Medium4–10 players·20–40 min
Taboo
Describe a word to your team without using the five most obvious clue words.
Taboo is a party word game published by Hasbro. One player must get their team to guess a target word without using the word itself or any of five listed "taboo" words — which are typically the most natural clues. For example, to get your team to say "PIANO" without using the words keys, music, play, instrument, or notes. A buzzer-wielding opponent monitors and penalises forbidden words.
How to play
- The clue-giver draws a card and has 60–90 seconds to get their team to say as many target words as possible.
- Each correctly guessed word scores one point for the team.
- Each taboo word used — spotted by the opposing team's buzzer holder — deducts one point.
- Clue-givers may pass on a card (with a penalty) if they find it too difficult.
Strategy tips
- Think laterally. If the obvious routes are blocked, describe the concept from an unexpected angle — its history, where you'd find it, how it feels, what it looks like.
- Use sentence frames: "You do this when..." or "The opposite of this is..." or "This is a type of..."
- Develop shorthand with your regular team — inside references and known associations let you communicate faster.
- Keep moving. A slow, careful clue for a hard word costs you time you could spend getting three easy words.