Charades ideas

More than 200 charades words and phrases, sorted so you can pick the right level for your group. Prefer a random pick with a timer and scores? Try the charades generator.

Charades for kids
Funny charades ideas
Everyday charades for teens and adults
Animal charades
Jobs and hobbies
Movie-style charades (no titles needed)

Charades for kids

hopping like a bunny
brushing your hair
eating spaghetti
walking like a robot
flying like a bird
a ticking clock
blowing bubbles
building a sandcastle
a busy bee
jumping rope
playing the drums
a sleepy baby
a monkey eating a banana
a bouncing ball
swinging on a swing
riding a bike
making a snowman
a dinosaur stomping
a snake slithering
washing your hands
putting on socks
a superhero flying
a tree in the wind
a melting ice cream
a crab walking sideways
a chicken laying an egg
a fish swimming
a roaring lion
a cat licking its paw
a dog wagging its tail
a frog catching a fly
licking an ice cream cone
building a block tower
climbing a tree
playing hide and seek
a teapot pouring tea
a train going choo choo
a firefighter spraying a hose
a doctor listening to a heartbeat
painting a picture
a ballerina spinning
a kangaroo bouncing
a butterfly flapping its wings
a turtle hiding in its shell
tiptoeing past a sleeping giant
eating a sour lemon
a popcorn kernel popping
a jack-in-the-box
a spinning windmill
an airplane landing
a race car
a penguin waddling
a puppy begging for a treat
a pirate looking through a telescope
a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat
a wizard casting a spell
a king sitting on a throne
a mermaid swimming
a scarecrow in the wind
a tiny mouse
a giant walking
brushing a horse

Funny charades ideas

a cat stuck in a tree
trying to eat soup with a fork
walking on a sticky floor
a dog meeting a vacuum cleaner
losing a flip-flop in the sand
a chicken learning to fly
sitting on a whoopee cushion
a penguin slipping on ice
trying to catch a fly
a bee buzzing inside the car
holding in a sneeze
hitting your funny bone
a seagull stealing your sandwich
walking into a glass door
a toddler having a tantrum
brain freeze from a slushie
a sloth in a hurry
gum stuck in your hair
shaking a stubborn ketchup bottle
a snowball down your back
grandpa showing off his dance moves
trying to fold a fitted sheet
squeezing into tight jeans
a mosquito buzzing at bedtime
an overexcited game show contestant
carrying all the grocery bags in one trip
dropping your phone on your face in bed
getting caught by a sprinkler
a robot running out of batteries
a statue trying not to move

Everyday charades for teens and adults

parallel parking
ordering at a busy coffee shop
a video call that keeps freezing
untangling headphones
looking for the remote
forgetting someone's name
jogging in the rain
searching for the phone in your hand
a job interview
cleaning out the fridge
setting up a tent
a power outage
a crowded subway ride
waiting on hold
learning to skateboard
trying a new recipe
sunburn after the beach
carrying a couch up the stairs
signing for a package
stuck in a revolving door
mowing the lawn
hosting a cooking show
a long road trip with kids
hiccups in a quiet room
reading tiny print
chasing a hat in the wind
a visit to the dentist
babysitting twins
washing the car
taking a group photo

Animal charades

a peacock showing off
a sloth hanging from a branch
a giraffe drinking water
a seal clapping
a crab pinching
a bat sleeping upside down
a dolphin jumping
a duck waddling
a hippo yawning
a hummingbird hovering
a woodpecker pecking
a spider spinning a web
a cow chewing grass
a rooster waking everyone up
a goat climbing a mountain
a bear catching a fish
a lizard on a hot rock
a hamster on a wheel
a caterpillar turning into a butterfly
a squirrel burying an acorn

Jobs and hobbies

a mime stuck in a box
a beekeeper
a lumberjack
a tightrope walker
a sculptor
a conductor leading an orchestra
a news anchor
a gardener
a window washer on a skyscraper
a baker kneading dough
a knitter
a bird watcher
a skydiver
a rock band drummer
a crossing guard
a fitness instructor
a plumber fixing a leak
a librarian saying shh
a gymnast on a balance beam
a sushi chef

Movie-style charades (no titles needed)

a superhero landing
a slow-motion escape from an explosion
a friendly zombie walking
a detective finding a clue
a cowboy riding into the sunset
a pirate captain steering through a storm
a spy sneaking past laser beams
a princess arriving at a royal ball
a knight bowing to the queen
an astronaut floating in zero gravity
an alien stepping out of a spaceship
a robot learning to dance
a nervous haunted house tour
a car chase
a giant monster stomping through a city
a last-second game-winning shot
a dance-off
singing and dancing in the rain
a castaway on a desert island
running from a giant rolling boulder
a time traveler arriving in the past
a dinosaur chasing explorers
a mad scientist celebrating a discovery
a ninja sneaking across a rooftop
a dramatic courtroom objection
a hero hanging from a cliff
a submarine diving deep
a ghost walking through a wall
a dramatic slow clap
a training montage
a marathon finish line
a sad goodbye at a train station
a villain's evil laugh
a surprise party
a road trip singalong
a jungle explorer swinging on a vine
a mummy waking up
a vampire avoiding sunlight
a martial arts master meditating
a cheerleading routine
a dragon flying over a castle
a lost hiker in a snowstorm
an earthquake in a disaster movie
a sci-fi teleporter
swinging saloon doors entrance
a fairy granting a wish

How to play charades

Split into two teams. One player draws a word and acts it out silently while their team guesses. You can hold up fingers to show the number of words, tug your ear for sounds like, and point at someone who is close. No talking, mouthing words or spelling in the air.

Give each turn 60 to 90 seconds, then switch teams. The charades generator keeps time and score so nobody has to watch the clock.

Choosing charades for different groups

Young kids: the kids and animal lists. Big movements, nothing to read.
Families: mix kids, animal and funny ideas so everyone can play.
Teens and adults: everyday moments and movie-style scenes, which reward creative acting.
Classrooms: jobs and actions double as vocabulary practice for ESL students.

Movie charades without movie titles

Classic movie charades depends on everyone knowing the same films. Our movie-style list swaps titles for scenes everyone has seen in some form, like a superhero landing or a dramatic slow clap. Kids and grandparents can guess them equally well.

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Questions

What are good charades ideas for kids?

Animals and simple actions work best, such as hopping like a bunny, a penguin waddling or blowing bubbles. Kids can act them out with their whole body and guessers recognize them quickly.

What are some funny charades ideas?

Everyday mishaps are the funniest: trying to fold a fitted sheet, holding in a sneeze or a seagull stealing your sandwich.

What are the hand signals in charades?

Hold up fingers for the number of words, tap your forearm for syllables, tug your ear for sounds like, and touch your nose when someone guesses right.

How long should a charades turn be?

One minute works for kids and fast games. Give adults up to 90 seconds for longer phrases.