Vocabulary games for the classroom:
15 ideas for the whole class
Vocabulary sticks more easily when the class is laughing. These 15 games work in any language – with no materials, with a board and chalk, or digitally on the projector.
No credit card needed · Always free for students
15 vocabulary games for teachers
- 1
Live quiz with leaderboard
5–10 minEveryone plays at the same time on their phone while the leaderboard runs on the projector. No preparation once the words are in a set.
See the live quiz → - 2
Tug of war in two teams
5–10 minThe class plays in two teams, and every right answer pulls the rope towards their side. It counts the average per team member, not the team size.
See the live quiz → - 3
Fly swatter
5 minWords are stuck on the board, you say the translation, and two students race to swat the right word.
Rules & template → - 4
Vocabulary bingo
10 minStudents write nine words from the unit in a grid, you call out the meanings. The first to get three in a row shouts “Bingo” – and reads them out as a check.
Rules & template → - 5
Word scramble
5 minA word with jumbled letters – whoever names and spells it correctly first gets the point.
Play on the projector → - 6
Hangman
5 minThe classic practises spelling. Best with words from the current unit so the class has a chance.
Play on the projector → - 7
Hot seat
10 minOne student guesses a word that the class describes in the target language. Practises vocabulary and speaking at once.
Play on the projector → - 8
Taboo
10 minLike hot seat, but with forbidden words. For more advanced classes.
Play on the projector → - 9
I went on holiday and I packed …
5–10 minEach student repeats all the words so far and adds one – in the target language, e.g. “Je pars en vacances et j’emporte …” or “Me voy de vacaciones y me llevo …”.
Rules & template → - 10
Categories
10 minA letter and categories from the unit: animal, food, verb, job. In French the game is called “Le petit bac”.
Rules & template → - 11
Charades
10 minA student acts out a verb or word and the class guesses in the target language. Especially good for verbs and hobbies.
Rules & template → - 12
Word chain
5 minEach word starts with the last letter of the previous one. Whoever hesitates sits down – the last three win.
Rules & template → - 13
Memory
10 minPairs of word and translation – on cards in groups, or digitally when everyone practises on their own.
Try the game → - 14
Word search
10 minThe words of the unit are hidden in a grid. Good as a calm phase or for fast finishers.
Try the game → - 15
Conjugation dice
10 minTwo dice decide the person and the verb, and the class races to conjugate.
Play on the projector →
Play with your own word lists
All digital games in Lenguvo run on a word set – ready-made or your own list. Create it once and play the same words as a quiz, a board game or homework.
Board games for the projector →Frequently asked questions
Which vocabulary games need no preparation?
Word chain, “I went on holiday and I packed”, charades, categories and hangman only need a board. Digital games such as the live quiz need a word set, which you create in seconds by pasting your list.
Which games work well with large classes?
Games where everyone joins in at once: the live quiz, team tug of war and vocabulary bingo.
Do the games work for Latin too?
Yes. Conjugation dice, word scramble, bingo and the live quiz work especially well.
Try the digital vocabulary games for free
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