Word association games
Here are some fun activities that can be used as warmers, fillers, and also more involved speaking exercises. Some of these word association games require no preparation at all. Others require some printouts but everything you need is available for free here at ESL Vault.
The word association games are all about using words that are related in some way and are perfect for practising vocabulary. If you are not familiar with these kinds of activities read on and you will be!.
1 – Word Association circle
This is the most commonly know word association game that almost everyone has played at some point. To play this game, get your students to form a circle. Going around the circle students must say a word related to the previous word. An example might be as follows – Water – Drink – Coffee – Black – Night – Stars etc.
If they cannot think of one within 5 seconds, they are out of the game. The winner is the last person remaining in the game. If there is any dispute that a word is not associated let the whole class vote on whether it is a reasonable answer or not. If your class is too big to form a circle just get the students to stand up to play and sit down if they are eliminated from the game.
2 – Word association gameshow
This is quite similar to the game above. Instead of putting the class in a circle, break the class up into teams. Have 1 player from each team come to the front of the class and sit in a chair.
Give these chosen players a category, let’s say fruit for an example. The students take turns to come up with the name of a fruit within 5 seconds. So they might say this – student 1 “apple”, student 2 “banana”, student 3 “watermelon”. If a player cannot think of a word or repeats one that has already been used they are out. Continue until 1 player is remaining, that player is the winner and earns a point for their team.
Next, get the teams to send new players to the chairs and play and repeat the activity. Play several rounds and tally up the points at the end to find the winning team.
3 – Taboo
This word association game requires players to guess a target word from clues. The catch is that the clues cannot use certain words which are “taboo words”. One student must try to explain the target word while the rest of the class tries to guess what it is.
For complete instructions and free printable game cards gave a look here.
4 – Word association point scoring
For this, you need premade word cards that have a target word and 4 associated words. You can also print out the free taboo cards from the link in the previous game.
The game can be played 1 on 1, or in groups. First, a player or team chooses a random card and reads aloud the target word at the top. The opposing team must say 4 words they think are associated. For every match on the card, they get a point for their team. The next team takes a card and repeats the process. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
For a variation on this activity, you can get teams to move pieces around a board game and race to the finish. One point gives them 1 move forward.
You can also set a target number of points. For example, the first team to amass 25 points is the winner.
5 – Things that go together game
In this activity, students must match things that are associated and go together. With sets of words or pictures ask your students to match the objects or words that belong together. For example – bat and ball, moon and stars, shoes and socks. These are all pairs of words that belong together.
You can create word or picture cards yourself if you have target vocabulary that you want to revise. The easiest thing to do is to download and print the things that go together cards here on ESL Vault. This is one of the word association games that is also suitable for younger learners.
6 – Word association sentences
For this activity you need groups of associated words with a target word to play, 3 associated words is a good number. A group may look like this – MILK, cow, baby, white. Again you can use the taboo cards that are linked above in game 3.
One player at a time comes to the front of the class and must construct a sentence that includes the 3 words. The idea is to get the rest of the class to guess the preassigned target word.
For Example, the target word is milk, the associated words are – cow, baby, and white. The student could make the sentence – “The white cow had a baby”. The student who correctly guesses the word milk gets a point as does the player who made the sentence.
7 – Guess your partner’s word association
This game requires you to download one of the word association worksheets here on ESL Vault.
To play the students must try to guess what words their partners will write to associate with certain words/pictures. To make it even more fun the class can try to guess what their teacher will associate with the words. The student that gets the most correct guesses is the winner!
8 – Word association chain
To play this game you start with a noun. For example, “a tiger”. The first student must add an adjective to the noun such as “a fast tiger”. The next student adds another adjective and recites all the previous words as well – a white, fast, tiger. Continue in this fashion until your class can no longer think of a word to add. If a student cannot add a word they are out of the game. The winner is the last remaining player.
You can either get students to write their words on the board, but it is more fun to get them to say the words aloud and have them try to remember all the previous adjectives. It gets very difficult when the chains are over 10 words long!
Variations of this game start using sentences such as ”I am going on holiday and in my suitcase there is ….”, or “Yesterday, I went to the supermarket and bought…”. In this version of the game, students will be adding nouns.
9 – Family Feud
This is a popular TV game show where contestants try to match a list of responses to a question. In the adapted classroom version, a category is given instead and students have to match associated words.
Of all the word association games, this one is my favorite as it works for most levels and always gets a great response from the class. For full instructions and printable category and answer cards check the Family Feud for the classroom article.
More games
If you enjoyed the word association games and are looking for more fun activities for the classroom, you will want to also have a look at the 16 easy whiteboard games.
You might also like these
A word association game is a game in which a word is given to a student and then that student must say an associated word or phrase. Word association games are a fantastic way to help students practice using their existing vocabulary and to learn new English words.
While playing word association games, students are likely to encounter words that they have not heard before. These words are associated with the vocabulary they already know, and so it is very easy for students to guess the meanings of these new words. This makes word association games fantastic for learning new words.
Let’s look at some different ways in which you can play word association games with your students.
Simple Word Association
The simplest way to play word association games in class is to simply give one student a word and ask that student to say the first thing that comes to mind. For example, if you say the word “drink” a student might say the word “juice”. Then, the next student should say the first word which comes to their mind, for example, “orange”.
If you’re playing this game with kids, then to make it even more fun you could get them to pass a ball as they play. When a student has the ball it is their turn, and once they have said their word they should pass the ball to the next player.
However, if you are playing word association games while social distancing in the classroom, then it is probably best not to pass a ball around. Instead, you could ask your students to stand up from their desks when it is their turn.
Word Association Topics
Another fun way to play word association games in class is to choose a particular topic and ask students to say words associated with that topic. Usually, when playing word association games, students would start at one word, and after a few turns, the words might become completely unrelated to the original topic.
But when playing a word association game with a particular topic, all words must be related to the main topic. For example, if you choose the topic ‘food’ then every word must be a kind of food. If a student says ‘milk’ for example, then that student would be out as it is a drink and not a food.
Here are some topics you could use for your next word association game:
- Types Of Food
- Types Of Drinks
- Countries
- Hobbies
- Sports
- Superheroes
- Colors
- Furniture in a house
- School Subjects
- Types Of Weather
Guess The Secret Word
A really fun way to get your students thinking while playing a word association game is to have them try and guess a secret word. Rather than have students say any associated word that comes to mind, instead think of a secret word and tell them some words associated with that.
Then students should try to guess what the secret word is. To make it more fun you could even ask students to guess other words which might be associated to the secret word.
For example, if the secret word was ‘yellow’ you could say the word “banana” to your students. Then they might guess something like “apple” and you can tell them it is not related. But when they say something like “lemon” you can tell them that it is associated with it.
After some time students will be able to guess the secret word. This way of playing a word association game is a fantastic way to get students to practice their thinking skills while learning new vocabulary.
Ryhming Words
This way of playing word association games can lead to some hilarious answers. Simply give students a word and ask them to come up with a word which rhymes. In this game, the words don’t necessarily have to be related. They just need to rhyme.
For example, you might say the word “cold” and students might say “old”, “mold”, “bold”, “told”, etc. The first student who can’t come up with a rhyming word is out.
Chain Game
This last word association style game is one you have probably played at some point in your life. In this game a student would say one word and then the next student must say a word which starts with the last letter of the previous word.
For example, if the word was ‘pizza’ then the next student must say a word beginning with ‘a’. Then, the next student might say “apple” and so the next student must say a word beginning with ‘e’. And so, on. The first student who cannot say a word is out.
Thanks for reading. I hope you found some inspiration for your next word association game.
Before you go, don’t forget to check out our free lesson materials, including ESL Games, PowerPoint Games, ESL Worksheets, ESL PowerPoints, and ESL Printables.
Have you ever thought you could improve your IQ level and word knowledge while chilling and playing fun games? I guess your answer is “Nope.”
If it’s “Nope,” then let me tell you the amazing hack by which you can improve yourself, your IQ, word knowledge, spelling accuracy, and many more aspects.
While researching human IQ, I got to know that we can very easily and effortlessly work on our IQ and intelligence and literally can improve these things just by playing word games.
Yes, you got me right, but now probably the question is arousing in your mind “HOW?”. I found out that various word association games use can make used to improve your IQ and intelligence.
Wow, isn’t it so cool? So, to get more information about this, I started researching and finally landed on the 15 best word association games, which are the best and help you gain IQ and intelligence while you chill and play games.
You can try these word games to pass the time with acquiring knowledge. So, let’s proceed with the list.
Best Word Association Games – Our Top Pick👌
1. Word stacks
So, guys, the first name of our list is Word Stacks. Among all the other word association games, word stacks are one of the best. Word Stacks helps you efficiently improve your IQ with all its unique tasks.
If you want to quickly improve your word power and IQ, you should try Word Stacks for some days. With Word Stacks’ help, users can train their brains easily and become more genius.
Word Stacks has got a huge number of activities and levels which are so beneficial for improving word knowledge. You can play more than 5000+ levels of word games and get better.
All those people who are willing to learn new words and improve their vocabulary knowledge should try the Word Stacks app. You’ll get lots of fun puzzles with awesome and beautiful UI, which will help you learn and solve new words daily.
To make sure you get fun, Word Stacks has arranged all these cool UIs. Word Stacks doesn’t need you to play this word game all day to improve your ability.
You can improve all your vocabulary and spelling skills by playing Word Stacks for at least 10 minutes. Play Word Stacks and give relaxation to your brain.
Word Stacks provides more than 5000+ levels and daily challenges to make you a word genius, which is very beneficial. Word Stacks has 50 million downloads on Play Store, and all the reviews are positive.
Features:-
- IQ tracker
- More than 5000+ levels
- Daily Challenges
- Fun Puzzles
- Beautiful Themes
- Brain Training
- Mind Exercises
Devices:- Android, IOS
Ratings:– 4.7/5 On Android, 4.6/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
2. iAssociate – Fun mind-teasing puzzles
To enrich your vocabulary and spelling skills, iAssociate has got some cool kinds of stuff that you can make use of.
All the levels of iAssociate are designed and built to make you more efficient and genius in terms of spelling and vocabulary.
While playing on iAssociate, you’ll be improving your IQ unconsciously, which is the main goal of iAssociate. All the activities and levels of iAssociate challenge you and make you think, which helps you to get efficient over time.
There are more than 4000+ mind-blowing and interesting puzzles to keep you interested in word learning. You can also search for new word puzzles on iAssociate, leading you to that word.
Many more effective activities on iAssociate are designed for your improvement. You’ll get 100s of hilarious levels on iAssociate that will make you joyful while playing this game.
You’ll also get the spinning feature on iAssociate, spin to get rewards, and do other interesting things. By completing stages on Associate, you can earn rewards and recognitions.
iAssociate provides many customized themes with various interesting UIs, which will increase your learning mentality.
Features:-
- Various Vocabularies and Spellings
- Word Search
- 4000+ Mind-Blowing Puzzles
- 100+ Hilarious levels
- Spin the wheel & Earn a Reward
- Various Topics
- Beginners to Experts
Devices:- IOS
Ratings:- 4.5/5 On IOS
Download the App from Apple App Store
3. Word in Pieces
Word in pieces is a great relaxing, simple, and interesting word game that you should try to experience the fun of word learning.
This word game is immensely helpful and valuable for all those people trying to learn new words and spelling and improve their IQ. Especially to improve word power, Word in Pieces comes in so handy.
Word In Piece — Magma Mobile Game
With the help of this word game, you can work on your vocabulary and reflections. On word in pieces, you’ll find more than 16 different languages to practice word games. You’ll also get mini collectible cards and rewards with this word game.
Word in pieces provides you with a worldwide ranking by which you can easily learn about your progress. In every language, you’ll get 1000+ Levels to play word games.
Your word games become hard as you proceed to go ahead by clearing each level. This is a tough word game, and you’ll compete with all the players internationally.
The developer of this word game develops many more interesting and cool word games; you can look at those games.
This is a very good word game; you can definitely consider Word in pieces as your word game.
Features:-
- Mind Relaxing
- Vocabulary improvement exercises
- 16 different Languages
- 1000s of levels
- World Ranking
- Get other Word games
- Worldwide support
Devices: Android, IOS
Ratings: 4.6/5 On Android, 4.5/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
4. Word Trip
Another great word app is Word Trip. Only a few word association games help improve your word knowledge, spelling, and IQ, and Word Trip can give you all these supports.
Play Word Trip to increase your word power, grammar, and intelligence while relaxing and chilling. On Word Trip, you’ll get lots of daily brain training to help you become a word genius.
Word Trip Store Trailer Grammar
All those daily Yoga are the reasons behind your word improvement. Word Trip also helps you get familiar with many new words, which will keep moving the cycle of your learning.
You can swipe the unorganized words to create a valid word, and that’s how Word Trip works. By swiping and finding all those new words, you get a clarity of words that leads you to perfection.
There are various other aspects as well that help you in your word-learning journey. There are more than 6000+ puzzles and many other practices on Word Trip for your betterment.
You can also track all your training progress and game improvement on Word Trip, which is very helpful for long use. Word Trip keeps your brain active and functions in a certain way.
It increases your brain’s activity level and increases blood circulation. You’ll find all types of levels, from easy to hard. Word Trip is the winner of the Academic’s choice Mind Spring Award.
Features:-
- Brain Relaxation
- Daily Brain Yoga
- Helpful Word Exercises
- 6000+ Puzzles
- Knowledge Checker
- Easy-to-Hard Levels
- Amazing Backgrounds
Devices:– Android and iOS
Ratings:- 4.6/5 On Android and 4.7 on Apple App Store
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
5. Word Spark
The next name on our list is Word Spark. Word Spark is one of the easy word association games, but as time and level go on, this game becomes tough.
Word Spark is very easy to start, but all this game’s levels and activities have something in them.
The most important part of Word Spark is that it doesn’t make you addicted, so you can play only as much as you want. Word Spark helps you to become a real word expert with all its valuable games and exercises.
You’ll get more than 30 amazing packs on Word Spark, which you can make use of, and you’ll also get more than 580 well-designed puzzles to get more efficient in word learning.
This word game has almost all the features common to other word games, but some of its features make this one of the best. Word Spark is a different word game with various features, slightly different than traditional crossword games.
This word game is something you can make yourself of if you are trying to improve word power and IQ effectively. With Word Spark, you’ll get daily word exercises to keep your brain active and keep exercising.
This word game is so amazing and has over 500k+ downloads on Play Store as well.
Features:-
- No-Addiction Game
- 30 Amazing Packs
- 580 Well-designed puzzles
- Vivid graphics and interesting UI
- Brain Exercises
- Smart Training
Devices:- Android, IOS
Ratings:- 4.6/5 On Android, 4.5/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
You may like to read our guide on 15 Best Pool Table Games With Stunning Graphics.
6. Word Mind: Crossword puzzle
The word mind is another cool and interesting game that you can play to get enjoyment and also improve your intelligence.
Word Mind helps you relax and chill by playing the game, and you’ll be getting better and better at words with the help of this word game.
wordmindcrosswordpuzzle video 1280 720 210913 hrlee store
Improve your mindfulness, and get relaxed and stress-free with all the amazing and cool word games of Word Mind. Word Mind is a brand-new crossword game, and you’ll get lots of new word game features on this new version of the word game.
On Word Mind, you can rearrange all the mixed words and complete levels, and that’s how Word Mind works. By arranging those mixed words, you can improve your word power and IQ unconsciously.
This word game is easy to start with, but with time, it gets tough, so it has a perfect balance.
There are tons of interesting and cool levels on this word game that you can make use of, and every level has got something special and unique in it.
You can find over 1000+ puzzles and various amazing challenges on the Word Mind game. The graphic of Word Mind is brilliant, and it doesn’t need any permission, which is a big plus for security. The downside of this word game is that it contains lots of ads.
Features:-
- Brand-new Crosswords
- Easy-to-Play
- Tons of Levels
- Over 1000+ Puzzles
- Awesome Challenges
- Super cool Graphics
- Brain Training
- No permission Required
Devices:– IOS and Android
Ratings:- 4.6/5 On IOS and 4.5 on Google Play Store
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
7. Word Panda Farm
While searching for word association games, I came across this cool and awesome word game. This word game is fun-based, and you’ll enjoy the vibe while playing the game.
You can find any word you want and get that word displayed on your screen. Moreover, there are 2400+ levels and challenges in this word game, and you’ll be able to use those levels to get better in Words and spelling.
All the games of Word Panda are creative, and those puzzles are really hard to solve; by solving these problems, you’ll get better with your IQ.
Word Panda Farm has millions of users, and you’ll be playing with all those players worldwide.
The level of this word game increases when it gets international. By competing with international, you’ll automatically increase your Word power and IQ. All the words of Word Panda are completely valid and totally from the dictionary.
By practicing this word game, you can easily train your brain to get better. You’ll be able to get better in vocabulary, concentration, and spelling skills, which will help you in the long run.
With the well-designed UI and amazing puzzles, you going to enjoy this word game. All the different levels are simple, hard, or master.
Features:-
- Word Finding
- 2400 Levels
- Puzzle games
- Easy Training
- Brain Exercises
- Based on Dictionary
- Different Levels
- Challenging Puzzles
- Relaxation Features
Devices: IOS
Ratings: 4.6/5 On IOS
Download the App from Apple App Store
8. WordScapes
To get better in terms of words, grammar, and spelling, WordScapess is a great game to play. This word is so cool; all its levels are designed and built to give you the best game-playing experience.
Get a sharp mind and high IQ with all the practices of the WordScapess game. With the help of WordScapes, you can easily and unconsciously train your brain to get better.
This word game helps you to get challenged by various tough games and words which are designed to make you efficient. To keep you interested and keep you learning WordScapes has got various themes and UI with attention-grabbing attributes.
You don’t have to be addicted to WordScapes; you can get with words and spellings just by spending 10-20 minutes daily on this word game. Get modern word puzzles, daily challenges, and word-searching features on the WordScapes game.
You’ll also get the support of anagrams and crosswords in this word game. Just give your brain relaxation and play the WordScapes game.
You can also check your word power, vocabulary power, and concentration on this word game.
Moreover, there are 6000+ crossword puzzles and various challenges on the WordScapes game, which will help you get efficient. Challenge your brain and play with over 10 million users.
Features:-
- Brain Training
- 10-minute exercises
- Daily Challenges
- Modern Puzzles
- Word search, Anagrams, Crossword
- See your word power, Spelling Efficiency
- 6000+ crossword puzzles
Devices:- Android, IOS
Ratings:- 4.5/5 On Android, 4.2/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
9. Word to Word: Fun Brain Games, Offline Puzzle Game
Another great word game among all the other association games is Word to Word. Various interesting features of this word game will help you improve at words and spelling.
On Word to Word, you can match words, solve interesting puzzles and practice other exercises to get more efficient. You’ll get lots of exercises that will help you improve while playing the game.
This word game is unique and valuable as other word game lovers develop it. This word game will check all your knowledge of English synonyms, antonyms, grammar, etc.
Word to Word Game Trailer
To ease your word-learning process, Word to Word also provides some related hints and clues by which you can track the word even faster.
Various activities on these word games will keep you engaged in word learning.
On Word to Word, you’ll get fun trivia facts, crossword puzzles, mixed words, etc., and by solving those problems, you get better and, in time, become a word genius.
Word to Word has got various levels of word puzzles; you’ll get puzzles from easy to hard mode, which will help you to progress daily.
There are 1000s of puzzles with no time limit on the Word-to-Word game, and you can easily train your mind with those games. Play Word to Word daily and improve brainpower.
Features:-
- Various Quizzes
- Brain Exercises
- No time Limit
- All-round fun based
- Brain Games
- Easy-Hard levels
Devices:– Android, IOS
Ratings:- 4.4/5 On Android, 4.6/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
10. Word Link Game Puzzle
Word Link Game Puzzle is a classic word-searching puzzle game. If you want to increase your word power and spelling skills with all-around IQ improvement, then you are reading the details of the right game.
Word Link game Puzzle is a very exciting game, and this word game is easy to practice too. Become the true word genius by practicing and playing all the fun games of Word Link Game Puzzle.
On Word Link Game Puzzle, to find the correct and valid word, you have to concentrate and focus on the puzzle. Word Link Game Puzzle has various modes; you’ll find easy-hard modes in this word game which is helpful in learning.
Simply improve your vocabulary and spelling skills by rearranging those puzzles and mixed words. Word Link Game Puzzle has some effective workouts for the brain, which will keep your brain active and increase blood flow.
Download Word Link Game Puzzle freely and start your word game journey fast. There are more than 2000+ journeys with no time limit, which greatly helps.
The graphic of the Word Link Game Puzzle is awesome, and you’ll also get light music for better engagement.
Features:-
- Classic Word Search
- Easy-to-Play
- Challenging Modes
- Brain Exercises
- Free Download
- Word Hints
- 2000+ Levels
- No time limits
- Classic graphics with light music
Devices: Android
Ratings: 4.4/5 On Android
Download the App from Google Play Store
11. Crossword Jam
Crossword Jam is designed and builds to your mind relaxation during gameplay. This Word game is unique and has got various important features that will help you to learn new words fast.
Play this word game, test your memory power, and see all the scopes of improvement. With the help of Crossword Jam, you can build your scrapbook to get more from this game.
You can search for words and also guess any word. Play Crossword Jam freely and get smarter by playing overtime. You’ll get levels divided by easy-to-hard modes.
Get mastered words, grammar, and spelling with the help of the Crossword Jam game. All the puzzles of Crossword Jam are challenging, and you must be fully focused on getting past those puzzles.
You have to swipe through those unorganized words and guess the right words on Crossword Jam; that’s how you’ll be able to pass the levels. Get daily word challenges and tasks to perform, and by performing those tasks, you’ll get more efficient in word learning.
You’ll get 250 free coins to start with the Crossword Jam game, and then you’ll earn those coins by completing those levels. Train your brain through all these high-quality brain exercises and get a better IQ.
Features:-
- Brain Tests
- Word Searching and Word Guessing
- Easy-to-Hard modes
- Challenging Puzzles
- Any time gameplay
- Daily Rewards
- Fun and Relaxation
Devices: Android, IOS
Ratings: 4.7/5 On Android, 4.8/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
12. Crossword – Improve your word power
Crossword is the next name in our list of the 15 best word association games. Words games are always known for interesting puzzles and engaging activities, and Crossword is one of them.
There are various activities and puzzles on this Crossword game that you can make use of. You’ll get over 100s of free puzzles on the Crossword game, which will help you improve in words and spelling.
You can also get over 10000 unique clues to help you understand and guess the valid world. This world game is a completely new version, and you’ll get many new and updated puzzle versions.
There is always a quest, challenge, or event going on in Crossword games where you can participate and learn more. This game is considered one of the most interesting and downloaded word games.
You can find the world’s biggest and tallest crossword on this crossword game, which is also an interesting thing.
Get 950+ puzzles, 45 trophies, and 57 quests on the Crossword game, and use them to get efficient. Train your brain with Crossword and improve your IQ unconsciously.
Features:-
- 100s of great puzzles
- 10000 unique Clues
- New and Updated Puzzles
- Quests, challenges
- 950+ unique puzzles
- Mind training
Devices: IOS
Ratings: 4.4/5 On IOS
Download the App from Apple App Store
13. Word Trio
Another great game among all the other word association games is Word Trio. To improve your word power and IQ, you should try Word Trio.
All those people who are willing to learn new words and improve their vocabulary knowledge should try the Word Trio app.
You’ll get lots of fun puzzles with awesome and beautiful UI, which will help you learn and solve new words daily.
To make sure you get fun, Word Trio has arranged all these cool UIs. All the Word Trio activities and levels challenge you and make you think, which helps you get efficient over time.
There are more than 2000+ mind-blowing and interesting puzzles to keep you interested in word learning. You can also search for new word puzzles on Word Trio, leading you to that word.
Many more effective activities on Word Trio are designed for your improvement. Word Trio provides more than 1000+ levels and daily challenges to make you a word genius, which is very beneficial.
All these features make Word Trio one of the best word association games. Simply get benefitted from practicing activities on the Word Trio game.
Features:-
- IQ booster
- Daily Challenges
- 2000+ mind-blowing and interesting puzzles
- 1000+ levels
- Easy-Hard Modes
- Brain Training
Devices: IOS
Ratings: 4.3/5 On IOS
Download the App from Apple App Store
14. Word Association!
So, the last name of our list is Word Association Game. This word game only functions on IOS devices.
The word Association game has something different in it, making it one of the top among all the other word association games.
This word game intends to build and increase your overall word skills. Simply improve your brain and your IQ with all the activities and games of the Word Association Game.
Word Association Game helps you to track your word learning process and see all your improvement stats, which can help you to observe your learning.
You can swipe the unorganized words to create a valid word, and that’s how the Word Association Game works.
By swiping and finding all those new words, you get a clarity of words that leads you to perfection. There are various other aspects as well that help you in your word-learning journey.
You can also track all your training progress and game improvement on Word Association Game which is very helpful for long use. Word Trip keeps your brain active and functions in a certain way. It increases your brain’s activity level.
This word game has almost all the features common to other word games, but some of its features make this one of the best.
Word Association Game is a different word game with all the various features, slightly different than traditional crossword games.
Features:-
- On all IOS devices
- Tops Puzzles and games
- Various Levels & stages
- Progress Tracker
- Brain Exercises
Devices: IOS
Ratings: 4.5/5 On IOS
Download the App from Apple App Store
15. Guess The Word Association
Another great game for word learning is Guess the Word Association. Like all the other games, this word game also provides all the word and spelling learning features.
Still, I guess the word Association has something different, making it one of the tops among all the other association games.
Get tough, scrambled, and interesting words to solve, and while solving those scrambled words, you’ll be improving your overall word and spelling skills.
In a level or a series, you’ll get a full set of interconnected and related words, which will help you to get clues and references. This word game intends to build and increase your overall word skills; to do so, those scrambled words get in the business.
Simply improve your brain and IQ with all the activities and games of Guess the word Association. Guess the word association game helps you to track your word learning process and see all your improvement stats, which can help you to observe your learning.
This word game has 20 levels; at every level, you’ll get more than 10 fun games. You have to pass a level with only 50% to get to the next level, which is pretty amazing, but you can beat and enjoy the full game only by scoring 100%.
Features:-
- Tough, Scrambled Words
- Related and Inter-Connected Words
- Spelling Checker
- Brain Improvement Exercises
- 20 Levels with 200 games
Devices: Android, IOS
Ratings: 3.7/5 On Android, 4.8/5 On IOS
Download the App from Google Play Store
Download the App from Apple App Store
📗FAQ
How do u play the word association game?
Playing word association games is super easy, fun, and, more importantly, helps players learn various words while playing. While playing the game, everyone sits in a circle.
The first player, randomly chosen, says a word loudly. The next player, in clockwise order, is challenged to see a connected word.
The judgment of all players determines the accuracy of connection, and if anyone says a wrong word, they are eliminated. That’s how the game continues, and the player who says the correct word is ultimately the winner.
What is the purpose of a word association game?
The game’s goal is to compare different words, to see if they relate, or to see how many words are repeated and how different they are.
Similarly, players sometimes review the list of different words and check the pathways of associations to decide the winner.
What is a popular word-based game?
Word Stacks, iAssociate, Word Trip, Word in Pieces, Work Spark, etc., are among the most popular and highly engaging word-based games you can try to play with your friends and have some blasting time.
The best part about these games is that they also help you learn many different words you would not repeat or hear otherwise.
What are examples of word association game?
Playing word association games is a fantastic way to increase vocabulary, memory, and creativity. Word association exercises include the following:
Players in the game “Word Chain” alternately say a word that is related to the one that came before it. If the first word is “dog,” the next person might respond with “cat,” then “mouse,” and so on.
The object of the game of “free association” is for participants to say aloud the first word that comes to mind when they hear a specific word. As an illustration, if the first word is “ocean,” one player might respond with “waves,” then “beach,” “sand,” “shells,” and so forth.
20 Questions: In this game, one player thinks up a word, while the other asks up to 20 yes-or-no questions in an effort to identify the word. The associations with the word should be the main topic of the queries.
In this game, players are given a letter, a list of categories (such “types of fruit” or “colors”), and a specific category. Once given a letter, players are given a certain length of time to think of a word that begins with that letter for each category.
In the game of “Word Ladder,” players begin with a word and alternate modifying one letter at a time to produce a new word that is still connected to the original word.
For instance, if the initial word is “cat,” players might alternate turning the “t” into a “r” to create “car,” then turning the “c” into a “h” to create “har,” and so on.
Conclusion
So, guys, this was the list of 15 best word association games that are the most popular and most downloaded. All these games can transform you with total word knowledge and improve your IQ.
Take this opportunity to learn and improve yourself while playing games; I don’t think there is any other learning process cooler and better than word games.
Word association games are interesting and fun for students of all ages. What really makes these games fantastic is that students can expand their vocabulary and improve recall and memory abilities. Association-style games are entertaining because students can come up with some pretty amusing associations. As long as they can come up with a fitting association, anything goes! Encourage students to think creatively while trying out our 25 compelling word association games listed below!
1. Word Association Game Show
Have you ever hosted a game show? If not, now is your chance! First, you will need to split the class into teams. One player from each team will compete to see who can come up with an association word within 5 seconds of being given a specific category.
Learn more: ESL Vault
2. Partner Guessing Game
For this activity, students will guess what words their partners use to associate with words or pictures. You can make it more fun by having the students guess what association words their teacher will use for the same activity.
Learn more: ESL Vault
3. Interactive Video Association Exercise
You can use this video as an interactive learning tool. Play the video and set a time limit for students to respond. If they’re ESL learners or rather young, pause the video to give students more time.
Learn more: Useful Reference
4. Keywords and Categories
A simple association method is to use questioning strategies to ask students about words based on keywords and categories. For example, you could start with “holidays”, or “school subjects”, and ask students what comes to mind when you name a specific holiday or single subject.
Learn more: Prodigy Game
5. Everyday Objects Word Association Game
I recommend this activity for your classroom word association game list! I like how each card includes words and pictures. To play, students will match up words that are associated with one another. For example, “needle” and “thread” are a match.
Learn more: Twinkl
6. Word Associations Using Compound Words
I am a big fan of this association game option! Students will work in pairs to play this game. Each pair will be given half of a compound word and will need to guess the other half of the word. There are multiple possible answers for this game which makes it all the more fun!
Learn more: Centervention
7. Word Association Coloring Book
There are many pathways of associations for children to learn! This coloring book can be used to review the alphabet and word associations and you can also use it as a fun word association test.
Learn more: Amazon
8. TAGS Family Word Association Game
TAGS is a fun word association game for ages 10 and up. Each player will collect marbles when they find words that correspond to a specific letter and topic. Everyone will have 15 seconds to find as many words as possible during their turn.
Learn more: Amazon
9. Word Escape Activity
This word escape activity is a fun way to practice word associations. The idea behind this game is that the words have escaped from their home. The child’s job is to match the correct word to the picture on each home.
Learn more: Etsy
10. Word Association Bingo
Through Bingo students will learn all about vocabulary and word associations as they play. Students will mark the associated word when the teacher or leader calls out an object. When they reach Bingo, they can call it out for a special prize.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
11. That’s Fishy
Students will answer the question, “What does not belong?” for each group of items shown on the colorful fish. For example, students are shown a bus, a truck, a car, and a boat. The one that doesn’t belong would be the boat since the other 3 items are land vehicles.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
12. Linking Words Activity
This game can be played when you are out with your child. Ask your child about a specific word or point out a nearby object and ask them what the first thing is that comes to mind.
Learn more: Help My Kid Learn
13. Word Association Search
This activity is a word search and word association game all in one! Students will find the words from the wordlist in the word search puzzle. Then, they will place the words in the correct category based on association. For example, they will write the word “peas” in the “vegetables” category.
Learn more: Learny Kids
15. What’s the Topic?
Start by splitting students into teams and writing 10 topics on the board. Teams will come up with 3 words associated with each topic. The teams will take turns sharing the 3 words they selected, and the opposing team will guess topics.
Learn more: Teach-This
16. Password
Password is a fun team game that encourages students to use their imagination. To play, one student from each team will be shown a secret “password”. These students will share word clues associated with the password. The team who guesses the password wins!
Learn more: Teach-This
17. Category Game
This category game is an interactive, online game in which students will click a button to spin the wheel. The wheel will land on a category, such as “animal noises” or “sports”. The student will have a set time to name 3 things from the selected category.
Learn more: Word Wall
18. Word Association Wheel
Students will spin the wheel and will have to pick a word that best fits the selected question. For example, the wheel may land on the question, “Two people working together on a project?” and an acceptable answer would be “Partners”.
Learn more: Word Wall
19. Association Presents
For this activity, students can work in pairs to match the cards together to make a complete present. Students will match the cards by finding the words that are the most closely associated with one another, such as “lock” and “key”.
Learn more: Ms. Gardenia
20. Word Association Dominoes
Students will play by matching dominoes to similar words. For example, if there is a picture of a music note and a jump rope, the student will pick an item associated with singing or exercise. Students will play until someone uses all their dominoes, or there are no more word associations.
Learn More: The Dabbling Speechie
21. Tree-Pinecone Word Associations Game
Students will match up the pinecone with the pine tree when they find two words that go well together, such as “toothbrush” and “toothpaste”.
Learn more: Communication Station: Speech Therapy PLLC
22. Heart Puzzle: Word Association Game
Children will complete the heart puzzle by finding associated word matches. This resource includes two sheets of nine-heart puzzles and blank hearts to add more. Laminate the puzzle pieces to keep them in good condition.
Learn more: Communication Station: Speech Therapy PLLC
23. Word Associations Task Cards
Students will take turns pulling task cards and completing the question or activity on each card. This is beneficial because it requires students to explain their decision-making process.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
24. Word Association: Locations
The directions for this activity guide students to circle the two pictures that go together based on their place of occurrence. This activity would be helpful for pre-readers because it uses pictures.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
25. Category Questions
Students will sit in a circle with a small group. The teacher will provide a category and students will give clues as to the object they are thinking of. The objective of the game is for students to guess correctly and continue with various words and categories.
Learn more: GeogSoc
Related posts:
If you’re looking for a fun word association game or activity, then you’re certainly in the right place. Keep on reading for everything you need to know about fun word association games.
Word Association Activity
This ESL word association activity is an ideal way to help students activate prior knowledge that they might have about a topic. Or, you can use it at the end of a unit to show students how much they have learned!
The key to having a happy ESL classroom is to mix things up in your classes. After all, nobody likes doing the same thing over and over again. Try out some new activities today…here’s a simple vocabulary one you can start with.
Skills: Reading/writing/speaking
Age: 7+ (must be able to read + write)
Materials Required: Workbook or butcher paper and pens
Word Association is an ESL vocabulary activity that can be used to introduce a new topic, lesson, theme, etc. You have to write a single relevant word in the middle of the board or paper and have students take turns adding as many words or images related to that word as possible.
For example…the centre word could be “school.” Some of the other branches could be subjects (Math, English, History, Gym, etc) while another branch could be school supplies (pen, paper, ruler, etc.) Finally, you might have one about recess or break time (play games, tag, climb, jump, swing set). And keep going with more associations from there.
The subject or topic can be whatever you’re teaching that day. Another topic it works well for is body parts. Check out some more parts of the body activities here.
For large classes, have students work in groups with separate pieces of paper taped to the wall or the top of the table/ grouped desks. After a given amount of time (3-5 minutes, or when you see no one is adding anything new), discuss their answers.
It’s also a nice activity for teaching English online so give it a try today!
Teaching Tips for This ESL Vocabulary Activity
For large classes, butcher paper works best, so more students can write at one time. If that isn’t possible, have 5-6 board markers available.
If using butcher paper, prepare in advance, including taping to the wall, unless students will be working at their desks. Finally, if students will be working at their desks, write the word on each table’s page in advance, but don’t hand them out until you have given your instructions.
This activity is often quite a fun way to start off a holiday themed class. For even more ideas, check out: ESL Christmas Activities and Games.
Procedure for Word Association Game
1. Write a single word relevant to your new topic, lesson, or theme on the white board or butcher paper.
2. Have students take turns adding as many words or images related to that word as possible. My rule is that each student has to add at least one word, no matter how small.
3. After 3-5 minutes (or less, if no one is adding anything new), discuss their answers.
4. For larger classes, put students into groups of 4-6 and let them work together on this. You can choose the most well-organized one to show as an example to the rest of the class. And these papers can act as resources for the rest of the class.
Word Associations Activity for ESL
Follow-Up to this Word Association Activity
You may wish to spend quite a bit of time teaching your students how to do mind-mapping, or brainstorming the first time they do it. This is because it can be a very useful skill that they can take with them to all of their classes. It’s often a great first step before doing almost any kind of writing task or project.
Remember to teach your students that they’re not to edit their ideas at this point. Just to write down anything that comes to mind. And that they should also be doing this very quickly.
Word Associations Worksheets
Do you want to give your students some extra practice with this kind of thing? The good news is that there are a ton of great word association exercises online that you can just print off and use in your classes. If that’s not some ESL teaching gold then I’m not sure what it! Here are some of the best options:
ISL Collective
ESL Printables
ESL Galaxy
Did you Like this Word Associations Game?
Do you love this English vocabulary Activity? Then you’re going to love this book over on Amazon: 39 ESL Warm-Ups for Kids. There are almost 40 top-quality ESL warm-ups and icebreakers to help you get your classes started off in style. Help ease your students into using English and get them ready for the main part of the lesson ahead.
English warm-up activities and games are the perfect way to review ESL Vocabulary from previous classes. Do it the tricky way—without students even realizing what you’re doing!
The authors of the book have decades of experience teaching kids, teenagers, university students and adults. Learn from their experience about how to help your students actually learn English.
39 ESL Warm-Ups is available in both print and digital formats. The (cheaper!) digital copy can be ready on any device by downloading the free Kindle reading app. It’s super easy to have fun, engaging ESL warm-ups at your fingertips anywhere you might plan your lessons.
You can check out the book for yourself over on Amazon:
—>39 ESL Warm-Ups: For Kids (7+)<—
Word Association ESL Vocabulary Activity: Join the Conversation
Do you like this activity, or do you have some other favourite word association games? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you about anything word association game!
Also be sure to give this article a share on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. It’ll help other busy teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.
Word association game
Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You found our list of fun and simple vocabulary games for adults.
Vocabulary games are activities that include language and wordplay. Example games include Word Association and Hang Man. Players can enjoy vocabulary games in person or online. The purpose of these games is to strengthen vocabulary skills. These games are also known as “vocab games”, “letter games” and “vocabulary building games.”
These games make great online classroom activities and communication games, and can be used as online fun activities for employees.
This list includes:
- vocabulary games for adults
- simple vocabulary word games for adults
- fun online vocabulary games and activities
- English vocabulary games
- vocabulary games in English
- games to improve vocabulary
- vocabulary building activities
- vocab review games
- vocabulary games for students
Get ready to play!
List of vocabulary games
From Pictionary to word scrambles to synonym memory, here is a list of fun word games to play in classrooms, at parties, or during meetings.
1. Vocabulary Pictionary
Pictionary is a game of charades where players draw words instead of acting them out.
To play:
- Split the group into teams.
- Each round, assign one team member to draw.
- Give the drawing team member a word.
- Allow up to sixty seconds for teammates to guess.
- If the team guesses correctly, then assign one point.
You can give other teams the opportunity to steal, or move onto the next team’s turn. The game is a great way to practice new vocabulary, as players connect the word with an image. Pictionary is a fun game for virtual parties or in-person affairs.
To play Pictionary online, draw on the whiteboard app feature on your online meeting software.
2. Word Association
Word Association is one of the best vocabulary games for kids and classrooms since playing does not require a large vocabulary. The rules are simple and easy to understand. Typically, the game involves two players.
To play:
- Player one says a word.
- Player two responds with the first word that comes to mind.
- Player one either chooses a new word or responds to player two’s word.
- The game continues until one player repeats a word or pauses too long.
The rapid pace of the game generates excitement and occasionally results in funny answers.
If a student makes a mistake, then the teacher can pause the game and ask the student to explain or find a more fitting word. Ideally, gamemasters should allow players a few extra seconds to respond. Players should never feel embarrassed. There are no wrong answers in word association, but the game can serve as a learning opportunity to find better words.
If playing via Zoom, then player one or the teacher speaks a word, and other students answer in the chat. The class counts up matching answers and discusses different responses, guessing the reasoning behind each answer.
3. Vocabulary Hangman
Hangman is a classic chalkboard word game that translates easily to online play, thanks to digital whiteboards.
To play:
- Assign a player a word.
- The player draws a series of blanks corresponding to the number of letters in the word.
- Other players guess letters.
- If the letter is in the word, then the “executioner” fills in the blank. If not, then the executioner draws one portion of the gallows.
- The game ends when players guess the word, or when the picture is complete.
The best words to use for hangman contain less-used letters like z, x, and q. Examples of hard hangman words include zigzagging, razzmatazz, and quadrants.
4. Word search
Word searches are common classroom vocabulary games. These activities work well for handouts, and you can play during video calls by using the whiteboard feature and enabling annotation.
We made a sample word search you can use.
To make the game more competitive and exciting, turn the challenge into a race and award prizes to the first players to complete the puzzles.
5. Crossword
Crossword puzzles consist of a series of interconnecting boxes, each of which starts blank but contains one letter by the end of the game. Under the puzzle are two lists of clues, across and down respectively. Solvers need to consider the meaning of words, number of letters, and surrounding words, making the game strategic as well as literary.
Here is an example of a crossword puzzle you can use with your class or team.
Here is the answer key.
Crosswords are great word games for any age or skill level because puzzle makers can adjust the difficulty to suit players. To make your own crossword puzzle, use an online crossword creator.
6. Word Scramble
Word scrambles make great games for English class, and adults enjoy these language brain teasers as well. Simply mix up the order of the letters and ask players to unscramble and identify the original words.
Here is a sample to start with.
And here is the answer key.
To make your own word scrambles, use an online letter randomizer.
7. Scrabble
Scrabble is one of the most popular word games for adults or children. Players must use letter tiles to assemble words on the game board.
To play:
- Each player draws seven letter tiles.
- During turns, players can play tiles or exchange them for new letters.
- Players build words on the board, with each new word connecting to an existing word.
- Tiles have a point value assigned depending on the challenge of the letter. When a player makes a word, tally the letter and add the score to the point board.
More challenging letters have higher point values. For example, E is one point, while Z is ten. To find the point values for each tile and read more gameplay tips, check out this guide from Hasbro.
To coordinate the game for language lessons, assign higher scores for vocabulary words, and ask players to use the words in a sentence for extra points.
Scrabble is easy to play online, too, making it one of the best online vocabulary games. To play virtually, simply find a multiplayer online version of the game, such as Words With Friends.
8. Scattergories
Scattergories is one of the most fun and simple word games for adults. The game challenges players to think up words all starting with the same letter.
To play:
- One player rolls a letter die or uses a letter generator to pick the first letter.
- The timekeeper puts 60 seconds on the clock.
- Players write down one answer per category starting with the letter.
- When time runs out, players read the answers.
- Players receive a point for every answer.
Alliterative phrases count for double or triple points. If two players have the same answer, then they must cross it out and neither receives points. Of course, a player will not receive points for blank answers either. At the end of each round, the player with the most points wins.
Here is a list of sample Scattergories categories:
- A boy’s name, girl’s name, or gender neutral name
- Capital cities
- Four letter words
- Types of drinks
- Holidays
- Careers or professions
- Cartoon characters
- Websites
- Desserts
You could create more inventive categories for the game, or challenge players to make up prompts.
To play virtually, use the chat, screen-share, whiteboard functions in your virtual meeting platform. You can also share a Google Doc or Form, or join a multiplayer online Scattergories game together.
9. Tree or Bob Ross
Tree or Bob Ross is a fun video conference game that challenges players to guess a word by asking questions.
The player who conjures the word is The Post. The Post answers This or That questions whose answers help players narrow down the word.
The first question of the game is usually “is it more like a tree, or more like Bob Ross?” and The Post must answer accordingly. For instance, a rose is probably more like a tree, but Pinnochio presents an interesting challenge.
Each turn, the guesser adds a new word. For example, the second question might be, “is it more like a tree or a fern?” The game continues until players guess correctly. For more excitement, introduce a time limit, or award more points if players guess the word during earlier rounds.
10. Vocabulary Pyramid
Pyramid challenges players to guess words from context clues. The pyramid is a collection of six words, arranged with three on the bottom, two in the middle, and one at the top. To win, teams must guess all words within the pyramid in the allotted time.
To play:
- Divide the group into teams.
- Give one player on each team the pyramid.
- The pyramid holder must give hints to teammates describing each word without using the actual name of the item.
- When players guess correctly, the pyramid master can move to the next word. Or, players can say “pass,” and return to the word later.
- Teams receive a point for every correct guess.
When determining the time limit, consider the age of your players and the difficulty of the words. In general, 30 seconds per word, or three minutes total, is a good place to start, but add or take away time to increase or decrease the challenge.
11. Invisible Bridge
Invisible Bridge is similar to six degrees of Kevin Bacon. In both games, you must figure out a way to connect two seemingly distant concepts. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon uses actors, while Invisible Bridge uses words.
To play:
- A player suggests two unrelated words.
- Player one gives a number of planks. This is how many steps other players must use to relate the two words.
- The other players think up words that share similar traits, synonyms, or connector words to move from one term to another.
An example round might look as follows:
Tiger, Astronaut, eight planks
Tiger – Balm – Lip – Service – Customer – Happy – Pills – Capsules – Space – Astronaut
Meanwhile, Tiger, Astronaut, two planks might look like this:
Tiger – meat eater – meteor – Astronaut
One fun aspect about this game is there can be more than one correct answer, and opposing teams can dispute far-reaches. Invisible bridge encourages players to think about the nature of language and the relationship between words.
12. Poetry Improv
Poetry Improv is an exercise that challenges participants to craft verses on the spot.
To play:
- Pick a poetry style, such as sonnet, haiku, acrostic, limerick, or free verse.
- Give participants vocabulary words to use within the poem.
- Allow five or ten minutes for groups or individuals to complete the verses. If playing online via meeting software, then send groups to breakout rooms to work.
- Ask poets to share the masterpieces aloud.
For extra fun, turn other players into judges by asking them to rate the poems by holding up scorecards. To make the game more fast-paced, ask players to finish each others’ phrases on the spot for a true poetic improv.
13. Synonym Memory
The rules of Memory are easy: flip over two cards at a time and look for matching pictures or words. When players find pairs, they take the cards off the board. The player with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins.
Synonym Memory puts a challenging spin on the simple game. Instead of hunting for exact matches, players pair up words with synonyms.
Here are some sample matches:
- enticing/tempting
- assume/suppose
- patience/restraint
- revoke/rescind
- impact/collision
The game encourages players to think in different ways, as participants will need to remember the location of the cards as well as consider meanings of words.
To play online, make your own virtual synonym memory game with an online tool and share screens to play, with one player flipping over the cards at other players’ request.
List of words to use for vocabulary games
Here is a list of great words to use in word games:
- serendipity
- fortitude
- akimbo
- sumptuous
- ineffable
- zephyr
- incorrigible
- medallion
- mauve
- bombast
- denouement
- contemporary
- gossamer
- inane
- hippodrome
- concession
- ideology
- quintessential
- prescient
- regurgitate
- gnash
- cataclysmic
- knell
For further inspiration, use a random word generator or consult online lists of difficult or intersecting words.
Conclusion
Vocabulary games and activities test and strengthen players’ communication skills. These word games minimize frustration by disguising language lessons in the form of an exciting challenge. Not to mention, simple word games are fun for adults and kids alike, and make great icebreaker activities during meetings. Most games only require words and a way to share them, so playing word games online via Zoom or similar platforms is easy.
For even more smart fun, check out our posts on problem solving games, question games and team building brain teasers.
FAQ: Vocabulary Games
Here are answers to common questions about vocabulary games and activities.
What are vocabulary games?
Vocabulary games are word and language games you can play with students, coworkers, or family and friends. These games challenge players to hunt for words or definitions, brainstorm terms, deduce phrases based on clues, or create words under certain conditions. Language games are a great way to teach new vocabulary and help students practice recognizing and using new words. These activities are also known as “vocabulary building games” and “vocab games”, and are similar to “word games” and “letter games”.
What are some fun word games for groups?
Some fun word games for groups include Pictionary, Tree or Bob Ross, and word scrambles.
What are some online vocabulary games?
By using virtual meeting software like Zoom, you can play any word game online. Some good virtual vocabulary games include Scrabble, Scattergories, and online crossword puzzles.
What are good ESL word games?
The best ESL word games are easy to understand and play yet expand the vocabularies of participants. Good ESL word games include word association, word searches, and hangman.
What are fun ways to teach vocabulary?
Word games are one of the most fun and easy ways to teach vocabulary. While some kids get frustrated with straightforward reading or language exercises, word games disguise vocabulary lessons as a fun challenge. Plus, playing language games together is a great teamwork exercise.
Mallet’s Mallet
ESL Word Association Game — Vocabulary: Revision — Group Work — Any Level — 20 minutes
This amusing word association game has been adapted from an English TV game show. One player from each team comes and sits on a chair at the front of the class. Give the two players a category, e.g. sports. The two players then take it in turns to say a word associated with the category. If a player can’t think of a word, hesitates or repeats a word, they get hit with an inflatable hammer or toy and are out of the game. A new player from their team then comes and sits in the chair and the two players are given a new category. When a student beats three opposing team members, they step down and let someone else play. The first team to run out of players loses.
Password
ESL Word Association Game — Vocabulary: Guessing — Group Work — Any Level — 20 minutes
Here is an imaginative ESL word association game to play in class with your students. One player from each team comes to the front of the class. Show the two players a word you wish to revise on a slip of paper. This is the ‘Password’. The aim of the game is for the teams to guess the password. To do this, the two players take it in turns to tell their team a word associated with the password. For example, if the password is ‘flower’, a player might say ‘roses’. The player’s teammates then consult with each other and try to guess the password by associating the word given with another word. If a team guesses correctly the first time, they score five points. On the second try, they score four points and so on. If both teams are unable to guess correctly after five tries, change the players and give a new password. When a password is correctly identified, two new players come to the front and start over with a new password. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
What’s the Topic?
ESL Word Association Game — Vocabulary: Guessing — Pair Work — Pre-intermediate (A2-B1) — 25 minutes
This word association game helps students practice vocabulary relating to a topic. Write a list of ten topics you want the students to practice on the board, e.g. holidays, happiness, technology, etc. Teams copy the topics from the board and then write three words they associate with each topic. You can specify whether the three words should be general or personal associations. When the students have finished, each team joins with another team. Teams then take it in turns to say one of their associated words to the other team. The other team has three chances to guess which topic the word refers to. If the team guesses the correct topic on their first try, they score three points. On their second try, they score two points. On their last try, they get one point. This process continues until all the words have been used. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. You can make the game longer or shorter by changing the number of topics and words the students write.
Word Association Game
ESL Word Association Game — Vocabulary: Revision — Any Level — 15 minutes
This word association game is easy to set up and play. All the students stand up. Give the students a word. The first student says a word that they associate with the chosen word. The second student then associates a word with the first student’s word. This continues from student to student, e.g. ocean, blue, green, field, flower, valentine, love, heart, etc. If a student can’t think of a word, repeats a word or is too slow to answer, they are out of the game and sit down. The last student left standing wins the game. Alternatively, students only associate words with your chosen word.
Word Disassociation Game
ESL Word Game — Vocabulary: Revision — Any Level — 15 minutes
Here is a fun game to play with any level. This game is the opposite of word association. Have the students stand in a circle. Tell the students that they are going to play a game where they call out words that are unassociated with each other. Choose a word at random. The first student says a word that is unassociated with the chosen word. The second student then says a word that is unassociated with the first student’s word and so on. If a student says a word that is connected with the previous word, takes too long to answer or repeats a word, they are out of the game and sit down. Anyone can challenge a student if they think there is a connection. If the connection is agreed upon, that student is out of the game. The last student left standing wins.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Word Association is a common word game involving an exchange of words that are associated together. The game is based on the noun phrase word association, meaning «stimulation of an associative pattern by a word»[1] or «the connection and production of other words in response to a given word, done spontaneously as a game, creative technique, or in a psychiatric evaluation».[2]
Description[edit]
Once an original word has been chosen, usually randomly or arbitrarily, a player will find a word that they associate with it and make it known to all the players, usually by saying it aloud or writing it down as the next item on a list of words so far used. The next player must then do the same with this previous word. This continues in turns for any length of time, but often word limits are set, so that the game is agreed to end after, for instance, 400 words.
Usually, players write down the next word by merely using the first word that comes to their mind after they hear the previous one. Sometimes, however, they may put in more thought to find a more creative connection between the words. Exchanges are often fast and sometimes unpredictable (though logical patterns can usually be found without difficulty). Sometimes, a lot of the game’s fun can arise from the seemingly strange or amusing associations that people make between words.
The game can be played actively or passively, sometimes taking many weeks to complete, and can in fact be played with any number of players, even one. Example: Soda, Sprite, Fairy, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Pans, Skillet, Kitchens, Refrigerator, Drinks, Soda
Variants[edit]
In some games, extra limitations are added; for instance:
- The associations between words must be strictly obvious, rather than the usual «first word that comes to mind», which can often require explaining to see how it is connected with the previous word.
- If played in-person, a time limit of two or three seconds can be placed to make a very fast-paced game, often combined with the previous rule of an ‘explicit’ connection, and extra emphasis on the idea that a previously used word cannot be repeated.
- Word Disassociation (sometimes called Dissociation) is sometimes played. In this game, the aim is to say a word that is as unrelated as possible to the previous one. In such games, however, it is often found that creativity is lowered and the words stray towards[colloquialism] having obvious associations again. This game is sometimes known as «Word for Word».
- Sometimes, repeated words are forbidden or otherwise noted on a separate list for interest.
- A variant with an arbitrary name (sometimes called Ultra Word Association) involves associating words in a grid, where the first word is placed in the top-left, and where each word must be placed adjacent to another one and must associate with all those words adjacent to it.
Psychology[edit]
It is believed[3][by whom?] that word association can reveal something of a person’s subconscious mind (as it shows what things they associate together), but others[who?] are skeptical of how effective such a technique could be in psychology.
Often, the game’s goal is to compare the first and final word, to see if they relate, or to see how different they are, or also to see how many words are repeated. Likewise, players often review the list of words to see the pathways of associations that go from beginning to end.
Word association has been used by market researchers to ensure the proper message is conveyed by names or adjectives used in promoting a company’s products. For example, James Vicary, working in the 1950s, tested the word ‘lagered’ for a brewing company. While about a third of his subjects associated the word with beer, another third associated it with tiredness, dizziness and so forth. As a result of the study, Vicary’s client decided not to use the word.[4]
In the early years of psychology, many doctors noted that patients exhibited behavior that they were not in control of. Some part of the personality seemed to have an influence on that person’s behavior that was not in their conscious control. This part was, by function, unconscious, and became so named the Unconscious. Carl Jung theorized that people connect ideas, feelings, experiences and information by way of associations … that ideas and experiences are linked, or grouped, in the unconscious in such a manner as to exert influence over the individual’s behavior.[] These groupings he named Complexes.[5]
See also[edit]
- Implicit Association Test
- iAssociate
- Password
References[edit]
- ^ Dictionary.com
- ^ Dictionary.com’s 21st Century Lexicon
- ^ Gough, Harrison G. Studying creativity by means of word association tests. Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 61(3), Jun 1976, 348-353
- ^ Vance Packard, The Hidden Persuaders, Penguin, 1961 paperback edition, p. 129
- ^ Jung, Carl G. (1910). «The Association Method». American Journal of Psychology. 21 (2): 219–269. doi:10.2307/1413002. hdl:11858/00-001M-0000-002B-AD55-2. JSTOR 1413002. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
External links[edit]
- Critical Stimulus — Psychoanalysis based on Carl Jung’s Association Method
- powerhouse.me.uk
- WordAssociation.org
- Scientific study on word associations in various languages
- Funny Farm Online Association Game
- Online game of word association
- Word Associations Network