props to encourage more creative acting.
Advanced (Charades Enthusiasts):
- Obscure Words & Phrases, Quotes, and Tongue Twisters: Challenge experienced players with complex and less common words, phrases, quotes, or tongue twisters.
- Shorter Time Limits: Shorten the time limits to increase the pressure (e.g., 1 minute or less).
- Point Stealing (Recommended): Use any of the point-stealing variations to heighten the competition.
- Themed Charades: Explore niche themes, challenging genres (e.g., foreign films, classic literature), or combine categories (e.g., “Books and Movies”).
- Charades with Props (Recommended): Encourage creative prop use for an added challenge.
- Bonus Rounds: Incorporate bonus rounds with highly challenging words or phrases.
- Challenge Categories: Introduce specific challenge categories like “Foreign Words and Phrases” or “Celebrity Names.”
By incorporating these variations and advanced rules, you can customize your Charades games to match your group’s preferences, creating a truly unforgettable and entertaining social experience.
Tips and Strategies for Charades Success

Some Charades phrases are notoriously difficult to act out. But don’t worry! These expert strategies will equip you to handle even the most challenging words and phrases with confidence and creative flair.
Deconstructing Complex Words – A Linguistic Approach:
- Syllable Breakdown: For long or unusual words like “onomatopoeia”, break them down syllable by syllable. Clearly indicate the number of syllables using fingers on your forearm, then act out each syllable individually.
- Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes: Identify the root word and act it out. Use clear gestures to indicate prefixes (e.g., “un-“, “pre-“) or suffixes (e.g., “-ing”, “-ed”).
Thinking Outside the Box – Unleashing Your Creativity:
- Word Association and Related Concepts: Explore connections between words and related ideas. If the word is “ocean”, mime swimming, waves, or marine life. This encourages indirect guessing based on association.
- Abstract Concepts: Abstract words like “love”, “justice”, or “democracy” require symbolic representation. Use metaphors, visual representations (e.g., scales for “justice”), or even well-known allegorical figures.
- Famous Characters or Quotes: If a word reminds you of a famous character (e.g., Yoda for “wisdom”) or a famous quote, act that out to prompt recognition.
Advanced Mime Techniques – Mastering Non-Verbal Communication:
- Build a Scene: Create a mini-scene that incorporates multiple words from the phrase, providing valuable context for your team.
- Levels and Spatial Relationships: Use different levels (high, medium, low) and spatial relationships (near, far, above, below) to add depth and clarity to your performance, enhancing your non-verbal communication.
- Pace and Energy Control: Vary your pace and energy to create dramatic tension and highlight key gestures.
Mastering the Mental Game:
- Stay Calm Under Pressure: A difficult phrase can be daunting, but staying calm and focused is crucial. Take a deep breath and analyze the word or phrase before jumping into your performance.
- Anticipate Your Team’s Guesses: Consider your team’s knowledge base and anticipate their likely guesses. This allows you to provide helpful clues and guide them towards the correct answer. Be prepared to adapt your acting based on their guesses, demonstrating audience awareness.
- Embrace the Fun: Charades is a social game meant to be enjoyed! Embrace the silliness, and remember that shared laughter is a win, even if the word goes unguessed.
By incorporating these advanced strategies and techniques, you’ll become a true Charades expert, confidently conveying even the most complex words and phrases. Remember, practice makes perfect! Experiment with these techniques to discover what works best for you and your team. Have fun!
Charades Word Lists
Need some word list inspiration to fuel your next Charades game? Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate player, or a seasoned Charades champion, these curated and categorized word lists offer a treasure trove of ideas.
Word Lists by Difficulty
We’ve organized these word lists by difficulty to cater to all skill levels:
Easy:
- Actions: Sleeping, eating, running, jumping, singing, dancing, reading, writing, brushing teeth, driving
- Animals: Cat, dog, bird, fish, lion, elephant, monkey, snake, frog, bear
- Objects: Table, chair, book, pen, mobile phone, key, shoe, hat, ball, house
- Foods: Apple, banana, pizza, ice cream, bread, milk, cheese, egg, cake, candy
Medium:
- Movie Titles: Frozen, Titanic, Toy Story, The Lion King, Star Wars, Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter
- Book Titles: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Green Eggs and Ham, Charlotte’s Web, The Cat in the Hat
- Activities: Playing guitar, riding a bike, taking a photo, watching TV, cooking dinner, playing video games
- Occupations: Doctor, teacher, chef, police officer, firefighter, astronaut, musician, artist, actor
Hard:
- Phrases: A piece of cake, break a leg, once in a blue moon, raining cats and dogs, bite the bullet
- Movie Titles: The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Inception, The Godfather, Citizen Kane
- Book Titles: Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Moby Dick
- Abstract Concepts: Love, happiness, fear, anger, justice, freedom, courage
Themed Word Lists
Explore these themed lists for even more targeted Charades fun:
- Animals (Advanced): Aardvark, platypus, chimpanzee, chameleon, octopus, rhinoceros, penguin
- Jobs/Occupations (Advanced): Architect, veterinarian, paleontologist, software engineer, librarian
- Around the House: Microwave, refrigerator, toaster, blender, vacuum cleaner, iron, washing machine