How the charades generator works
Tap New word and act out what you see. The deck has 163 prompts in six categories, each marked easy, medium or hard. Use Hide word so the guessers cannot peek, start the timer, and track points for both teams on the same screen.
How to play charades
- Divide into two teams. Choose a round length: 60 seconds is standard.
- The actor hides the word, taps New word, and reads it privately.
- Start the timer and act it out without speaking. Your team shouts guesses.
- Score one point for a correct guess, then the other team takes a turn.
- Play to a target score or a set number of rounds.
Charades categories
- Actions: everyday moves like brushing teeth, plus tricky ones like parallel parking.
- Animals: from an easy monkey to "a cat chasing a laser".
- Jobs: chef, lifeguard, orchestra conductor.
- Sports: tennis, archery, synchronized swimming.
- Emotions: great for kids and drama warm-ups.
- Situations: mini stories such as "stuck in traffic" or "a power outage".
Playing with grown-ups only? Try the charades ideas for adults deck. Want to draw instead of act? Switch to the Pictionary word generator.
Tips for better acting
- Show the category first: flap your arms for an animal, or mime putting on a uniform for a job.
- Act the most famous part. For "riding a horse", hold the reins and bounce.
- Exaggerate. Bigger movements are easier to read across the room or on a webcam.
- If your team is stuck, break the phrase into smaller words using finger signals.
Charades word list (163 words)
Prefer paper? Cut the words into slips and draw them from a bowl.
Actions (43)
- brushing teeth
- sleeping
- eating spaghetti
- swimming
- crying
- laughing
- jumping rope
- walking a dog
- taking a selfie
- sneezing
- dancing
- driving a car
- reading a book
- playing guitar
- washing hands
- clapping
- flying a kite
- riding a horse
- changing a diaper
- building a snowman
- blowing up a balloon
- ironing clothes
- mowing the lawn
- catching a fish
- climbing a ladder
- playing the drums
- opening a stuck jar
- walking on ice
- making pancakes
- giving a dog a bath
- wrapping a present
- parallel parking
- assembling furniture
- untangling headphones
- stepping on a toy brick
- losing your keys
- getting stung by a bee
- waiting for a slow elevator
- trying to stay awake in class
- carrying too many groceries
- walking into a spider web
- sending a text to the wrong person
- juggling while riding a unicycle
Animals (30)
- dog
- cat
- monkey
- elephant
- chicken
- frog
- snake
- kangaroo
- penguin
- bunny
- fish
- bird
- gorilla
- flamingo
- crab
- octopus
- sloth
- peacock
- bat
- horse
- lion
- duck
- seal
- chameleon
- giraffe eating leaves
- a cat chasing a laser
- a bear catching a fish
- a dog chasing its tail
- an ostrich hiding its head
- a snake charmer's snake
Jobs (25)
- teacher
- doctor
- chef
- firefighter
- police officer
- singer
- farmer
- dentist
- hairdresser
- magician
- lifeguard
- waiter
- photographer
- pilot
- mail carrier
- painter
- DJ
- orchestra conductor
- mime
- air traffic controller
- news reporter
- tightrope walker
- sommelier
- lion tamer
- sign language interpreter
Sports (25)
- soccer
- basketball
- tennis
- swimming
- bowling
- boxing
- running
- golf
- surfing
- skiing
- archery
- baseball
- volleyball
- karate
- ice skating
- weightlifting
- synchronized swimming
- curling
- fencing
- pole vault
- figure skating
- sumo wrestling
- water polo
- rock climbing
- hurdles
Emotions (21)
- happy
- sad
- angry
- scared
- surprised
- sleepy
- nervous
- bored
- excited
- embarrassed
- confused
- proud
- jealous
- hungry
- suspicious
- relieved
- guilty
- disgusted
- heartbroken
- overwhelmed
- starstruck
Situations (19)
- birthday party
- going to the beach
- a snowball fight
- a pillow fight
- first day of school
- stuck in traffic
- a job interview
- a surprise party
- a roller coaster ride
- a haunted house
- a thunderstorm
- a picnic with ants
- losing your phone in the couch
- a zombie apocalypse
- a magic show gone wrong
- a cooking show
- a game of hide and seek
- a power outage
- a talent show audition
Frequently asked questions
What is a charades generator?
It is a tool that gives you a random word or phrase to act out in charades. It saves you from writing slips of paper and keeps the game moving.
What are the rules of charades?
One player silently acts out a word or phrase while their team guesses. The actor cannot speak, mouth words, spell letters or point at objects in the room. Teams take turns and score a point for every correct guess within the time limit.
What are good charades ideas?
Actions and situations work best because they have clear movements: brushing teeth, riding a horse, a roller coaster ride. This generator includes 163 prompts across actions, animals, jobs, sports, emotions and situations.
Can I play charades on a video call?
Yes. The actor opens this page on their own phone, keeps the word hidden from the camera, and acts it out on screen. It works well for remote team-building games.
What are the classic charades hand signals?
Touch your ear for "sounds like", hold up fingers to show the number of words, tap fingers on your arm for syllables, and make a big circle with your arms for "the whole thing".