Hangman game: rules and tips for guessing words

Hangman is a simple guessing game for two or more players that needs only paper and a pencil. One player thinks of a word and draws a row of blank spaces, one for each letter. The other players guess letters one at a time. Correct letters are written in their places; wrong guesses add one part to a simple drawing. If the guessers complete the word before the drawing is finished, they win. The traditional drawing shows a figure on a gallows, but many teachers and families prefer a friendlier picture, such as a snowman, a flower losing petals or a rocket being built. The game works in any language with an alphabet.

How to play Hangman

The word chooser thinks of a word, keeps it secret and draws one short line for each letter. For a phrase, leave a gap between words. Guessers take turns calling one letter. If the letter is in the word, the chooser writes it on every line where it appears. If it is not, the chooser writes the letter in a list of misses and adds one part to the drawing. Players should agree on the number of misses allowed before starting, for example six or ten. A guesser may also try to guess the whole word; a wrong guess counts as a miss. If the guessers reveal the full word before the misses run out, they win; otherwise the chooser wins and reveals the word. Then another player chooses a word. For younger children, use short words, give a category as a hint or allow more misses.

Tips for new players

• Start with common vowels and common consonants of your language.
• Look at the pattern of revealed letters and think of words that fit.
• As word chooser, pick words with unusual letters rather than long words.
• Use a friendly drawing, such as a snowman, for young players.