Pictionary is a fun game that can be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. The game can be played in various kinds of situations – parties, family get-togethers, icebreaker sessions, etc.
Drawing and guessing are essential parts of the game. One player draws a word that is intimated and other designated players must guess what is being drawn. Any number of people can play this game – as few as four people to a big group of more than twenty people.
Variations can be made to the game depending on the setting it is played in and the number of people playing the game. This article demonstrates not only how to play the game traditionally but also with fun variations to add more exciting elements to the game.
Pictionary is also available in a board game format. In this version, players are required to divide themselves into teams of a minimum of two players.
The team rolls the dice on their turn. To make the move and climb the board, the players must play Pictionary. The box includes a one-minute timer, 4 category cards, 496 prompts, 4 pads of paper, 4 pencils, and a brochure explaining the rules.
Once players roll the die, they must pick up a card from the category indicated by the board. One player from the team must try to draw and show anyone word from the prompt cards.
The other players of the team must try and guess the exact word. If they are able to guess the word correctly, they get to roll the dice and move forward. If not, the chance is passed to the next team. The first team to reach the end of the board wins the game.
A board game is not required to enjoy this fun game. The game can be played with a pen and paper as well. This article will help you set up your own homemade Pictionary setup.
- Homemade Pictionary Set Up
- Ideas For Pictionary Variations
- Traditional Pictionary
- Family Pictionary
- LEGO Pictionary
- Educational Pictionary
- Themed Pictionary
- Partner Pictionary
- Pictionary Rules
- Official Pictionary Rules
- Flexible Pictionary Rules
- Pictionary Ideas
- Pictionary Words Lists
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘A’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘B’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘C’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘D’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘E’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘F’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘G’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘H’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘I’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘I’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘K’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘L’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘M’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘N’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘o’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘p’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘Q’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘R’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘S’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘T’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘U’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘V’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘W’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘X’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘Y’)
- Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘Z’)
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Homemade Pictionary Set Up
The following items are necessary to play Pictionary at home:
- Pens and pencils
- Sheets of paper
- A drawing easel or a plain wall to display the drawing
- Timer
Appoint one person as the referee. He will be responsible for coming up with words and phrases that the players must draw, keep an eye on the timer, and ensure that the game flows smoothly.
All players must divide themselves into teams. Give all the team sufficient pencil and paper. The referee must prepare chits with phrases and words before the game starts. These chits must be kept in a bowl. The team that is going first is chosen.
One player from the team comes to the front, picks up a chit, and begins to draw on the easel or the wall. As the player starts drawing, the referee starts the timer.
Each player has one minute to convey through drawing what the word or phrase is. If the team guesses correctly, they are awarded one point. If not, they do not receive any points.
Now, the next team comes forward and tries their hand at the game. In this way, teams take turns to score points.
At the end of all the rounds, the team with the highest points wins the game. A variation can be made in the criteria of winning.
A set number of points can be indicated by the referee, the team to reach these number of points first will win the game.
Ideas For Pictionary Variations
Variations can be made depending on the age group, amount of game time, different situations, etc. The game still remains fun and enjoyable. Following are a few variations that you should try –
Traditional Pictionary
The traditional game of Pictionary usually has five categories – people, places, animals, actions, and objects. You can choose one theme to play the game. For a challenge, use all five themes as your prompts.
Family Pictionary
The fun game can serve as a bonding experience for parents and children. You can include these at your family game nights. Contextualize phrases about what your family enjoys and inside jokes that you may have. You can also make themes according to the time of the year that you spend with your family.
For example, have a Winter Wonderland theme during Christmas. You can play the game after Christmas dinner. Include cherished memories and incidents that the family experiences during the holiday season.
LEGO Pictionary
This variation will be loved by younger kids. Instead of using pencil and paper to draw the phrase, use LEGOs to build what the word suggests. This will help you get creative with the LEGOs.
Educational Pictionary
Pictionary can also be a fun way to increase your child’s vocabulary. Use the game to help your child grow. Include categories like history, grammar, science, etc. The game can be a fun way to reinforce what the child is learning in school.
This variation of the game can be used on playdates and study sessions where the child is losing focus and is distracted.
Themed Pictionary
Make Pictionary part of your themed parties and get-togethers. Themes like Thanksgiving, Halloween, Baby Showers, etc. are popular and will be a hit at your parties. Including the game in your get-together is a good way to entertain your guests and build better bonds among yourselves.
Partner Pictionary
Partner Pictionary makes teams in a slightly different way. Each person is paired with another person. In between themselves, they decide who guesses and who draws. These two players go head to head. The person who is drawing is the one fighting for the point. The person who reaches 3 points first or wins the most number of rounds after 5 rounds is the winner and moves on to the next round. This type of game works well for large groups.
The winner of each group goes on to have a head-to-head battle with the other winners. This keeps going till there is only one person left standing – the winner. This tournament-style Pictionary works well on game nights and among a close friends group. Keep track of your scores!
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Pictionary Rules
Since Pictionary is such a versatile game, there are some rules that apply throughout the variations and others that are more flexible.
Official Pictionary Rules
- Unlimited sheets of paper can be used per clue. The person drawing can start in a new sheet if the previous one is too crowded.
- Letters cannot be used while trying to draw something. ‘X’ can be used to show the location of something or cross something out. However, it cannot be used as a letter.
- Pre-arranged clues or secret codes cannot be made within the team. If a team is noticed engaging in this type of gameplay, they will be warned by the referee.
- Drawing blank lines or spaces to indicate the number of words or letters is not allowed.
- Drawing an ear to show that the words ‘sounds like’ something else are not allowed.
- Since players must guess the word and not spell it out, the player drawing can use homophones or words that sound similar to help the other players guess the word. For example, a player can draw a ‘leaf’ to indicate the words ‘leave’ (since the plural of the leaf is leaves.)
- No verbal communication and gestures are allowed by the person who is drawing the phrase.
- Numbers and letters cannot be drawn on sheets of paper.
Flexible Pictionary Rules
- Before starting the game, all teams must come together and decide how flexible they are going to be with accepting the answers. Are singular/plural interchangeable, is the wrong position of articles and prepositions in phrases allowed, etc.
- Set a time on how long the person drawing can look at the card before they start to draw. Five to ten seconds is the ideal time.
Pictionary Ideas
Almost all words and phrases can be used in Pictionary as everything has a visual representation. Get creative and use art to express the words. Following are some word suggestions to include in the chits.
- Animals: fish, anteater, porcupine, camel, elephant, turtle, etc.
- Food: pasta, pizza, cheeseburger, Caesar’s salad, etc.
- Sports: hockey, basketball, table tennis, carrom, chess, etc.
- Places: New York, Desert, Jupiter, Mountain, etc.
- Objects: Bat, mobile phone, car, bottle, etc.
- People: Biden, Ariana Grande,Cristiano Ronaldo, Bill Gates, etc.
- Verb: Run, Cook, Sleep, Talk, etc.
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Pictionary Words Lists
Here is an exhaustive list of Pictionary words.
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘A’)
Aardvark
Abe Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Admiral
Airplane
Alexander Hamilton
Algae
Ambition
Ambulance
AncientEgyptianpyramid
Angel
Angry
Antenna
Applause
Apple
Arrow
Asteroid
Atlantis
Attic
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘B’)
Baby
Baby Yoda
Back seat
Backyard
Bacon
Bacteria
Baker
Ball
Bamboo
Banana peel
Bandage
Bang
Bar Mitzvah
Baseball
Basketball
Bat
Bath
Bathroom
Bats
Batter
Battery
BBQ
Beach
Beans
Beard
Bed
Bedroom
Beehive
Bible
Bikini
Binder
Birdfeeder
Birthday
Biscuits
Blackhole
Blackhole
Blanket
Blizzard
Blood
Bluewhale
Boardgame
Boat
Bologna
Book
bookshelf
Bookworm
Boredom
Boss
Bouquet
Bowl
Bra
braces
Brain
Bread
Bridge
Broom
Bruise
Bubble
Bubble bath
Bubble gum
Bubble wrap
Bucket
Buckle
Bug zapper
Bumblebee
Bunk bed
Bunny
Burger
Burp
Burrito
Bus
Bus Stop
Butter
Butterfly
Butterfly wing
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘C’)
Calculator
Calendar
Call
Camera
Canada
CanaryIslands
Candle
Candy
Candy bar
Canned food
Captain
Car
Car Accident
Carrot
Carry
Castle
Cat
Catch
Catcher
Celery
CellPhone
Century
Cereal
Chain saw
Chair
Chairs
Chalkboard
Chandelier
Cheerleader
Cheese
Cheesecake
chef
Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Wings
China
Chips
Chocolate
Christmas tree
Church
Cinderella
Circus tent
city
clam chowder
Clipboard
Clock
Close
Clothes
Cloud
Coca Cola
Coffee
Coffee cup
Coffee mug
Commute
Computer
Cook
Corkboard
Corn
Corndog
Cotton Candy
Cow
Cowboy
Cracker
Crayon
Cream
Cream cheese
Crib
Cruise ship
Crust
Cup
Cupcake
Cushion
Cut
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘D’)
Dance
Daytime
DaytimeTV
Deodorant
Desert
Desk
Desk lamp
Detention
Dictionary
Dish
Disney World
Disneyland
Dispatch
dive
Dog
Dog leash
Dolphin
Doughnut
Download
Dragon
Drawing
Dress
Drink
Drive
Duck
Dumbbell
Dustpan
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘E’)
Eagle
Earthquake
Eat
Eclipse
Eel
Egg
Eggplant
Eggs
Eiffel Tower
elbo
Electricity
Employee
Employer
Eyeball
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘F’)
Facebook
Family
fang
Farm
Fax machine
Ferris wheel
File cabinet
Fire
firefighter
Fireman’s helmet
Fireworks
Fish Sticks
Flag
flag pole
Flame
Flat
Flour
Flower
Fly
Flying saucer
Fog
Frame
French Fries
French Toast
Friends
Frog
Froglegs
Frogs legs
Fruit juice
Full moon
Furniture
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘G’)
Game
garbage
Ghost
Giraffe
Girl Scout
Glasses
Glue
Goldfish
Goldfish bowl
Golf
Goosebumps
Gorilla
Grits
Guitar
gummy bears
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘H’)
Hair
hair tie
HairBrush
HairGel
Halloween
Hammer
Hammock
HardHat
Harry Potter
Hat
Hawaii
Headphones
heaven
High heel
Highchair
hill
Hire
Hockey
Home
Homeplate
Homerun
Hospital
Hospital gown
Hot Dog
Hot cup
Hotdog
Hotel
House
Houseplant
Hug
Hula hoop
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘I’)
Ice
Ice Cream
Ice cream cone
Icecream
Igloo
invisible man
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘I’)
Jacket
Jack-o’-lantern
Japan
Jeans
Jelly
Jellyfish
Job
jump
Jump rope
Junk mail
Junkyard
Justin Beiber
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘K’)
Ketchup
Key
Keyboard
Keychain
Kiss
Kitchen
Kite
Kitten
Kiwi
Knife and fork
Knitting
Koala
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘L’)
Lace
Ladybug
Lamp
Laptop
Las Vegas
Late
Lawnmower
Lazy
Leaf
Learn
Leash
Lemon
Leprechaun
Letter opener
Lettuce
Library
Light
Lion
Lipstick
list
Listen
Lobster
Lollipop
Long underwear
Loudspeaker
Love
Lunchbreak
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘M’)
Magnet
Mailbox
Mailman
Mars
Mask
Mechanic
Meerkat
Megaphone
Mermaid
Mexico
Milk
Milkshake
Minion
Minivan
Mitten
Mom
Monday
Money
Monster truck
Moon
Moss
Mount Rushmore
Mountains
Mr. Potato Head
Multiply
Mummy
Music
Musical instrument
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘N’)
Nail Polish
New York
Newspaper
Night
Ninja
Noodles
North Pole
Nose
Notebook
Notepad
Nurse
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘o’)
Office supplies
Olympics
Onion
Open
Orange
Orange Juice
Oreos
Owl
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘p’)
Pacifier
Painting
Pancakes
Panda
Pants
Pantyhose
Paper
Paper clips
Paper plate
Paperweight
Paperwork
Parasite
Paris
Passion
Pay
Paycheque
Peanut
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Pen
pencil case
Pencils
Penholder
Pens
Phone
Photo
Piano
Pickle
Picnic basket
Piechart
Pigtails
Pikachu
Pilgrim
Pilgrim
Pillow
pillowcase
Pirate
Pitcher
Pizza
Pizza crust
Plane
plane ticket
Plant
Plate
Platypus
Playground
Pocket watch
PolarBear
police
Pollen
Popsicle
Pose
Post-it notes
Potato
Pot of gold
Poverty
Pray
Pride
Printer
Pumpkin
Pumpkin pie
Purchase
Purse
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘Q’)
Queen Elizabeth
Quesadilla
Quicksand
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘R’)
Rainbow
Raindrop
Rainforest
Ramen
Read
recess
Recycle
rice
Robin Hood
Robot
Rockband
Row
Rubber Band
Run
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘S’)
Salamander
Salt
Sand
Sandcastle
Sandwich
Sasquatch
Saw
Scarf
Scary
School
Schoolbag
Scorpion
Scrambled eggs
Scratch
Sculpture
Seat belt
Seaweed
Secretary
Sheet
Shirt
Shoes
Shopping cart
Shout
Shrek
Sidewalk
Sing
Skate
Skeleton
Sketch
Skiing
Skip
Skipping rope
Skull
Sky
Sledding
Sleep
Sleeping bag
Slipper
Slippers
Slug
Smileyface
Smoke
S’mores
Snap
Sneaker
Sneeze
Snore
Snorkeling
Snowball
Snowball fight
Snowboarding
Snowflake
Snowman
Socks
Sofa
Solar eclipse
Space
Spaghetti
Spatula
Spider
Spiderweb
Spit
Spongebob
Spooky
spring
Sprinkler
Squirrels
Stairs
Stapler
Starfish
Statue of Liberty
Stethoscope
Sticky notes
Stool
stoplight
Stork
storm
Strawberry
Study
subway
Summer
Sun
Sunburn
Sundae
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Sunshine
Superman
Surfboard
Surfing
Swamp
Swim
Swimsuit
Swing
Swiss cheese
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘T’)
Table
Taco
Tadpole
Tarantula
Tea
teacher
Teddybear
Teepee
Telescope
Tennis
tent
Text
The Beach
The Library
The Ocean
The United States
The White House
The Zoo
The Great Wall of China
Thermometer
Thermos
Thief
Thorn
Thread
Thunderstorm
Tie
Timemachine
Tire
Tired
Toast
toaster
Tooth
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Tourist
Towel
Trade
Train
Train station
Tree
T-rex
Tricycle
Truck
T-shirt
turkey
Turtle
Tutu
Type
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘U’)
Umbrella
Unemployment
Unicorn
Unicycle
Unite
United States
Unplug
USA
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘V’)
Vacation
Vacuum cleaner
Vampire
Vampire Bat
Vanilla
Video camera
Volleyball
Vomiting
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘W’)
Waffle
Waffles
Wallpaper
Washington DC
Wasp
Watch
Water
Waterbottle
Water-cooler
Watergun
Watermelon
Waterpolo
Whip
Whisk
Whistle
Whiteboard
WiFi
Wig
Windchimes
wing
winter
Witch
Work
Work computer
Workload
Worm
Worms
Worried
Wreath
Write
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘X’)
X-Ray
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘Y’)
Yawning
Yoshi
Pictionary Words Lists (Starting with Letter ‘Z’)
Zombie
Pictionary is a fun way to loosen up and play with your near and dear ones. Make variations to set the occasion and get drawing! Use the vast number of themes and styles to make the game your own and keep it fresh!
Naomi is an educator with 2 decades of experience working with children of all ages. She is a keen observer of the magic and importance of Maths in our daily lives. Follow me on Linkedin