How to Play Taboo

Never played Taboo before? Here's everything you need to know to get started in minutes.

Basic Rules

1. Form teams: Split into 2 teams of at least 2 players each.
2. The clue-giver takes the phone: One player holds the phone and sees the card.
3. Describe the word: Give clues without saying the target word or any of the 5 forbidden words.
4. Team guesses: Teammates shout answers while the timer runs.
5. The watcher listens: The opposing team hits the buzzer if a forbidden word is spoken.
6. Record the result: Correct (+1), Taboo (-1), or Skip (0).
7. Switch turns: When time runs out, the other team takes over.
8. Win: After all rounds, the team with the most points wins.

Scoring

Tips for the Clue-Giver

• Use synonyms, actions, or context clues instead of direct descriptions.
• If you're stuck, skip the card — don't waste the whole turn.
• The best clue-givers think about what their team will understand fastest.

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