Free Hangman
Guess the word before the drawing is done.
What is the Hangman?
Hangman is the pencil-and-paper classic that needs nothing but a hidden word and a few guesses: pick letters, reveal the word, and beat the drawing before it's finished.
Play it free here, with a category hint for every word to give you a fighting chance.
Last updated: Aug 14, 2026
What does this tool do?
A word is hidden as a row of blanks with a category hint; you guess one letter at a time.
Correct letters fill in wherever they appear, wrong guesses add a part to the drawing, and you win by completing the word before six mistakes.
Key features
Classic Hangman
The timeless word game.
Category hints
Every word has a clue.
Keyboard & tap
Type or click letters.
Fresh words
A new word each round.
Private
Runs in your browser.
Example
Common use cases
- Kids — Fun spelling practice.
- Families — Play together.
- ESL learners — Build English vocabulary.
- Teachers — A classroom word game.
- Students — A quick brain break.
- Word fans — Test your guessing.
- Parents — Play with a child.
- Anyone — A relaxing few minutes.
Benefits
- It's the classic game, free and instant.
- Hints keep it fair and fun.
- It's great for building vocabulary.
- It runs entirely in your browser.
Tips
- Start with common vowels — E, A, O, I.
- Then try frequent consonants: R, S, T, N, L.
- Use the hint to guess the likely theme.
- Look at revealed letters to spot the word's shape.
- Save unusual letters until the word takes form.
- Think of common letter pairings once you have a few.
- Don't waste guesses on rare letters early.
- Sound the word out from the letters you've revealed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Guessing rare letters first
Fix: Start with common vowels and consonants to reveal more of the word.
Ignoring the hint
Fix: The category points you toward the word — use it to guide your guesses.
Not using revealed letters
Fix: The pattern of blanks and letters narrows the possibilities fast.
Random guessing
Fix: Deduce likely letters from what's revealed rather than picking at random.
How it works
- 1
Read the hint
It names the word's category.
- 2
Guess letters
Type or tap a letter.
- 3
Beat the clock
Solve it before six misses.
Frequently asked questions
Guess the hidden word one letter at a time. Each correct letter is revealed; each wrong guess adds a part to the drawing. Solve the word before six wrong guesses.
Yes. Each word comes with a category hint to point you in the right direction.
Guess the hidden word one letter at a time. Correct letters are revealed; each wrong guess adds a part to the drawing. Solve the word before six wrong guesses.
Yes. Each word comes with a category hint to point you in the right direction.
Six. The seventh wrong guess ends the game.
Common vowels (E, A, O) and consonants (R, S, T, N) reveal the most letters early.
Yes, a random word is chosen every round.
Yes, free with no sign-up.
Conclusion
Hangman is a quick, friendly word game that's as good for learning as it is for fun. For more word play, try the Word Guess game, or switch to Minesweeper and Connect Four.