charadas

Charadas, also known as charades, is a traditional parlor game in which players attempt to guess a word or phrase based on clues provided by a participant. The clues are given without saying the word itself and may involve mime, description, or a combination of both. The target phrase is often divided into components, with clues tailored to each part, and players take turns offering hints while others try to guess.

Origins and name: The modern charade developed in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, gaining particular popularity in Victorian England. The term charade comes from French, originally describing a riddle in which the answer is constructed from separate clues rather than directly stated.

Gameplay and structure: A chooser selects a word or phrase and prepares a sequence of hints. In acting rounds, the clue-giver uses gestures and movement, avoiding spoken words; in description rounds, they may pantomime or speak minimal hints. Clues may reference syllables, synonyms, homophones, or descriptions of the word’s meaning. Guessers confer and attempt to identify the target; rounds proceed until the word is guessed or time runs out.

Variations and reach: Charades are widely played at family gatherings, parties, and classrooms. Variants include silent charades, themed rounds (movies, books, famous people), and competitive formats with scoring. The game shares kinship with other wordplay games such as Pictionary and certain riddle traditions. See also charade (puzzle).