{"id":148197,"date":"2023-07-24T18:53:34","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T22:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/board-games-to-learn-english\/"},"modified":"2025-02-22T00:13:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T05:13:57","slug":"board-games-to-learn-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/board-games-to-learn-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 English Board Games to Learn English"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learning by playing with others<\/a> is a really great way to remember what you learn, and there are a lot of board games that can be used to learn English. Some are great for learning new vocabulary<\/a>, while others are a good way to practice using the vocabulary you already know.<\/p>\n

Below is a list of 10 great board games to get you started. Gather your friends, grab some board games and you will be learning English in no time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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1. Scrabble<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Scrabble<\/a><\/p>\n

No English learning game list can be complete without the classic Scrabble game!<\/p>\n

To play Scrabble you have to arrange letters into words on a playing board. Letters earn you points, and special tiles on the board give you extra points. The goal of the game is to beat your opponent(s) by writing the best words and putting them in the best place on the board.<\/p>\n

You may be thinking that you probably need to know a lot of words before you can play the game, but here\u2019s the best part: Scrabble games are often played with dictionaries close by.<\/p>\n

You will start to get a great sense of how English words look and feel once you have played a few times, and you start to see the letters in a different way. You might see the letters L, E, E and R, and wonder if Leer<\/em> is a word. Look it up in the dictionary and you will learn that it is<\/i> a word, and that it means “to stare at someone in an unpleasant way.”<\/p>\n

Scrabble is also great because you do not need to get a big group of people together to enjoy it: It is a perfect two-player game.<\/p>\n

Also try:<\/b> Words With Friends<\/a>. <\/strong>This is basically\u00a0Scrabble online. You can play against any of your friends anytime, no matter where they are.<\/p>\n

2. Taboo<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Taboo<\/a><\/p>\n

Every card in Taboo shows one main word. Below the main word you will find a list of words that are similar to the main word, either synonyms (words which have the same meaning) or words which are closely associated with the main word. Your task is to describe the main word to someone without using any of the words underneath it.<\/p>\n

For example, if your card’s main word is \u201celbow,\u201d the words under it would be \u201cjoint,\u201d \u201carm,\u201d \u201cbend,\u201d \u201cknee\u201d and \u201cmacaroni.\u201d In this case you cannot say \u201cit\u2019s like a knee on your arm,\u201d or \u201cit\u2019s a kind of macaroni that bends.\u201d<\/p>\n

How would you describe an elbow without using any of those words?<\/p>\n

As you can see, this game is much harder than it sounds at first. It makes you think in creative ways. Thanks to Taboo, you will discover that you know a lot more words than you think you do.<\/p>\n

Also, if you play with a dictionary you will have a chance to learn not just one new word, but any word that is listed under it as well. Taboo can be played with any number of people, using teams or just going one-by-one. However you want to play, it is still fun and you will still learn something!<\/p>\n

Also try: Taboo for iOS<\/a> or Android<\/a>. <\/b>You still need a group of people to play it, so save these games for the next time you have a party.<\/p>\n

3. Apples to Apples<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Mattel<\/a><\/p>\n

To play Apples to Apples every player except one \u201cjudge\u201d puts a card down face-down that is best described by a special card on the table.<\/p>\n

The judge turns the cards over and chooses the best card. Whoever placed that card down wins a point, and someone else gets to be the judge in the next turn.<\/p>\n

It is a very fun game that is also\u00a0very funny, since the card combinations can sometimes be ridiculous. A card like \u201cLoveable\u201d might end up with results like \u201cButterflies\u201d or \u201cMy Bathroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is also a great game for learning English.<\/p>\n

The words on the cards are all either nouns or adjectives. Best of all, you don\u2019t even need to play this game with a dictionary\u2014the definitions are listed right on the cards. Adjective cards like \u201cfrightening\u201d have synonyms like \u201cscary.\u201d Nouns like \u201cOctogenarian\u201d have definitions that are sometimes funny, like \u201cA person who is between 80 and 90 years old. They do not have eight legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

You do need a big group of people to play this game\u20144 people is fine but more than 5 is recommended. Also keep in mind that some nouns have famous peoples names or some popular culture items, so they might not be familiar to you.<\/p>\n

4. Once Upon a Time<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Once<\/a><\/p>\n

Once upon a time\u2026there lived a monster, or a king, or maybe a princess? You decide.<\/p>\n

Once Upon a Time is a card game that lets you and your friends tell a story. Everyone gets some cards that have story elements and one card that has an ending.<\/p>\n

One narrator (the person telling the story) gets to start telling the story, trying to use the cards in their hand and lead the story to the ending they have. Other players can interrupt by placing down their own cards and continue the story with different ideas instead.<\/p>\n

It is a really fun game where no one really \u201cwins\u201d\u2014the point is to tell an interesting story and entertain yourself and your friends. You can use the game as it is or make your own cards with words that you want to learn. Have fun trying to include as many vocabulary words in your story as you can.<\/p>\n

Atlas Games, the makers of Once Upon a Time, has actually put the full instructions<\/a> and list of cards<\/a>\u00a0for the game\u00a0on their website! That way you can practice alone or create your own game to play with friends.<\/p>\n

Also try:<\/b> Writing Challenge app for Android<\/a> or iOS<\/a><\/strong>. While slightly different, both of these apps are a great place to start if you like the idea of practicing storytelling and creative writing.<\/p>\n

5. Scattergories<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Scattergories<\/a><\/p>\n

Scattergories is a game that makes you \u201cthink outside the box\u201d\u2014or in other words, think creatively.<\/p>\n

You are given categories\u2014like \u201ccolor\u201d or \u201cthings that are cold\u201d\u2014and you have to think of words that fit those categories. Before each round, you roll a die to choose a letter. Then the timer starts and everyone races to be more creative than the others by thinking of words that begin with that letter and fit the categories.<\/p>\n

You score more points for writing things that no one else wrote. So if your letter is “I” and your category is \u201cthings that are cold,\u201d instead of writing \u201cice cream\u201d you might write \u201cigloo.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a fantastic game for anyone who\u2019s just starting out with English and wants to practice vocabulary words. It pushes you to think of more uncommon words and their definitions. It is even better if you play with a native so you can learn new words from them.<\/p>\n

Scattegories is actually pretty easy to play without needing to buy anything. Choose your own categories, set a timer on your phone and\u2014there you have it! You are ready to play. You can even challenge yourself by playing it alone.<\/p>\n

6. Dabble<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Dabble<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another great vocabulary game!<\/p>\n

Can you arrange all your letters into words? Make words that are 2-6 letters long with the tiles that you are given. Dabble is similar to Scrabble but gives you freedom to create whatever words you want, without needing to connect them to anything on a board.<\/p>\n

Dabble will make you think hard about how to use your letters to make the most words. It uses anagrams, which are words that have rearranged (mixed up) letters.<\/p>\n

To learn the most from Dabble, try playing with an anagram solver like this one<\/a>: just put in the letters that you have left and you will see what words you can create with them. Look up any words you don\u2019t know, and you will be learning new vocabulary.<\/p>\n

Also try:<\/b> There are many anagram games for mobile. If you liked Dabble, try Anagram Twist on iOS<\/a><\/strong>. This game uses categories to make things a little easier for you.<\/p>\n

7. Funglish<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Funglish<\/a><\/p>\n

A bunch of vocabulary words right at your fingertips! In Funglish you have to get others to guess words by using tiles with descriptive words on them.<\/p>\n

Each card you get has six words on it. You have three minutes to get everyone else to guess as many of these words as they can. You describe what the words definitely are<\/em>, might be<\/em> and are definitely not.<\/em><\/p>\n

For example, if you wanted to describe the word \u201ccat,\u201d you might say it is<\/em> definitely<\/em> \u201cfurry,\u201d it might be<\/em> \u201cfat\u201d and it is definitely not<\/em> \u201cscaly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before you even start playing, it is a good idea to look through all the words and look up the ones you don\u2019t know. One way to learn well from this game is to eliminate the time limit and look up words in the dictionary as you play. Repeated usage of vocabulary words helps you remember them, so playing Funglish will teach you more than a few new words.<\/p>\n

Also try:<\/b> Word search apps like Word Search<\/a> for Android<\/strong> can introduce you to new words while playing. The key is to look up any new words you don\u2019t know!<\/p>\n

8. Boggle<\/a>\"Boggle<\/h2>\n

Boggle is a game where you have a special set of dice with letters on them in a little tray.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You shake the 16 dice and they show different letters. Your task is to find words with the letters that are shown, but to create a word, the letters have to be touching each other in any direction.<\/p>\n

The words have to be at least three letters long and you can’t use a die more than once for one word. You can choose to use the timer or not, it’s up to you! Once the time is up, everyone reads their list of words. If one word is used more than once by two or more people, it no longer counts. The longer your unique word is, the more points you get.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You don’t necessarily need to buy the game to play. You can make your own version with paper and a pen. Draw a 4×4 grid and put random letters in it. Then, set a timer, and you’re ready to play!<\/p>\n

Boggle is a great way to learn new words and practice English. Grab your friends and family, put on your thinking hats, and enjoy the exciting word adventure of Boggle! It’s a game that makes learning fun, helps you find new words and lets you show off your creativity.<\/p>\n

9. Bananagrams<\/a>\"Bananagrams<\/h2>\n
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In Bananagrams you’ll find yourself racing against others to create your very own word grid. Each player starts with a bunch of letter tiles, and as soon as the game begins, everyone works independently to arrange their tiles into a personal crossword-style grid.<\/p>\n

The challenge is to connect your letters and create real words. There’s no need to wait for your turn. You can rearrange your grid as much as you like until you find the perfect word placements. It’s like your own little word puzzle!<\/p>\n

The best part? There’s no board, no waiting and no scoring during the game. The goal is to be the first to use up all your tiles by forming valid words that intersect and connect with each other, just like a bunch of bananas all linked together.<\/p>\n

The game’s portability is a real plus! The tiles come in a cute banana-shaped pouch, making it easy to take Bananagrams with you wherever you go. Play it at home, in the park or even on a long journey. Bananagrams is a great way to improve your vocabulary, spelling, and word-building skills while having a bunch of fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

10. Rewordable<\/a>\"Rewordable<\/a><\/h2>\n
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In Rewordable you’re given a set of letter cards that have one or more letters on them, each worth a different amount of points based on the card’s color. Your task is to use these cards to construct words.<\/p>\n

But here’s the twist: you can add cards to words created by other players to form new words, allowing you to “steal” the words and get the points. It’s a game that’s all about flexibility and creativity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The goal is to make the largest collection of words, using the available letter cards. And don’t worry if you’re not familiar with long or complicated words. In Rewordable, it’s not just about finding big words\u2014even short and simple words can earn you valuable points!<\/p>\n

What makes Rewordable truly exciting is the special “reward tokens.” These cards give you bonus points for fulfilling certain criteria, such as stealing a word, using only one color for an entire word and so on.<\/p>\n

Rewordable is perfect for language learners, as it challenges you to experiment with different letter arrangements and discover new words along the way. It’s a fantastic opportunity to expand your vocabulary, improve your spelling and boost your language confidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanks to these great board games you will not\u00a0even realize that you are learning English.<\/p>\n

You will just be playing around with your friends\u2014or your smartphone.<\/p>\n

But remember that you don\u2019t always need board games and friends around to make English studies exciting. You can actually get a lot of interesting learning done all by yourself.<\/p>\n

For self-studying, you can use language learning tools, like FluentU<\/a>, that can teach English in engaging ways.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

<\/p> \r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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