This charades generator picks a random word or phrase for you to act out, so nobody has to spend ten minutes writing slips before the game. Choose a category or leave it on all, tap the button and show the word only to the actor. There are 360 ideas across ten categories, from easy words for kids to Christmas, Halloween and hard abstract words.
How to use the charades generator
- Split into teams. Two teams is the classic setup. The random team generator can split the room for you.
- Pass the phone to the actor. The actor taps the button and reads the word without letting their team see it.
- Start the timer. Most groups allow 1 to 3 minutes per turn.
- Act it out. No talking, no mouthing words and no pointing at objects that give the answer.
- Score and pass. Award a point for a correct guess, then pass the phone to the other team. Keep track on the scorekeeper.
New to the game? Read the full charades rules, including the hand signals for words and syllables.
Which category to pick
- Easy for kids: everyday actions like brushing teeth and blowing bubbles. Perfect for ages 4 to 8.
- Animals, jobs and sports: quick to act and easy to guess, so they work for mixed ages and big families.
- Actions, objects and places: a good middle level for teens and adults.
- Christmas and Halloween: seasonal words for holiday parties.
- Hard: abstract ideas like procrastination, nostalgia and jet lag. Use these for adults who have played before.
All charades words and ideas
Prefer to read through the words or print them out? Here is the full list by category. Cut them into slips for a classic game with a bowl.
Easy for kids
- Brushing teeth
- Jumping rope
- Eating ice cream
- Riding a bike
- Sleeping
- Crying baby
- Swimming
- Flying a kite
- Blowing bubbles
- Reading a book
- Throwing a ball
- Clapping hands
- Washing hands
- Drinking milk
- Building a sandcastle
- Dancing
- Playing the drums
- Brushing hair
- Tying shoes
- Climbing a ladder
- Hugging a teddy bear
- Opening a present
- Licking a lollipop
- Waving goodbye
- Hopping like a bunny
- Sneezing
- Yawning
- Painting a picture
- Bouncing a ball
- Playing hide and seek
- Putting on a coat
- Going down a slide
- Rocking a baby
- Taking a bath
- Blowing out candles
- Picking flowers
Animals
- Elephant
- Monkey
- Kangaroo
- Penguin
- Snake
- Giraffe
- Frog
- Lion
- Chicken
- Dog
- Cat
- Horse
- Rabbit
- Duck
- Crab
- Fish
- Bird
- Bear
- Owl
- Butterfly
- Spider
- Dolphin
- Gorilla
- Turtle
- Shark
- Flamingo
- Octopus
- Crocodile
- Cow
- Pig
- Sheep
- Bee
- Squirrel
- Peacock
- Sloth
- Camel
Actions
- Juggling
- Skipping
- Ironing clothes
- Vacuuming
- Taking a selfie
- Typing on a keyboard
- Walking a dog
- Making a bed
- Washing a car
- Mowing the lawn
- Changing a light bulb
- Doing push ups
- Rowing a boat
- Riding a horse
- Climbing a mountain
- Hammering a nail
- Sewing a button
- Chopping vegetables
- Flipping pancakes
- Shoveling snow
- Raking leaves
- Fishing
- Knitting
- Brushing a dog
- Hailing a taxi
- Carrying heavy groceries
- Walking on ice
- Opening a stuck jar
- Blowing up a balloon
- Catching a fly
- Putting on makeup
- Shaving
- Waiting for a bus
- Getting a haircut
- Doing laundry
- Popping popcorn
Jobs
- Doctor
- Teacher
- Firefighter
- Police officer
- Chef
- Pilot
- Dentist
- Astronaut
- Farmer
- Hairdresser
- Mail carrier
- Photographer
- Lifeguard
- Plumber
- Painter
- Builder
- Waiter
- Magician
- Clown
- Scientist
- Nurse
- Mechanic
- Bus driver
- Librarian
- Gardener
- Carpenter
- Veterinarian
- Baker
- Judge
- Referee
- Musician
- Zookeeper
- Tailor
- Cashier
- Lumberjack
- Sailor
Objects
- Umbrella
- Telephone
- Toothbrush
- Scissors
- Camera
- Guitar
- Ladder
- Hammer
- Clock
- Mirror
- Balloon
- Kite
- Computer
- Bicycle
- Hair dryer
- Remote control
- Backpack
- Lamp
- Pillow
- Candle
- Broom
- Book
- Glasses
- Spoon
- Key
- Door
- Washing machine
- Refrigerator
- Trumpet
- Flashlight
- Stapler
- Fan
- Hat
- Zipper
- Sunglasses
- Teapot
Sports
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Water polo
- Boxing
- Golf
- Baseball
- Bowling
- Skiing
- Surfing
- Skateboarding
- Ice skating
- Gymnastics
- Volleyball
- Cycling
- Karate
- Archery
- Wrestling
- Fencing
- Rowing
- Badminton
- Table tennis
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Weightlifting
- Diving
- Running a race
- High jump
- Long jump
- Pole vault
- Snowboarding
- Rock climbing
- Yoga
- Football
- Trampolining
- Javelin throw
Places
- Beach
- Library
- Zoo
- Hospital
- Airport
- Supermarket
- Restaurant
- Movie theater
- Swimming pool
- Gym
- Farm
- Campsite
- Desert
- Jungle
- School
- Museum
- Circus
- Bakery
- Train station
- Amusement park
- Playground
- Ski resort
- Dentist's office
- Space station
- Castle
- Volcano
- Island
- Hair salon
- Car wash
- Bowling alley
- Aquarium
- Waterfall
- Igloo
- Lighthouse
- Post office
- Fire station
Christmas
- Santa Claus
- Reindeer
- Elf
- Decorating the tree
- Wrapping presents
- Snowman
- Sledding
- Hanging stockings
- Christmas lights
- Gingerbread house
- Candy cane
- Caroling
- Snowball fight
- Mistletoe
- Chimney
- Sleigh ride
- Shaking a gift box
- Hot cocoa
- Christmas cookies
- Ugly sweater
- Star on top of the tree
- Ornament
- Toy soldier
- Fireplace
- Snowflake
- Building a snow fort
- Advent calendar
- Wreath
- Christmas dinner
- Writing a letter to Santa
- North Pole
- Polar bear
- Ringing a bell
- Angel
- Making a snow angel
- Leaving cookies for Santa
Halloween
- Ghost
- Witch
- Vampire
- Zombie
- Mummy
- Werewolf
- Skeleton
- Black cat
- Bat
- Pumpkin
- Carving a pumpkin
- Trick or treating
- Haunted house
- Spider web
- Broomstick
- Cauldron
- Monster
- Scarecrow
- Graveyard
- Candy corn
- Costume party
- Bobbing for apples
- Full moon
- Howling at the moon
- Creaky door
- Casting a spell
- Pirate
- Superhero costume
- Princess
- Robot costume
- Ninja
- Haunted hayride
- Fortune teller
- Mad scientist
- Witch's hat
- Telling a scary story
Hard
- Daydreaming
- Jealousy
- Procrastination
- Gravity
- Deja vu
- Time travel
- Writer's block
- Climate change
- Photosynthesis
- Echo
- Nostalgia
- Sarcasm
- Brainstorm
- Rush hour
- Jet lag
- Hiccups
- Stage fright
- Peer pressure
- Forgetting a password
- Traffic jam
- Sleepwalking
- Static electricity
- Reflection
- Evolution
- Democracy
- Recycling
- Gossip
- Insomnia
- Optical illusion
- Imagination
- Earthquake
- Eclipse
- Tornado
- Hibernation
- Teamwork
- Allergies
Tips for a better game
- Mix the categories. Leaving the generator on all categories keeps every turn a surprise.
- Allow one skip. Let each actor skip one word per turn if it is too hard.
- Try reverse charades. The whole team acts while one player guesses, which is great for shy groups.
- Play speed rounds. Give each actor 60 seconds to act out as many words as they can.
- Use it for the Indian version too. The same words work well for dumb charades, and the holiday sets suit Christmas party games and Halloween party games.
Questions people ask
How does the charades generator work?
Choose a category or leave it on all, then tap the button to get a random word or phrase from our list of 360 ideas. Show it only to the actor. Tap again for the next turn.
What are good charades ideas for kids?
Simple actions and animals work best, such as brushing teeth, flying a kite, hopping like a bunny, elephant and penguin. The easy for kids category has 36 ideas made for ages 4 to 8. Let young kids add sound effects to make it easier.
What are some funny charades ideas for adults?
Try everyday struggles like opening a stuck jar, walking on ice, catching a fly or forgetting a password. The hard category adds tricky ideas like sarcasm and writer's block. Funny ideas get the biggest laughs when the actor really commits to the scene.
Is there a Christmas charades generator?
Yes. Choose the Christmas category to get only holiday words such as wrapping presents, sleigh ride, snowball fight and hanging stockings. There is also a Halloween category with ideas like zombie, carving a pumpkin and bobbing for apples.
Can I use these words for dumb charades?
Yes. Every word here works in dumb charades, the Indian version of the game. Use the standard signs for the number of words and syllables, and choose the hard category for experienced players.