Describe the word at the top of the card so your team can guess it, without saying any of the five forbidden words underneath. Pick easy, medium or hard cards, start the timer and let the scoreboard keep track of every team.
Last updated:
Difficulty
1:00
Easy
Don't say:
Card hiddenOnly the clue-giver should look
Keyboard: C or → correct, B buzz, S skip, P pause.
Scoreboard
Print paper cards
Print cut-out cards (8 per page) for the selected difficulty to play without a screen.
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How to use the Taboo Word Game Cards
Choose the difficulty, turn length and number of teams. Tap a team name on the scoreboard to rename it.
Give the device to the clue-giver of the first team and press Start turn. Hide the card if others might peek.
Describe the top word without saying it or any of the five forbidden words, and without gestures, rhymes or spelling.
Tap Correct when your team guesses it, Buzz if a forbidden word slips out, or Skip to pass.
When time is up, read the turn summary and pass the device to the next team. Highest score after the agreed number of rounds wins.
Rules at a glance
Situation
Points
What happens next
Team says the exact target word
+1
Tap Correct and go straight to the next card
Clue-giver says a forbidden word, the target word or part of it
−1
An opponent calls buzz; tap Buzz and move on
Clue-giver gestures, spells, rhymes or says "sounds like"
−1
Counts as a buzz
Card is too hard
0 (or −1 with skip penalty)
Tap Skip
Time runs out
0 for the unfinished card
Next team's turn
Clue-giving strategies
Go around the obvious: the forbidden words are the first things people think of, so use the second or third association. For Beach (no sand, ocean, waves, sun, swim) try "where you build castles and lie on a towel in summer".
Use fill-in-the-blank: "Peanut butter and jelly ___" or "A ___ of cards" can be quicker than a description.
Opposites and categories: "the opposite of pessimist" or "a kind of weather disaster with a spinning funnel".
Build on guesses: when a teammate is close, say "yes, but bigger" or "that's the place, now the thing in it".
Skip fast: if a card stumps you for more than 15 seconds, a quick skip usually earns more points over a turn.
Classroom and family variations
Silent buzzer: the opposing team holds up a hand instead of shouting, which keeps classrooms calm.
Vocabulary review: students write their own cards on paper using unit vocabulary, then mix them with printed cards.
Kids version: use Easy cards, no timer and allow one forbidden word per card for players under 8.
Speed round: 60-second turns with skip penalty on, for competitive teens and adults.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the taboo word game?
Players split into two or more teams. On each turn, one clue-giver gets a card with a target word and a list of forbidden words. They must get their own team to say the target word by describing it, without saying the target word, any part of it or any forbidden word. Each correct guess earns a point and each forbidden word said costs a point. Teams take turns until an agreed number of rounds.
What counts as a buzz?
Saying the target word or any forbidden word, including parts of them (saying 'snow' for 'snowman'), plural or other forms, spelling them out, rhyming hints like 'sounds like', or using gestures. An opposing player usually watches the card and calls the buzz. The card then costs one point and the clue-giver moves on.
What is the difference between easy, medium and hard cards?
Easy cards use everyday nouns that children know, such as dog, pizza or rainbow. Medium cards use places, jobs and things that need a few clues, like a lighthouse or a passport. Hard cards are ideas and longer words such as nostalgia, photosynthesis or procrastinate, where the obvious clues are all forbidden.
Is this the official Taboo game?
No. Taboo is a trademark of Hasbro. This is an independent, free word-game card generator with original cards written for this site, played by the same well-known rules of describing a word without forbidden words.
How many players do you need?
At least four players, two per team, works best. Larger groups can make three or four teams. For a classroom, split the class into teams and let one student per team give clues while the others guess.
Can I play without a phone or computer?
Yes. Open Print paper cards, choose how many cards you want and print them. Each page holds 8 cut-out cards. Use any kitchen timer or a phone timer to time turns.
Is it suitable for kids and classrooms?
Yes. All cards are family-friendly. Choose Easy for younger players and use No timer so they can take their time. Teachers can use hard cards to practise vocabulary and describing skills.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
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