Drawing Game Words: 200 Ideas to Draw and Guess
Need words for a drawing game? Here are 200 drawing game words, from easy ones like *cat* and *pizza* to hard ones like *jet lag* and *time machine*, grouped by theme. They work for any draw-and-guess game, from the classic Pictionary board game to Hopsketch, where the game picks three words for you each turn.
How to pick good words
A good drawing word is something everyone knows but that takes a moment to draw: a whole object (a lighthouse) beats a vague idea (happiness). Mix difficulties so nobody gets stuck for long, and save the phrases for when everyone has warmed up. Avoid names of real people and brands: they turn the game into a quiz.
Easy words
- Animals: cat, dog, fish, bird, cow, pig, horse, snake, owl, duck, bee, snail, crab, whale, turtle
- Food: apple, banana, pizza, cake, cookie, cheese, egg, carrot, lemon, cherry, ice cream, sandwich, grapes, strawberry
- Things at home: bed, chair, table, lamp, door, window, cup, spoon, fork, clock, key, book, candle, box
- Outside: sun, moon, star, cloud, rain, rainbow, tree, flower, leaf, mountain, island, bridge
- Things that move: car, bus, train, boat, rocket, bicycle, kite, balloon
- Clothes and body: hat, sock, shoe, scarf, glasses, hand, foot, eye, nose, tooth
Medium words
- Places: beach, castle, circus, garden, lighthouse, swimming pool, volcano, waterfall, igloo, desert
- Jobs and characters: astronaut, chef, cowboy, dentist, pirate, king, queen, wizard, mermaid, superhero, juggler
- Animals: giraffe, kangaroo, penguin, dolphin, flamingo, jellyfish, hedgehog, peacock, sloth, squirrel, crocodile
- Objects: anchor, backpack, binoculars, camera, compass, headphones, magnet, microphone, mirror, parachute, telescope, umbrella
- Things to do: fishing, bowling, camping, skateboarding, surfing, juggling, sneezing, painting
Hard words
- Ideas: gravity, echo, shadow, reflection, wish, nightmare, daydream, evolution, recycling
- Moments: jet lag, brain freeze, stage fright, traffic jam, rush hour, sunburn, snow day, road trip
- Phrases: time machine, treasure map, message in a bottle, fortune teller, family tree, first aid, optical illusion
- Games and parties: hide and seek, musical chairs, tug of war, hot potato, pillow fight, surprise party
Funny words and phrases
- A cat wearing a crown
- A dog that thinks it's a cat
- Dinosaur on a skateboard
- A snowman at the beach
- Pizza with a face
- A ghost doing laundry
- A penguin on holiday
- A shark afraid of water
- A robot learning to dance
- A sloth in a hurry
Words for kids
- Very easy: ball, sun, cat, fish, house, tree, car, apple, star, heart
- Animals kids love: lion, elephant, monkey, bunny, dinosaur, unicorn, octopus, butterfly
- Things kids know: birthday cake, slide, swing, teddy bear, crayon, backpack, school bus
Play these words online with friends
In Hopsketch one person draws and everyone else types guesses on their own phone or computer. Each turn the artist picks one of three words (easy, medium or hard: harder words score more), the blanks show how many letters there are, and letters appear as the clock runs down. It's free, needs no sign-up and works for 2 to 8 players, or pass one phone round the room.
Playing on paper instead? Write each word from this list on a slip, fold them into a bowl and let the artist draw three: they pick the one they like best.
Frequently asked questions
What are good words for a drawing game?
Objects and animals everyone knows, like cat, pizza, rocket or lighthouse, plus a few phrases for harder rounds, like time machine or brain freeze. Avoid real people and brands.
What are some hard words to draw?
Ideas and phrases: gravity, echo, jet lag, stage fright, optical illusion or message in a bottle. Draw them as small scenes made of easier things.
What are funny things to draw?
Mix two things that don't belong together: a snowman at the beach, a shark afraid of water, a dinosaur on a skateboard.
Is there a free drawing game that picks the words for you?
Yes. Hopsketch gives the artist three words each turn in easy, medium and hard, with word lists in 8 languages.