Before any game of Hangman, the first thing you need to do is choose a good word. Choosing good Hangman words can make the game more fun, more challenging, or even a little silly. What makes a word good for Hangman depends on your goals and your audience. Are you playing with kids and want something simple? Or are you trying to stump your friends with a difficult or unusual word? To help you get started, we’ve put together an extensive collection of hangman words, organized by theme and difficulty. First, let’s start with some easy hangman words.
Easy Hangman Words
Easy hangman words are short, simple, and perfect for beginners. They’re especially suitable for kids, English language learners, or anyone who wants a quick and fun game without too much frustration. These words are typically 3–6 letters long and use common letters that are easy to guess. Here are the best easy hangman words try first:
- cat
- dog
- sun
- hat
- run
- bed
- fish
- tree
- ball
- star
- book
- jump
- frog
- cake
- rain
- doll
- shoe
- moon
- milk
- leaf
- duck
- lamp
- door
- ship
- kite
- nose
- ring
- baby
- blue
- hand
Hard Hangman Words
Hard hangman words are longer, trickier, and designed to stump even the best guessers. These words often include uncommon letters, silent letters, or difficult patterns. They’re great for older players, advanced learners, or anyone who’s ready for a real challenge. Here are some hard hangman words to try if you’re feeling confident:
- jinx
- crypt
- awkward
- gnaw
- rhythm
- lynx
- quiz
- fjord
- knack
- zigzag
- eerie
- queue
- llama
- abyss
- pixel
- psalm
- whizz
- yacht
- gazette
- wrist
- brawl
- quirk
- knack
- numb
- glyph
- crawl
- sneeze
- hymn
- azure
- exile
Funny Hangman Words
Funny hangman words make the game more entertaining and unexpected. These words are silly, weird, or just plain fun to guess. Here are our favorite funny hangman words to try in your next game:
- bamboozle
- gobbledygook
- pickle
- wobble
- razzmatazz
- nincompoop
- flibbertigibbet
- doodad
- thingamajig
- hullabaloo
- kerfuffle
- doodle
- doohickey
- kumquat
- platypus
- lollygag
- gibberish
- snickerdoodle
- hootenanny
- fiddle-faddle
- whoopsie
- bananas
- squiggle
- mumbo jumbo
- zany
- hiccup
- yodel
- shenanigans
- boondoggle
- blubber
Hangman Words for Kids
These Hangman words for kids are simple, age-appropriate, and fun to guess. These words are great for younger learners, early readers, and classroom activities. They focus on common vocabulary, short word lengths, and familiar spelling patterns. Here are some fun hangman words that are perfect for kids:
- apple
- ball
- cat
- dog
- egg
- fish
- goat
- hat
- ice
- jam
- kite
- leaf
- milk
- nose
- owl
- pig
- queen
- rain
- sun
- tree
- toy
- zoo
- duck
- bus
- red
- cake
- bed
- moon
- rope
- star
Hangman Phrases
Hangman doesn’t have to be limited to single words. Playing with phrases adds an extra layer of fun and challenge. From common sayings to funny expressions and short sentences, using phrases in Hangman keeps players guessing and makes the game feel fresh and unpredictable. Here are some fun hangman phrases to try out:
- break the ice
- piece of cake
- once upon a time
- under the weather
- back to square one
- hit the nail on the head
- let the cat out of the bag
- the early bird catches the worm
- time flies when you’re having fun
- a blessing in disguise
- barking up the wrong tree
- break a leg
- all in good time
- better late than never
- practice makes perfect
- speak of the devil
- keep it under your hat
- hit the books
- throw in the towel
- actions speak louder than words
Now that you’ve explored all kinds of hangman words and phrases, why not create your own custom Hangman game? You can copy any of the hangman word lists from this page and paste them into your own custom game. Or, if you have your own words or phrases in mind, just type them in to create a personalized game in seconds. It’s quick, flexible, and a fun way to make Hangman your own.