Taboo Word List: 100 Cards With Forbidden Words

September 16, 2026

Taboo is the word game where you describe something without using the five most obvious words. Writing the banned words is the hard bit, which is why the list is here.

Each line below is one card: the word first, then the banned words. Sixty seconds, no gestures, no sounds, no 'rhymes with'.

Easy cards

These straightforward prompts are absolutely perfect for younger players and beginners who are just getting to grips with the rules. Use them during casual family games nights to build up everyone's confidence and keep the atmosphere light. A useful tip is to focus on simple sensory descriptions to help your team guess the word quickly without accidentally slipping up.

PIZZA - cheese, Italian, slice, takeaway.
BEACH - sand, sea, holiday, sun.
DOG - bark, pet, walk, puppy.
SCHOOL - teacher, children, lesson, class.
CHRISTMAS - presents, December, tree, Santa.
TEA - drink, milk, kettle, cup.
FOOTBALL - goal, ball, kick, team.
RAIN - wet, umbrella, weather, water.
BIRTHDAY - cake, candles, presents, age.
HOSPITAL - doctor, nurse, ill, patient.
PHONE - call, mobile, text, ring.
GARDEN - grass, flowers, outside, plants.
CAR - drive, wheels, road, engine.
BREAKFAST - morning, toast, cereal, eat.
WEDDING - marry, bride, dress, church.

Medium cards

These prompts are designed for teenagers and adults who fancy a moderate challenge that gets the brain working. They are brilliant for lively dinner parties when your guests are already warmed up and ready for some friendly competition. To succeed, try describing the opposite of the secret word to steer your teammates in the right direction.

SUPERMARKET - shop, food, trolley, aisle.
PASSPORT - travel, airport, photo, document.
LIBRARY - books, quiet, borrow, read.
ALARM CLOCK - wake, morning, ring, time.
UMBRELLA - rain, wet, open, handle.
MOTORWAY - road, cars, fast, drive.
SUNBURN - red, sun, skin, hot.
HAIRCUT - hair, scissors, barber, short.
TRAFFIC JAM - cars, queue, road, slow.
CAMPING - tent, outdoors, sleep, fire.
DENTIST - teeth, drill, appointment, mouth.
RECYCLING - bin, plastic, waste, green.
SATNAV - directions, car, map, route.
NEIGHBOUR - next door, house, live, street.
PICNIC - food, blanket, park, outside.
MOTORBIKE - two wheels, helmet, ride, engine.
LIGHTHOUSE - sea, light, tower, ships.
ESCALATOR - stairs, moving, shop, up.
HOMEWORK - school, work, home, teacher.
SLEEPOVER - night, friends, sleep, house.

Hard cards

This selection is ideal for seasoned board game enthusiasts and trivia lovers who enjoy a proper mental workout. Bring these out during competitive games nights when you want to test the sharpest minds in the room. When describing these tricky concepts, try breaking them down into abstract ideas or historical associations to bypass the restrictions.

NOSTALGIA - past, memory, feeling, remember.
DEADLINE - work, time, due, finish.
GRAVITY - falling, Newton, apple, down.
INSURANCE - policy, cover, pay, claim.
DEMOCRACY - vote, government, election, people.
RETIREMENT - work, pension, old, stop.
MORTGAGE - house, bank, loan, pay.
PATIENCE - wait, calm, virtue, time.
RUMOUR - gossip, talk, spread, untrue.
TRADITION - years, family, same, custom.
AMBITION - goal, want, career, drive.
COMPROMISE - agree, both, middle, give.
OVERTIME - work, extra, hours, pay.
REPUTATION - name, known, good, people.
COINCIDENCE - chance, same, happen, luck.
ECHO - sound, repeat, mountain, back.
CHARITY - give, money, help, shop.
SUPERSTITION - luck, black cat, ladder, believe.
PRIVACY - alone, private, personal, space.
HOMESICK - miss, home, away, sad.

Very British cards

This delightfully nostalgic category is brilliant for multigenerational British families and friends who appreciate local culture and shared quirks. It is the perfect choice for a rainy Sunday afternoon or a cosy bank holiday gathering. For the best results, lean into humorous everyday struggles and habits that your teammates will instantly recognise.

QUEUE - line, wait, order, stand.
ROUNDABOUT - road, circle, cars, junction.
CHIP SHOP - fish, chips, takeaway, vinegar.
SUNDAY ROAST - dinner, beef, potatoes, Yorkshire.
BANK HOLIDAY - Monday, day off, weekend, work.
CAR BOOT SALE - sell, field, junk, Sunday.
SCHOOL RUN - children, car, morning, drop off.
PUB QUIZ - questions, team, pub, answers.
SEASIDE - beach, sea, coast, holiday.
TUMBLE DRYER - wash, clothes, dry, machine.
WHEELIE BIN - rubbish, bin, wheels, collection.
GARDEN CENTRE - plants, buy, shop, garden.
CHARITY SHOP - clothes, cheap, second hand, donate.
BOXING DAY - Christmas, day after, 26th, sales.
BONFIRE NIGHT - fireworks, November, Guy Fawkes, fire.

Christmas cards

These festive prompts are wonderful for the whole family to enjoy together, from grandparents to grandchildren, during the holiday season. Use them on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day to keep the festive spirit alive around the living room. Our top tip is to focus on the sensory traditions of the season to trigger quick memories for your team.

MINCE PIE - Christmas, pastry, fruit, eat.
REINDEER - Santa, sleigh, Rudolph, antlers.
CRACKER - pull, hat, joke, table.
ADVENT CALENDAR - December, chocolate, days, door.
CAROL SINGERS - sing, door, Christmas, songs.
TINSEL - tree, decoration, shiny, Christmas.
BRUSSELS SPROUT - vegetable, green, Christmas dinner, small.
STOCKING - sock, presents, fireplace, Christmas.
NATIVITY - Jesus, school play, stable, Mary.
BOXING DAY WALK - Christmas, walk, family, outside.

Rules and how to write your own

This guide is essential for hosts and creative players who want to ensure fair play and customise their own version of the game. Refer to this section before you start your first round or when you want to expand the deck. Keep some spare paper handy so you can easily jot down fresh, personalised ideas as inspiration strikes.

Sixty seconds. One point per word guessed. A buzzer, or someone from the other team watching the banned list.
No gestures, no sounds, no spelling, no 'rhymes with' and no 'starts with'.
Saying a banned word loses that card. Say it out loud, buzz, move on.
Writing your own: pick the four words you'd use first. That's the list.
A fifth banned word makes it much harder. Four is right for a mixed group.
Never ban a word that isn't obvious - it just feels unfair.

Key things to remember

Four banned words is right. Five is cruel.
The other team holds the card and buzzes.
Ban the words you'd reach for first.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Taboo?

Describe the word on the card to your team in sixty seconds without saying it or any of the four banned words underneath. No gestures, sounds, spelling or rhymes. Someone from the other team watches the card and buzzes you.

What are good Taboo words?

Everyday things with obvious associations - pizza, beach, supermarket, traffic jam - for easy rounds, and abstract nouns like nostalgia, deadline or compromise for hard ones.

How do you write your own Taboo cards?

Write the word, then write down the first four words you'd use to describe it. Those are the banned words. Never ban a word that isn't obvious - it just feels unfair to the describer.

What are the rules about gestures in Taboo?

No gestures at all, no sound effects, no spelling the word, no saying what it rhymes with or starts with. It's talking only, which is what makes it harder than charades.

Do you sell games or party packs?

No - we make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK. Every list here is free to read, print or copy, and the only products on this page are our own cards.

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