Free ESL Taboo Games
Describe words without using the forbidden terms. Every Taboo game below was made by a teacher on LessonVibe and is free to play in class: open it, project it and play. No student logins needed.
Latest Taboo games
- EF 3A-3B Intermediate Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: ef 3A-3B vocabulary intermediate 3rd edition
An interactive Taboo game for B1 learners featuring essential vocabulary from EF English File 3A-3B. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging natural speech and vocabulary reinforcement through team competition. - Me & My World Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: My word list
An interactive Taboo game for A2 teens focusing on personal identity, family, hobbies, and places. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, building confidence in speaking about themselves and their world. 20 cards covering nouns, verbs, and adjectives with varied difficulty. - Real-Life English Taboo: Communication & Speaking CEFR B2 · Topic: English Speaking & Real-Life Communication
An interactive Taboo game designed for adult learners at B2 level. Players describe real-life communication scenarios, daily situations, and practical English vocabulary without using forbidden words. Focuses on building confidence, quick thinking, and authentic speaking practice through 60-second… - Life and the Future Taboo Game CEFR B2 · Topic: Life and the future
An interactive Taboo game for teenage B2 learners exploring vocabulary related to life stages, goals, aspirations, and future planning. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, building confidence in abstract and hypothetical discussion. - Describing People - Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: describing people
An interactive Taboo game where teens describe physical features and personality traits without using forbidden words. Players build confidence speaking about people using A2-level vocabulary. - ESL Taboo Game: Food CEFR A2 · Topic: Food
An interactive Taboo game for adult learners at CEFR A2 level focusing on food vocabulary. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary practice. - Taboo: Phrasal Verbs & Memory CEFR B1 · Topic: Phrasal Verbs & Memory
An interactive ESL Taboo game for B1 teens focusing on phrasal verbs related to education and memory, plus personality descriptors. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary reinforcement. - Clothes Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: Clothes
An interactive ESL Taboo game for teens at CEFR B1 level focusing on clothing vocabulary. Players describe clothing items without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and active vocabulary practice. - Animals Taboo Game - B1 Level CEFR B1 · Topic: Animals
An interactive Taboo game for teens at CEFR B1 level focused on animals vocabulary. Players describe animals without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and circumlocution skills. Includes variety of nouns, verbs, and adjectives to practice different word types. - Taboo: La maison (A2) CEFR A2 · Topic: La maison A2
An interactive Taboo game for adult ESL learners at A2 level, focused on household vocabulary and home-related concepts. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging natural speaking and circumlocution. - Taboo: La maison CEFR A1 · Topic: La maison
Un jeu interactif Taboo pour adultes apprenant le français. Les joueurs décrivent des mots liés à la maison sans utiliser les mots interdits. Parfait pour pratiquer le vocabulaire A1-A2 de manière amusante et engageante. - Tabou : La Maison CEFR A1 · Topic: La maison
Un jeu interactif de Tabou pour les apprenants adultes de niveau A1. Les joueurs décrivent des mots liés à la maison sans utiliser les mots interdits. Parfait pour pratiquer le vocabulaire domestique et les structures de base du français. - Fashion Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: fashion
An interactive Taboo game for teens (CEFR A2) focused on fashion vocabulary, including references to punk style and Vivienne Westwood. Players describe fashion items and concepts without using forbidden words. - Time and Daily Routines Taboo CEFR A1 · Topic: time and daily routines
An interactive ESL Taboo game for young learners (A1 level) focusing on time, daily activities, and routine vocabulary. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging natural English speaking about everyday life. - Our Moon Has A New Crater - Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Our Moon Has A New Crater
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A2 CEFR level) about the Moon's new crater created by a SpaceX rocket. Players describe space and Moon-related vocabulary without using forbidden words, building speaking confidence and topic-specific vocabulary. - Science & Inventions Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: Science & Inventions (Remix)
An interactive Taboo game for teens (CEFR B1) focused on science vocabulary and inventions. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary practice. - Science & Inventions Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: Science & Inventions
An interactive Taboo game for teen ESL learners (CEFR B1) focusing on science vocabulary and word formation patterns (-er/-or, dis-/re-). Players describe target words without using forbidden words, practicing speaking and vocabulary recall. - Summer Holidays Taboo CEFR A2 · Topic: summer holidays
An interactive ESL Taboo game for young learners at CEFR A2 level. Players describe summer holiday vocabulary without using forbidden words. 20 cards covering activities, places, and objects related to summer holidays. 60 seconds per round, 2 teams. - Hatchet Novel Taboo Game CEFR B2 · Topic: Hatchet Novel
An interactive ESL Taboo game based on Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. Players describe key characters, objects, events, and themes from the novel without using forbidden words. Designed for B2-level teens to practice speaking, circumlocution, and detailed explanation skills. - Hatchet Taboo Game - Chapters 1-6 CEFR A2 · Topic: Hatchet novel - vocabulary chapters 1-6
An interactive ESL Taboo game based on vocabulary from Hatchet chapters 1-6. Teams compete to describe survival, wilderness, and nature-related words without using forbidden words. Designed for A2 learners to practice speaking about the novel's key concepts. - ESL Taboo Game: Food, Animals, Sugar & Ancient Egypt CEFR B1 · Topic: food varieties, animals, sugar, king Tut
An interactive 20-card Taboo game for teen ESL learners at B1 level. Players describe words related to food varieties, animals, sugar, and King Tut without using forbidden words. Teams compete to guess the most cards in 60 seconds per round. - Phonics Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: Phonics
An interactive ESL Taboo game focusing on phonics vocabulary for young learners at B1 level. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary reinforcement. - Character Adjectives Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Character adjectives (Remix)
An interactive Taboo game for teens to practice describing character traits and personality adjectives at A2 level. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary expansion. - Character Adjectives Taboo CEFR A2 · Topic: Character adjectives
An interactive Taboo game for teens to practice describing character traits and personality adjectives at A2 level. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary expansion. - ESL Taboo Game - Adjectives & Verbs (A2) CEFR A2 · Topic: Vocabulary
Interactive Taboo game for teens at CEFR A2 level featuring adjectives, verbs, and expressions from the provided vocabulary list. Players describe words without using forbidden terms, encouraging creative speaking and vocabulary reinforcement. - Present Simple vs Present Continuous Taboo CEFR A1 · Topic: Present simple vs present continuous
An interactive Taboo game for teens at CEFR A1 level focusing on daily life activities and verbs. Players describe target words using present simple (habits, routines) or present continuous (actions happening now) without using forbidden words. Encourages speaking practice with English File… - Money Taboo Game - B1 Level CEFR B1 · Topic: Money
An interactive Taboo game for teens focusing on money vocabulary from English File Intermediate Unit 2A. Players describe target words related to money, banking, and financial concepts without using forbidden words. Perfect for speaking practice and vocabulary reinforcement. - Charity & Kindness & Morals Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: Charity & Kindness & Morals
An interactive Taboo game for B1 teens focusing on vocabulary about charity, kindness, and moral values from English File Intermediate units 1A-2B. Players describe target words without using forbidden words within 60 seconds per round. - ESL Taboo Game - Young Learners A2 CEFR A2 · Topic: Vocab
An interactive Taboo game designed for young learners at CEFR A2 level. Players describe 20 everyday vocabulary words without using forbidden words. Perfect for classroom vocabulary practice and team competition. - ESL Taboo Game: Travels, Food, Professions & Relationships CEFR B1 · Topic: viatges, menjars, profesions i relacions humanes
An interactive Taboo game for adult learners at CEFR B1 level featuring 20 cards across four themes: travels, food, professions, and human relationships. Players describe target words without using forbidden words within 60 seconds per round. - Travel & Food Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: travel, vacation, food , grammar , tenses, countries
An interactive Taboo game for young ESL learners (A2 level) featuring 20 cards on travel, vacation, food, grammar, tenses, and countries. Players describe words without using forbidden words. Perfect for vocabulary building and speaking practice. - Arts, Entertainment, Movies & Music Taboo CEFR B1 · Topic: Arts, entertainement, movies, music
An interactive Taboo game for teens (CEFR B1) focused on arts, entertainment, movies, and music vocabulary. Players describe target words without using forbidden words within 60 seconds per round across 2 teams. - Simple Past Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: simple past tense in verbal form and nominal form
An interactive Taboo game for young learners at A2 level focusing on simple past tense in both verbal and nominal forms. Players describe past actions and events without using forbidden words, encouraging natural past tense speech. - Community Helpers Taboo CEFR A1 · Topic: Community Helpers
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A1 CEFR level) focused on community helpers. Players describe professions and community roles using only present simple language, avoiding obvious forbidden words. 20 cards with a mix of nouns, verbs, and adjectives to encourage creative speaking. - Community Helpers Taboo CEFR A1 · Topic: Community Helpers
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A1) about community helpers. Players describe occupations and related actions using simple present-tense language without forbidden words. 20 cards with mix of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Perfect for 2 teams, 60 seconds per round. - ESL Taboo Game: Nationalities, School Subjects & Jobs CEFR B1 · Topic: Nationalities, school subjects, jobs
An interactive Taboo game for adult B1 learners featuring 20 cards across nationalities, school subjects, and jobs. Players describe target words within 60 seconds per round without using forbidden words, promoting fluent speaking and circumlocution skills. - ESL Taboo Game: Music, Jobs & Cities CEFR B1 · Topic: Music, jobs, cities
An interactive Taboo game for adult learners at B1 level featuring 20 cards across three topics: Music, Jobs, and Cities. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging natural speaking and vocabulary expansion. - Taboo Game: Food, Sport & Geography CEFR B1 · Topic: Food, sport, geography
An interactive Taboo game for adult ESL learners at B1 level. Players describe 20 cards across food, sport, and geography topics without using forbidden words. 2 teams compete to guess as many words as possible in 60 seconds per round. - Health Taboo Game CEFR C1 · Topic: Health
An interactive Taboo game focused on health vocabulary for teen learners at C1 level. Players describe health-related concepts without using forbidden words, encouraging sophisticated circumlocution and nuanced expression. - Infinitives and Gerunds for Purpose – B2 Taboo Game CEFR B2 · Topic: Infinitives and gerunds for purpose
An interactive Taboo game for adult B2 learners focusing on infinitives and gerunds used to express purpose. Players describe target words and phrases without using forbidden words, encouraging fluent speech and deeper understanding of functional language structures. - SWOT Analysis Taboo Game CEFR C2 · Topic: SWOT analysis
An interactive Taboo game for adult C2 learners exploring SWOT analysis terminology and strategic management concepts in the arts sector. Players describe target words related to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats without using forbidden words, encouraging sophisticated paraphrasing… - SWOT Analysis Taboo Game CEFR C2 · Topic: SWOT analysis
An interactive Taboo game for adult leaders and managers in the arts sector. Players describe SWOT analysis concepts, strategic planning elements, and organizational management terms without using forbidden words. Designed for C2 English speakers to practice nuanced business vocabulary and… - Football & World Cup Taboo Game CEFR A1 · Topic: FOOTBALL AND WORLD CUP , COUNTRIES IN EUROPEVOCABULARY
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A1) focusing on basic football vocabulary, World Cup concepts, and major European countries. Players describe target words without using forbidden words within 60 seconds per round. - Food Taboo: Quantities & Descriptions CEFR A2 · Topic: Food. How much, how many, some, any, a, an
An interactive Taboo game for teens (A2 CEFR) focused on food vocabulary with emphasis on quantity expressions (how much, how many, some, any, a, an) and food-related adjectives and verbs. Players describe food items and cooking actions without using forbidden words. - Food Taboo Game - A1 Level CEFR A1 · Topic: Food
An interactive Taboo game for teens at CEFR A1 level focused on food vocabulary. Players describe food items without using forbidden words, promoting speaking practice with present simple structures and basic vocabulary. - Year Review Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Year review
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A2 CEFR level) focused on reviewing the year with simple past actions, places visited, and feelings. Players describe 20 cards related to holidays, trips, activities, and year-end reflections using past simple and present simple, avoiding obvious… - A and An Article Taboo Game CEFR A1 · Topic: A and an article,
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A1) focusing on articles 'a' and 'an' through vocabulary practice. Players describe common nouns while avoiding forbidden words, reinforcing article usage in context. - Food Taboo Game - A2 Level CEFR A2 · Topic: FOOD
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (age 8-10) at CEFR A2 level. Players describe 20 food-related words without using forbidden words. Includes nouns, verbs, and adjectives to build speaking confidence. - Gold Experience A2 Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Gold experience a2
An interactive Taboo game for young learners at CEFR A2 level, focusing on vocabulary and irregular verbs from Gold Experience A2. Players describe target words in 60 seconds while avoiding forbidden words. Includes nouns, verbs, and adjectives to encourage varied speaking practice. - Advertising Taboo Game CEFR B2 · Topic: Advertising
An interactive Taboo game for adult ESL learners at B2 level, focused on advertising and marketing vocabulary. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, encouraging creative expression and discussion of advertising concepts. - Travel & World Taboo Game CEFR B1 · Topic: Travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, flags
An interactive Taboo game for teens (B1 CEFR) featuring 20 cards on travel, countries, landmarks, and related vocabulary. Teams compete to guess target words within 60 seconds per round by hearing descriptions that avoid forbidden words. - Phrasal Verbs Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Phrasal verbs
An interactive ESL Taboo game for young learners at CEFR A2 level. Players describe 20 common phrasal verbs without using forbidden words. Teams compete to guess the target phrasal verb in 60 seconds per round. - Travel & Adventure Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, flags
An interactive ESL Taboo game for young learners (CEFR A2) featuring travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, and flags. Players describe target words without using forbidden words. 20 cards, 60 seconds per round, 2 teams. - Travel & Adventure Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, flags
An interactive Taboo game for young learners (A2 level) featuring travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, and flags. Players describe words without using forbidden words while their team guesses within 60 seconds per round. - Travel & Adventure Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, flags
An interactive Taboo game for young learners at CEFR A2 level. Players describe travel, countries, cartoon characters, and flags without using forbidden words. Perfect for classroom teams competing to guess 20 cards in 60 seconds per round. - Travel & Adventure Taboo Game CEFR A2 · Topic: Travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, flags
An interactive ESL Taboo game for young learners (CEFR A2) featuring travel, countries, cartoon movies, spelling, and flags. Players describe target words without using forbidden words. 20 cards, 60 seconds per round, 2 teams. - Advanced Vocabulary Taboo Game CEFR C1 · Topic: Vocabulary review
An interactive Taboo game for C1 learners featuring 20 cards covering sophisticated vocabulary including social issues, environmental concepts, media, and abstract ideas. Players describe target words within 60 seconds while avoiding forbidden words, encouraging nuanced circumlocution and advanced… - ESL Taboo Game - Young Learners A2 CEFR A2 · Topic: music, jobs, food, clothes, technology
An interactive Taboo game for young learners at A2 CEFR level. Players describe words from music, jobs, food, clothes, and technology without using forbidden words. 20 cards, 60 seconds per round, designed for 2 teams. - Taboo Game - Unit 4 Headway Elementary CEFR A2 · Topic: Unit 4 Headway Elemantary
Interactive Taboo game for adult A2 learners focusing on household items, personal belongings, and daily routines from Unit 4 Headway Elementary. Players describe target words without using forbidden words, promoting natural speaking and vocabulary practice. - Headway Unit 1 Taboo Game – Advanced Adults CEFR C1 · Topic: Unit 1 Headway
An interactive Taboo game for C1 adult learners covering Unit 1 Headway vocabulary including emotions, lifestyle, relationships, and entertainment genres. Players describe target words without using forbidden synonyms or direct associations, encouraging sophisticated circumlocution and nuanced…
Other game formats
- Live Quiz: A free live ESL quiz for teens and adults. Students join on their phones with a QR code, answer at their own pace inside a heist story, and the class board shows crews racing to open their vaults. No logins, no names. Printable quiz sheet included.
- Word Search: A free word search for young learners. Mystery words hide in the night sky: children see a picture or hear the word, find it, say it, then remember it at sunrise. Printable worksheet included.
- Spin the Wheel: A free ESL vocabulary wheel for young learners. Spin Mr Moon to pick a word, then the big reveal shows the task: say it, spell it with letter tiles, mime it or draw it. Printable paper spinner included.
- Crossword: A free ESL crossword for young learners. Every word is a row of windows in Moon Town: children read or hear a short story clue, say the word and spell it from memory to light up the town, then name every word again when the lights go out. Printable crossword worksheet included.
- Penalty Shootout: A free ESL penalty shootout. Teams kick the ball at the right answer: a safe shot shows two words, a power shot four, and the top corner is answered from memory. Ties go to sudden death. Printable match report worksheet included.
- Basketball Shootout: A free ESL basketball shootout. Teams shoot at the right answer: a layup shows two words for 1 point, a jump shot four for 2, and a three-pointer is answered from memory for 3. Ties go to overtime. Printable worksheet included.
- Classic Race: A free classroom board game race. Every team answers every speaking card, and each right answer rolls the dice. Star squares or snakes and ladders, team scores only, or the whole class against the sunrise. Printable board game worksheet included.
- Four in a Row: A free four in a row game for the classroom. Teams pick a column and answer a card: a right answer drops their counter in, a miss lets another team steal the spot. Or the whole class plays against Mr Moon. Printable board game worksheet included.
- Board Game: Speaking prompts with dice movement. Teams roll, land on a square and answer the prompt.
- Jeopardy: Categories and points for whole-class team review.
- Millionaire: Multiple-choice questions with lifelines and a prize ladder.
- Don't Wake the Giant: Teams climb a snoring giant by answering speaking prompts. Weak answers wake him up.
- WordVibe: Guess 5-letter vocabulary words from clues.
- The Floor Is Lava: Spell each word to cross the lava before it rises, with listening and letter games too.
- Escape Room: Solve language puzzles to crack the master code before time runs out.
- Drop Zone: Answer correctly, then drop balls into score zones.
- Water Guns, Bombs & Angels: Right answers open mystery boxes: angels, squirt guns and bombs. The team with the most hearts wins.
- Stop the Bus: Roll a letter, fill every category, and ring the bell to stop the bus. Unique words score 10.
- Story Adventure: A choose-your-own-adventure story with vocabulary and comprehension checks.
- Battleships: Sink ships by making correct grammar sentences from a row and a column.