Suggest a new activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Report a bug

Optional, 1 image up to 5 MB.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Word Telephone

Word Telephone

Min number of participants 4
Age 5+ yrs.
Safety support by adult Not required
Min duration 10 min.
Cost None (Free)
Environment Indoor / Outdoor

Line up and whisper a short phrase from person to person down the line — no repeating — then compare what the last person heard to the original for a guaranteed laugh.

The Essentials

How to play

  1. Line everyone up or sit in a circle, shoulder to shoulder.
  2. The first person silently thinks up a short phrase or sentence (or a game leader whispers one to them) — nothing too long, 8-12 words works well.
  3. That person whispers it once, quietly, into the ear of the next person — no repeating, no spelling it out.
  4. Each person passes on only what they heard, whispering it once to the next person down the line, all the way to the end.
  5. The last person says out loud what they heard, then the first person reveals the original phrase — the funnier the gap between them, the better.

Tips

  • Pick phrases with tricky sounds, homophones, or unusual words — they drift and mutate far more entertainingly than simple ones.
  • Whisper genuinely quietly and only once; the temptation to repeat or over-enunciate defeats the point of the game.
  • Play several rounds with a new starting phrase and a different first person each time to spread out the fun.
  • Great for team building: the group ends up genuinely laughing together, and it works as an instant icebreaker needing zero equipment.
Activities

Similar activities (see all)

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Mahjong

Mahjong

Draw and discard decorated tiles to build a winning hand of sets and pairs before your opponents, reading the table to block rivals and anticipate what they need — mahjong combines memory, probability, and sharp attention to the discards of three opponents in a four-player game steeped in centuries of tradition.

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sack Race

Sack Race

Step into a hessian sack and hop your way to the finish line — a beloved party and sports day classic that dissolves into laughter the moment someone topples over.

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Pétanque

Pétanque

Take turns throwing metal boules to land as close as possible to a small wooden cochonnet on gravel or dirt — pétanque is France's favourite leisurely competition, played anywhere a flat surface can be found and endlessly sociable.