29/05/2017
Are you looking to inject some creative chaos and laughter into your next gathering? Look no further than Pictionary, the classic drawing and guessing game that has entertained families and friends for decades. Known in France as 'Dessiner c'est gagner' – literally 'To draw is to win' – this game is a fantastic way to spark creativity, test communication skills, and simply have a brilliant time. However, a common challenge many players face is running out of inspiration for words or phrases to draw. If you've ever found yourself staring at a blank card, racking your brain for an idea, then this comprehensive guide is for you.
Whether you're planning a fun afternoon with the kids or an uproarious evening with adults, having a diverse list of prompts is key to keeping the game fresh and exciting. From simple objects to complex idioms, the right word can transform a quiet moment into a flurry of frantic drawing and hilarious guesses. Below, we'll delve into the rules, offer strategic tips, and provide extensive word lists tailored for all ages and skill levels, ensuring your next Pictionary session is nothing short of legendary.
How to Play Pictionary: The Essentials
The premise of Pictionary is wonderfully simple, yet it offers endless entertainment. The core objective is to draw a word or phrase for your teammates or opponents to guess within a time limit, usually one minute. No talking, writing letters, or hand gestures are allowed – only drawing! Here's a breakdown of the typical rules:
- Setup: You'll need paper or a whiteboard, pens or markers, and a timer. A list of words and phrases, like the ones provided here, is essential.
- Teams or Individuals: Pictionary can be played in two main ways. You can divide into teams, with players from each team taking turns to draw. Alternatively, players can compete individually, with everyone guessing and the drawer getting a point if their word is guessed, or the guesser getting a point.
- The Drawer's Role: When it's your turn to draw, you'll pick a word or phrase from a pre-determined list. Your goal is to convey that word or phrase solely through drawings. You cannot speak, mouth words, or use any symbols that directly represent letters or numbers.
- The Guessers' Role: Your teammates (or other players, if playing individually) must shout out their guesses. The first person or team to correctly guess the word or phrase before the timer runs out earns a point.
- Scoring: Each correctly guessed word usually earns one point. The game continues until a predetermined score is reached, for example, the first team or player to reach 15 points wins.
- Time Limit: A minute-long timer adds a frantic and exciting element to the game. When the timer runs out, the turn ends, whether the word was guessed or not.
Why Pictionary is a UK Household Favourite
Beyond its straightforward rules, Pictionary offers a wealth of benefits that make it a perennial favourite for social gatherings:
- Boosts Creativity: It forces players to think outside the box and find visual representations for abstract concepts or everyday objects. This creative problem-solving is incredibly engaging.
- Enhances Communication: While spoken words are forbidden for the drawer, the game is all about non-verbal communication. Players learn to convey ideas through lines, shapes, and symbols, and guessers learn to interpret them.
- Promotes Laughter: The often-hilarious attempts at drawing, combined with wildly off-base guesses, guarantee plenty of laughter and memorable moments. It’s hard to stay serious when someone is trying to draw 'chickenpox'!
- Inclusive Fun: Pictionary is suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities. Whether you're a seasoned artist or can barely draw a stick figure, everyone can participate and contribute to the fun. Younger children can enjoy simpler words, while adults can tackle more complex phrases and idioms.
- Breaks the Ice: It’s an excellent icebreaker for new groups, as it encourages interaction and light-hearted competition without the pressure of deep conversation.
Essential Word Lists for Every Game
The key to a truly great Pictionary game lies in the words. Here, we've compiled extensive lists, carefully translated and adapted for a UK English audience, ranging from simple nouns for beginners to challenging idioms for the most seasoned players. Remember to choose words appropriate for your group's age and experience level.
Easy Words for Beginners & Kids
These words are perfect for younger players or anyone new to Pictionary. They represent common objects or simple actions that are relatively easy to visualise and draw.
| Category | Easy Words |
|---|---|
| Animals | Mouse, Lion, Crocodile, Squirrel, Whale, Seahorse, Dinosaur, Parrot |
| Objects | Watch, Computer, Ring, Pizza, Scissors, Lipstick, Scarf, Chair, Gift, Ball, Glasses, Watering Can, Domino, Fork, Rubbish Bin, Ice Cream, Safe, Igloo, Calendar, Chimney, Sock, Card Game, Pencil Case, Dog Kennel, Beehive |
| Food/Drink | Leek, Artichoke, Brussels Sprout |
| People/Roles | Fisherman, Grandma, Knight, Pirate, Magician, Father Christmas, Mummy, Actor |
| Places/Events | Circus, Easter Egg, Snowman, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Halloween |
| Body/Health | Index Finger, Knee, Chickenpox |
| Actions | To Fish, Hitchhiking |
More Challenging Words for Seasoned Players
Ready to step it up a notch? These words require a bit more thought and creativity to draw, making them ideal for groups looking for a greater challenge.
| Category | Challenging Words |
|---|---|
| People/Roles | Midwife, Plumber, President, Puppeteer, Shepherd, Genie, Beautician, Tailor, Film Director, Surgeon, Model (person) |
| Animals | Polar Bear, Mammoth, Anteater, Sea Urchin, Sperm Whale |
| Objects/Concepts | Limousine, Electrical Socket, Oil Lamp, Dispenser, Modelling Clay, Flour, Mayonnaise, Twitter (or X) |
| Food | Oyster, Mussel |
| Abstract/Events | Spring, Saturday, Caving |
| Sports/Activities | Boules (or Petanque), Judo, Curling, Formula 1, Field Hockey, Squash (sport) |
| Actions | To Move House, To Crawl, To Sneeze, To Give Birth |
| Family | Nephew |
Dynamic Actions & Phrases
Drawing actions and full phrases adds an extra layer of complexity and fun. These often require a sequence of drawings or the representation of a concept rather than a single object.
| Category | Actions & Phrases |
|---|---|
| Everyday Actions | Skipping Rope, Washing the Dishes, Delivering a Parcel, Playing the Ukulele, Making Pancakes, Milking a Cow, Eating a Hamburger, Sending a Text Message, Chopping Wood, Walking the Dog, Watching TV, Climbing a Tree, Playing with Lego, Brushing Teeth, Brushing Hair, Lighting a Candle, Hanging out the Washing, Playing Poker, Doing Homework, Picking Apples, Picking Mushrooms, Changing a Baby's Nappy, Dancing the Tango, Slamming a Door, Mowing the Lawn |
| Specific Situations | Reading a Braille Book, Singing La Marseillaise, Having Toothache, Preparing Raclette, Skydiving, Diving off a Diving Board, Palm Reading, Falling in Love, Having an Idea, Running a Marathon, Being Late |
Tricky Idioms & Sayings
For the ultimate Pictionary challenge, these idioms and common sayings will truly test your drawing and guessing prowess. You'll need to think metaphorically!
| French Idiom (Literal Meaning) | UK English Equivalent / Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse (A rolling stone gathers no moss) | A rolling stone gathers no moss |
| Un de ces quatre (One of these four) | One of these days |
| Les doigts dans le nez (Fingers in the nose) | Easy peasy / With one's eyes closed |
| Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre (To want the butter and the money from the butter) | To want your cake and eat it too |
| Toucher du bois (To touch wood) | Touch wood |
| Regarder les mouches voler (To watch flies fly) | To watch the grass grow / To be idle |
| Pisser dans un violon (To piss in a violin) | Flogging a dead horse / A waste of time |
| Dormir sur ses deux oreilles (To sleep on one's two ears) | To sleep like a log |
| Prendre son pied (To take one's foot) | To have a blast / To really enjoy oneself |
| L'habit ne fait pas le moine (The habit does not make the monk) | Don't judge a book by its cover |
| Poser un lapin (To put down a rabbit) | To stand someone up (for a date) |
| Cucul la praline (Praline butt) | Corny / Naive / Silly |
| Au ras des pâquerettes (At daisy level) | Down to earth / Very common or trivial |
| Pleurer à chaudes larmes (To cry hot tears) | To cry one's eyes out |
| Tomber dans les pommes (To fall into the apples) | To faint |
| C'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet (It's white bonnet and white bonnet) | Six of one, half a dozen of the other |
| Un froid de canard (A duck cold) | Freezing cold / Bitterly cold |
| Tourner autour du pot (To turn around the pot) | To beat about the bush |
| Point barre (Bar point) | Full stop / End of discussion |
| Avoir plusieurs cordes à son arc (To have many strings to one's bow) | To have many strings to one's bow |
| Être la cinquième roue du carrosse (To be the fifth wheel of the carriage) | To be the fifth wheel / Unnecessary |
| Prendre le taureau par les cornes (To take the bull by the horns) | To take the bull by the horns |
| Appuyer sur le champignon (To press the mushroom) | To step on the gas (accelerate) |
| Sans queue ni tête (Without tail nor head) | Makes no sense / Neither head nor tail |
| Ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous (Not to have eyes opposite the holes) | Not to be seeing straight / To be groggy |
| L'arbre qui cache la forêt (The tree that hides the forest) | Not seeing the bigger picture |
| Les bras m'en tombent ! (My arms fall off!) | I'm flabbergasted! / I'm speechless! |
| Au pied de la lettre (At the foot of the letter) | To the letter / Literally |
| En avoir par dessus la tête (To have it above one's head) | To be fed up / To have had enough |
Top Tips for Pictionary Success
While the game is all about fun, a few strategic tips can help both drawers and guessers improve their game and lead their team to victory. Remember, the goal is clear communication through visuals.
For the Drawer
- Start Simple: Don't try to draw the entire scene at once. Break down the word or phrase into its most basic components. For 'walking the dog', draw a person, then a lead, then a dog.
- Use Universal Symbols: A thought bubble for 'idea', question marks for 'question', an arrow for 'direction' or 'movement'. These are widely understood and can save precious seconds.
- Emphasise Key Elements: If the word is 'elephant', draw a big trunk and ears. If it's 'sleeping', draw Zs. Make the most defining characteristics stand out.
- Consider Action Lines: Little lines around an object can show movement or vibration. Dashed lines can indicate something is 'invisible' or 'floating'.
- Draw Verbs First: If it's an action phrase, try to convey the verb before the noun. For 'eating a hamburger', draw someone eating, then the hamburger.
- Exaggerate: Don't be afraid to make your drawings comically large or small, or to exaggerate features to make them more identifiable.
- Don't Be a Perfectionist: Time is of the essence! Quick, clear sketches are far better than detailed, time-consuming masterpieces.
For the Guesser
- Shout Everything: Don't hold back your guesses, even if they seem silly. Sometimes a wild guess can trigger the right answer in someone else's mind.
- Look for Clues: Pay attention to the size, shape, and placement of the drawings. Is it an animal? An object? An abstract concept?
- Think Broadly, Then Narrow Down: If someone draws a vehicle, think 'car', 'bus', 'lorry', 'train', 'limousine'. If they add a specific detail, narrow your guesses.
- Identify the 'Category': Is it a person, a place, an animal, an action, an object? Knowing the general category can help significantly.
- Watch for Sequences: For phrases or actions, the drawer might be telling a story with their drawings. Try to piece together the narrative.
- Communicate with Your Team: Even though the drawer can't talk, you and your teammates can. Bounce ideas off each other.
Pictionary Variations to Spice Up Your Game
Once you've mastered the basic game, consider introducing some house rules or variations to keep things exciting:
- No Talking Guesses: For an added challenge, allow guessers to only write down their guesses, revealing them at the end of the minute. This removes the "shout-out" chaos.
- Theme Rounds: Dedicate entire rounds to specific categories, like 'animals only' or 'actions only'.
- One-Minute Masterpiece: Instead of guessing, players simply have to draw their best rendition of the word in one minute. Everyone then judges the best drawing.
- Reverse Pictionary: One person draws, and everyone else draws what they think the word is, based on the first person's drawing. Then reveal the word and compare.
- Limited Strokes: Give the drawer a limit on how many lines or strokes they can use for their drawing (e.g., maximum 10 lines).
- Blind Drawing: The drawer has to draw without looking at the paper! This is guaranteed to produce hilarious results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pictionary
Q: Can I use colours in Pictionary?
A: While traditional Pictionary is often played with just black and white, using colours is perfectly acceptable if you have them! It can sometimes make drawings clearer (e.g., drawing a yellow sun) but isn't necessary for gameplay.
Q: What if the word is too difficult or I don't know it?
A: If you draw a word that you genuinely don't know how to represent or understand, it's usually best to put it back and draw another. The aim is fun, not frustration!
Q: Can I draw letters or numbers?
A: No, this is a strict rule in Pictionary. You cannot draw numbers, letters, or symbols that directly represent them (e.g., '1' for 'one' or 'C' for 'see'). The challenge is to draw the concept visually.
Q: What if our team keeps getting stuck?
A: If your team is consistently struggling, try switching to easier word lists, or introduce a 'pass' rule where you can skip a word if it's too difficult, though this might cost you a turn.
Q: How long does a typical game of Pictionary last?
A: The duration of a game depends on how many points you play to and how quickly words are guessed. A game to 15 points with 2-4 teams can typically last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, offering a good balance of competitive fun.
Pictionary is more than just a game; it's an experience. It's about letting go, embracing your inner artist (no matter how bad it is!), and sharing plenty of laughs with your loved ones. With these extensive word lists and handy tips, you're now fully equipped to host unforgettable Pictionary nights. So gather your pens and paper, set the timer, and get ready to draw your way to victory. Happy drawing!
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