About the Hangman
Hangman is the classic word guessing game. The game picks a hidden word from a category of your choice, animals, food, places, things or actions, and shows a blank for each letter. Guess a letter: if it is in the word, it appears in all its places, and if not, a part of the hangman is drawn. You have six wrong guesses before the drawing is complete. Use the on-screen letters or your keyboard, and keep count of wins and losses as you play. The words are everyday English words, so it suits both children and adults.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Hangman
- 1Choose a category or leave it on Any.
- 2Guess a letter by tapping it or pressing the key.
- 3Correct letters appear in the word; wrong ones add to the drawing.
- 4Guess the whole word before six parts are drawn.
- 5Press Next word to play again.
Playing smartly
Hangman rewards a strategy. Start with the most common letters, especially vowels, to learn the shape of the word. Then use the pattern of blanks and the category to guess which word fits. Long words usually contain several common letters, which gives you more information with each guess.
Choosing a category
Categories narrow the possibilities. Animals and food are easier for young children, while actions and things can be harder because the words are less predictable. Choose Any for a mix.
- Animals: elephant, giraffe, penguin
- Food: pancake, spaghetti, avocado
- Places: library, volcano, lighthouse
- Things: umbrella, telescope, compass
- Actions: whisper, juggle, tiptoe
A learning game
Hangman is popular in classrooms for practising spelling and vocabulary. Ask children to say the word aloud when they win, spell it and use it in a sentence. Make a game of beating your own streak.
Related games
More word and logic games: the Word Search Generator, the Sudoku game, the Memory Test and the Tic Tac Toe game. The Random Word Generator provides words to practise.
Features
- Five categories plus any
- Everyday words of 4 to 10 letters
- Keyboard and touch letters
- Drawing that builds with each wrong guess
- Win and loss counter
- Runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Hangman?
Guess letters one at a time. Right letters are filled in, and wrong letters add a part to the drawing. You win if you complete the word before the drawing is finished.
How many wrong guesses are allowed?
Six: head, body, two arms and two legs.
What is a good first guess?
Start with common letters such as E, A, O, T, I and N, then use the pattern to work out the rest.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes. One person can look at the screen and the other guesses, or take turns choosing the category.
Are the words suitable for children?
Yes. They are common, family friendly words.
Do you have other languages?
This version uses English words.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Tap the letters on the screen.
Why does the drawing have six parts?
The traditional game draws the head, the body, two arms and two legs. Six wrong guesses ends the game, so you can afford a few mistakes but not many.
Which letters should I guess last?
Rare letters such as Q, X, Z and J. Use them only when the pattern of blanks suggests a word that needs one.
How can I make the game harder or easier?
Choose a category that you know less well for a challenge, or one that suits young children for an easier game. Play with a friend and see who solves it in the fewest guesses.
Where do the words come from?
The words are a hand-picked list of common English words in five categories, so you will see familiar words rather than obscure ones.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up.