Relax Club

How to Play Charades: Rules, Tips and 60 Prompt Ideas

Learn the rules of charades, the classic hand signals, tips for acting and guessing, and 60 family-friendly prompt ideas sorted by category.

By Relax Club Editorial Team Published 3 min read
Woman acting out a charades clue in front of laughing friends sitting on a sofa
Charades is all about creativity, gestures and teamwork.
In this guide
  1. Basic rules
  2. Classic charades signals
  3. Tips for actors
  4. Tips for guessers
  5. 60 charades prompt ideas
  6. Fun variations
  7. The bottom line

Charades is one of the oldest and most loved party games. It needs no equipment, works for almost any group size and is fun for all ages. All you need is a little imagination and a willingness to look a bit silly.

Basic rules

  1. Split into two teams.
  2. Write prompts on slips of paper, such as movie titles, book titles, TV shows or everyday activities. Fold them and put each team's prompts in a separate bowl.
  3. Take turns. One player from a team draws a prompt from the other team's bowl and acts it out for their own team.
  4. No talking. The actor cannot speak, mouth words, spell out letters or point at objects in the room.
  5. Set a time limit, usually one to two minutes.
  6. Score a point if the team guesses the prompt before time runs out.
  7. Alternate teams until every prompt is used or you reach a set number of rounds. The team with the most points wins.

Classic charades signals

These traditional gestures help guessers narrow things down quickly.

What to show Common gesture
Movie Pretend to crank an old-fashioned movie camera
Book Hold your hands together like an open book
TV show Draw a rectangle in the air
Song Pretend to sing with your hand out
Number of words Hold up that many fingers
Which word you are acting Hold up fingers again for the word number
Number of syllables Lay fingers on your forearm
"Sounds like" Tug on your ear
Short word (a, the, of) Hold your thumb and finger close together
Whole concept Sweep your arms in a big circle
Getting close Wave your hand toward yourself, "keep going"

Tips for actors

  • Start with the big picture. If you can act out the whole idea at once, try that first.
  • Break it down. If not, signal the number of words and act them out one at a time.
  • Use "sounds like." For hard words, act out a word that rhymes.
  • Exaggerate. Big, clear movements are easier to guess.
  • React to guesses. Point at a guesser who is close or nod vigorously when someone gets a word right.

Tips for guessers

  • Say everything you think, even if it seems wrong. Shouting guesses is part of the fun.
  • Watch the signals. Remember the category and number of words.
  • Build on partial guesses. If someone says "running" and the actor nods, try "run," "runner" or "race."
Tip: For kids or mixed-age groups, skip the hand signals and use simple prompts like animals and everyday activities. Everyone can play right away.

60 charades prompt ideas

Animals

  1. Penguin
  2. Kangaroo
  3. Elephant
  4. Snake
  5. Monkey
  6. Flamingo
  7. Crab
  8. Giraffe
  9. Butterfly
  10. Octopus

Everyday activities

  1. Brushing your teeth
  2. Walking a dog
  3. Making a sandwich
  4. Doing laundry
  5. Washing a car
  6. Riding a bike
  7. Taking a selfie
  8. Building a sandcastle
  9. Mowing the lawn
  10. Baking a cake

Jobs

  1. Firefighter
  2. Chef
  3. Pilot
  4. Dentist
  5. Lifeguard
  6. Farmer
  7. Mail carrier
  8. Photographer
  9. Teacher
  10. Astronaut

Sports and hobbies

  1. Bowling
  2. Yoga
  3. Fishing
  4. Surfing
  5. Ice skating
  6. Golf
  7. Knitting
  8. Gardening
  9. Rock climbing
  10. Playing the drums

Things around the house

  1. Vacuum cleaner
  2. Microwave
  3. Alarm clock
  4. Umbrella
  5. Toaster
  6. Ceiling fan
  7. Washing machine
  8. Doorbell
  9. Bathtub
  10. Flashlight

Phrases and ideas

  1. Falling asleep in class
  2. Stuck in traffic
  3. Finding money in an old coat pocket
  4. Lost your keys
  5. Stepping on a Lego
  6. Opening a birthday present
  7. A first date
  8. Getting caught in the rain
  9. Running late for work
  10. Sneaking a cookie from the jar

Fun variations

  • Speed charades: Act out as many prompts as possible in one minute.
  • Reverse charades: The whole team acts out the prompt while one person guesses.
  • Theme night: Use only holiday, movie or decade-themed prompts.
  • Partner charades: Two people act out a prompt together.

The bottom line

Charades is simple, flexible and almost always hilarious. Learn a few classic signals, keep prompts appropriate for your group and do not be afraid to look silly. The best charades rounds are the ones everyone remembers for years.

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