Hangman

Hangman is a classic word-guessing game that has been played with pen and paper for generations. One player thinks of a word and the other tries to guess it letter by letter. Each incorrect guess adds a body part to a stick figure drawing of a hanged man. The guesser must figure out the word before the drawing is complete, typically within six wrong guesses. Hangman has been a staple of classrooms, road trips, and family game nights for over a century. The game builds vocabulary, spelling awareness, and deductive reasoning skills. Today, digital versions of Hangman remain hugely popular as quick word games that challenge players to think about letter frequency and word patterns.

1. A secret word is chosen and displayed as a series of blank dashes, one per letter.
2. Guess one letter at a time by clicking a letter on the keyboard.
3. If the letter appears in the word, it is revealed in all its correct positions.
4. If the letter is not in the word, one part of the hangman figure is drawn (head, body, arms, legs).
5. You have six wrong guesses before the hangman is complete and the game is over.
6. Guess the entire word correctly before running out of wrong guesses to win.

• One letter is guessed per turn
• Correct letters are revealed in the word
• Incorrect letters add one part to the hangman drawing
• Six wrong guesses completes the drawing and ends the game
• Each letter can only be guessed once
• A hint about the word category is provided to help narrow down possibilities

• Start with the most common English letters: E, T, A, O, I, N, S, R. These letters appear in the majority of English words.
• Look at the word pattern after each reveal. A five-letter word with the pattern _O_SE is almost certainly HOUSE or MOUSE.
• Guess vowels early (A, E, I, O, U). Most words contain at least two vowels, and revealing them gives the most structural information.
• Use the hint to narrow your thinking. If the category is 'animals,' you can immediately eliminate many common words.
• Avoid guessing uncommon letters like Q, Z, X, J early unless the word pattern strongly suggests them.
• Pay attention to word length and revealed letter positions. A seven-letter word ending in -ING or -TION narrows possibilities significantly.

• Classic Hangman: Standard rules with six wrong guesses and no hints. The traditional pen-and-paper experience.
• Hangman with Hints: Category hints are provided to help narrow down the word. Makes the game more accessible for younger players.
• Speed Hangman: A timed version where you must guess the word within a time limit as well as the guess limit.

• Quick games perfect for short mental breaks
• Builds vocabulary and spelling skills naturally
• The tension of each wrong guess creates excitement
• Simple concept that requires clever deductive thinking
• Great for all ages and educational settings

Play Hangman for free in your browser. Features a large word library with helpful category hints, animated drawing, and streak tracking. No downloads needed. Works on all devices.

Hangman transforms vocabulary into a thrilling guessing game. Every letter is a strategic decision, every wrong guess raises the stakes. Test your word knowledge and deductive skills with our challenging word library. Start guessing now.