ESL Taboo Words
Are you looking for a ready-made set ESL Taboo words list, designed specifically for English classes? If so, you’re in the right place! On this page we have a list of over 300 ESL Taboo game words, each with 3 prohibited or 'taboo' words.
In the classic game Taboo, players have to get their teammate to guess a word, without using any predefined prohibited words. Once their teammates guesses it correctly, the team wins a point! But if the players describing use a prohibited (or 'taboo') word, the team has to move on to the next word without winning a point.
Taboo is a fantastic game for ESL classes, because it forces students to think of synonyms or related words in their descriptions, expanding their vocabulary and strengthening a wider set of words. This is particularly good for practising vocabulary with students who are intermediate level or above. Ultimately, it helps students become more comfortable when reaching for associated words for a given conversation topic, and helps them sound more natural when speaking. You can find our instructions for playing Taboo in your ESL class here.
The challenge for ESL teachers is having a suitable set of words to hand. It takes quite a bit of prior thought to think of the appropriate prohibited words for each vocabulary word, meaning Taboo is often seen as just too time-consuming to prep. Moreover, even the easier words in the real Taboo card game can be too difficult for intermediate ESL students.
Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work for you! We crafted a list of over 300 words, categorised into 8 topics, that are suitable for ESL student vocabulary practice. We then defined 3 prohibited words for each of these vocabulary words, making sure they were also at the right level for students.
Use the categorised words below for a fun English class Taboo game on the topic of your choice. If you want to avoid writing them on the board, or printing them out and cutting them up into cards, we also have an online Taboo Game, pictured above. This has all the words below preloaded into separate categories, and clearly highlights the taboo words. That way you simply select your topic and project words on the board instantly! You can try that out with a free trial of our interactive resources (no payment details required):
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
ESL Taboo Words List
Animals
crocodile
teeth, nose, alligator
dolphin
swim, intelligent, grey
elephant
grey, Africa, nose
giraffe
tall, orange, neck
tiger
orange, stripes, meat
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Clothes and Accessories
backpack / rucksack
school, carry, back
belt
trousers / pants, fall, accessory
earrings
ears, accessory, jewellery
gloves
hands, cold, winter
jumper / sweater
arms, cold, body
necklace
neck, jewellery, women
polo shirt
collar, neck, t-shirt
ring
jewellery, wedding, finger
sandals
beach, summer, feet
shirt
formal, work, buttons
shoes
feet, trainers / sneakers, socks
shorts
summer, legs, trousers / pants
sunglasses
eyes, summer, sun
swimsuit
swimming, beach, pool
trainers / sneakers
feet, shoes, sport
trousers / pants
suit, legs, shorts
umbrella
rain, wet, protect
underwear
under, clothes, boxers
watch
time, accessory, arm
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Food and Drink
avocado
green, toast, expensive
bacon
pig, breakfast, meat
biscuits / cookies
oven, sweet, chocolate
bread
brown, sandwich, toast
broccoli
green, healthy, tree
burger
fast food, chips / fries, meat
butter
soft, yellow, bread
cake
birthday, sweet, bake
carrot
orange, healthy, rabbit
cereal
breakfast, milk, morning
cheese
yellow, burger, milk
cherries
sweet, small, red
chicken
animal, meat, bird
chips / fries
yellow, potato, ketchup
chocolate
brown, cocoa, sweet
corn
plant, yellow, cereal
crisps / chips
snack, bag, potato
cucumber
long, green, water
doughnut / donut
hole, sweet, police
egg
chicken, white, yellow
garlic
small, white, flavour
hot dog
sausage, bread, ketchup
ice cream
cold, milk, vanilla
jam / jelly
red, sweet, toast
ketchup
sauce, red, mustard
lemon
bitter, fruit, yellow
lemonade
drink, lemon, coke
lettuce
salad, vegetable, green
mango
tropical, fruit, yellow
mushroom
white, ground, slice
noodles
pasta, Asian, ramen
onion
vegetable, white, red
orange
fruit, juice, mandarin
pasta
Italian, sauce, spaguetti
peas
green, small, vegetable
pineapple
big, yellow, fruit
pizza
circle, Italian, tomato
popcorn
film / movie, snack, brown
potato
chips / fries, ground, vegetable
salad
vegetables, sandwich, lettuce
salt
white, flavour, pepper
sandwich
meat, cheese, bread
sausage
long, meat, hot dog
strawberry
fruit, red, ice cream
sweets / candy
sweet, chocolate, kids
turkey
meat, bird, chicken
water
drink, clear, liquid
watermelon
big, fruit, red
wine
alcohol, grapes, beer
yogurt
milk, fruit, cereal
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Home and Furniture
armchair
sit, leg, living room
bookshelf / bookcase
wall, store, paper
cupboard / cabinet
food, kitchen, wall
clock
time, watch, numbers
coffee table
tea, living room, small
cooker / stove
cook, kitchen, food
curtains
window, dark, colours
cushion
soft, sofa / couch, sit
desk
work, table, computer
fridge
cold, food, freezer
lamp
light, see, living room
mat / rug
floor, walk, fabric
microwave
heat, electric, food
sofa / couch
sit, living room, comfortable
shower
water, bathroom, wash
toilet
bathroom, sit, water
TV
watch, Netflix, film / movie
wardrobe
clothes, bedroom, hang
washing machine
wash, clothes, appliance
window
glass, see, outside
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Jobs
actor / actress
theatre, film / movie, TV
artist
paint, draw, picture
astronaut
space, rocket, planet
banker
money, finance, rich
barber / hairdresser
hair, cut, salon
builder / construction worker
build, house, make
bus driver
drive, school, transport
businessperson
suit, office, money
cashier
money, supermarket, shopping
chef / cook
cook, food, restaurant
coach / trainer
sport, team, instructions
dancer
move, ballet, theatre
doctor
health, ill / sick, hospital
firefighter
water, building, hot
fisherman
water, sea, catch
flight attendant
plane, serve, instructions
gardener
plants, water, grow
musician
instrument, guitar, play
nurse
hospital, doctor, patient
painter
artist, colour, picture
photographer
camera, picture, Instagram
plumber
water, fix, bathroom
police officer
criminal, catch, rule
politician
speak, make, government
postal worker
post / mail, give, house
salesperson
car, sell, customer
scientist
experiment, lab, biology
shop /store assistant
shop / store, help, customer
singer
perform, music, song
soldier
fight, military, army
sportsperson
play, football, competition
taxi driver
car, Uber, Lyft
teacher
classroom, school, English
waiter / waitress / server
restaurant, serve, food
writer / author
book, read, writing
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Objects
alarm clock
time, morning, wake up
balloon
party, birthday, colour
bag
backpack, carry, suitcase
bat / racket
sport, hit, ball
bin / garbage can / trash can
rubbish, paper, need
board
write, classroom, teacher
bottle
plastic, drink, water
box
square, Amazon, package
bus
transport, public, drive
camera
photo, picture, phone
candle
light, fire, birthday
computer
laptop, work, game
drums / drum kit
music, instrument, hit
guitar
play, music, instrument
magazine
read, newspaper, pictures
microphone
sing, speak, karaoke
newspaper
magazine, read, politics
notebook
write, notes, student
pan / saucepan
cook, kitchen, food
paper
write, notebook, white
pen
pencil, write, student
(pencil) sharpener
pencil, write, eraser / rubber
piano
instrument, music, keyboard
remote
channel, TV, change
rubber / eraser
erase, mistake, pencil
ruler
measure, numbers, size
scissors
cut, metal, paper
suitcase
travel, clothes, holiday
toothbrush
brush, teeth, toothpaste
toothpaste
toothbrush, clean, teeth
torch / flashlight
light, camping, dark
train
transport, public, rail
trumpet
music, instrument, metal
vase
glass, flowers, water
violin
instrument, shoulder, music
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Places in the City
airport
plane, fly, travel
bank
money, ATM / cash machine, save
butcher’s
meat, sell, shop / store
beach
holiday / vacation, sun, sea / ocean
church
religion, pray, Jesus
cinema / movie theatre
film / movie, watch, popcorn
dentist
teeth, doctor, chair
doctor’s / doctors office
hospital, ill / sick, office
fire station
firefighter, police, water
gym
exercise, run, fitness
barber’s / hairdresser
hair, cut, salon
hospital
doctor, nurse, accident
hotel
stay, holiday / vacation, room
house
home, flat / apartment, live
library
book, read, borrow
office
work, business, desk
police station
officer, criminal, law
post office
post / mail, letter, send
restaurant
eat, food, order
school
student, learn, teacher
square
circle, city, centre
stadium
football, concert, people
supermarket
buy, food, shop / store
theatre
drama, actor / actress, concert
town hall
government, building, centre
train station
rail, travel, transport
vet
animal, hospital, doctor
acting / drama
theatre, actor / actress, play
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
Sports and Hobbies
athletics
run, throw, competition
badminton
racket, net, tennis
basketball
NBA, jump, ball
canoeing / kayaking
water, boat, lake
cricket
bat, England, ball
cycling
bike / bicycle, wheel, race
dancing
ballet, samba, salsa
fishing
water, catch, salmon
gardening
plant, water, nature
gymnastics
flexible, jump, competition
hiking
walk, mountain, boots
horse riding / racing
jump, ride, animal
ice skating
dance, cold, winter
painting
art, picture, brush
photography
camera, Instagram, picture
roller skating
wheel, shoe, ice
running
race, athletics, exercise
singing
karaoke, song, music
skateboarding
extreme, board, wheel
skiing
snow, winter, mountain
surfing
water, board, sea / ocean
swimming
pool, water, beach
table tennis / ping pong
ball, tennis, bat
Try our interactive Taboo Game now
