charades

Charades is a party word-guessing game in which players act out a word or phrase without speaking, while teammates try to guess it from their gestures and expressions.

Before a round, a clue is chosen, typically by writing the target phrase on a slip of paper; players often select from categories such as films, books, songs, or TV shows. During a turn, the actor cannot speak or spell; they may mime parts of the phrase, use gestures, facial expressions, and props where allowed. The guessers call out answers; the round ends when the phrase is correctly guessed or the time runs out.

Rules vary by group. In many versions, the target phrases are two or three words, and the performer may break the clue into segments to mime each portion. Common categories include film titles, literary works, and musical numbers.

Origins and history: Charades originated in England in the 18th or 19th century and developed into a popular parlor game of the Victorian era. The form spread to other English-speaking countries and has many regional variants. Today, it remains a common party activity with various informal rules and online adaptations.