The fishbowl game, also known as the salad bowl game, is fun to play for any gathering of friends and family. It’s a fantastic memory and guessing game played over three rounds that combines the games Charades, Taboo, and Password. Not only is the game simple enough to play for people of all ages – everyone can have a great time filled with laughter and memories.
What is Fishbowl?
This game is a combination of three other games – one game per round. The game host will have to prepare fun words, phrases, and expressions on cards that will be guessed later by the players.
The game needs at least four players. The participants will then be split into two teams. Players from each team will take turns giving clues to their team to as many cards as possible against the clock. Cards will be recycled after each round.
Round 1 – Taboo
In this game, players need to use descriptive words or phrases to give clues about the word on the card. Acting, making sounds or making gestures are prohibited. You also cannot use any part of the word or phrase when giving clues.
Round 2 – Charades
Without using words or sounds, players have to act and use gestures to communicate the phrase or word on the card.
Round 3 – Password
Players must say only one word to describe the word or phrase on the card. This round relies on your team’s memory and association.
If you need a guide on how to play Fishbowl, check this out.
Word Ideas
The mechanics of the game Fishbowl sounds fun, but the secret to making the game really fun lies in the words and phrases to be guessed. Make it too challenging and too unknown – no one will score. Make it too easy for the crowd – the game will soon be over. If you’re out of ideas or simply need help, here are some word ideas for the next time you play fishbowl:
Easy Words
Are you playing with kids or people who are beginners to the game? Use these words for a fun-for-all game.
| Airplane | Table | Kiss |
| Cold | Jump | Stairs |
| Blink | Save | King |
| Phone | Storm | Refrigerator |
| Clap | Married | Guitar |
| Hammer | Team | Coffee |
| Toothbrush | Star | Gym |
| Scissors | War | Bus |
| Laundry | Teacher | Pirate |
| Slap | Heavy | Barber |
| Baby | Mountain | Popcorn |
| Sick | Cigarette | House |
| Warrior | Chew | Jail |
| Click | Window | Cheese |
| Prayer | Ice cream | Doll |
| Balloon | Book | Glasses |
| Mouth | Telephone | Sneeze |
| Mosquito | Point | Basketball |
| Ring | Camera | Shoes |
| Circle | Kick | Mirror |
Medium Words
Up for a challenge? These medium words will give you a more challenging game:
| Lawn | Dizzy | Sprinkler |
| Arrest | Ghost | Peach |
| Educate | Stomp | Garden |
| Hunt | Slip | Boots |
| Sacred | Understand | Nurse |
| Vacation | Balance | Subway |
| Celebrate | Sailboat | Pancakes |
| Microwave | Pineapple | Wing |
| Lottery | Brain | Playground |
| Fragile | Snowball | Heaven |
| Karate | Doormat | Winter |
| Ladder | Lighthouse | Flashlight |
Hard Words
If you’re playing with experts in the three games, use these words to truly test them:
| Sheet | Story | Apartment |
| Dentist | Vest | Trampoline |
| Lawn mower | Mouse trap | Clown |
| Bathroom scale | Business trip | Company |
| Wrench | Volcano | Measure |
| Quicksand | Washing machine | Cradle |
| Chess | Oar | Proud |
| Gingerbread man | Artist | Chomp |
| President | Shopping cart | Windmill |
| Doghouse | Birthday | Chalk |
| iPad | Judge | Jar |
Phrases
Here are some phrases that would be fun to act out and be guessed:
| Turning on the lights | Cutting hair | Doing the limbo |
| Snowball fight | Using an elevator | Watering plants |
| Walking on thin ice | Laying an egg | Washing hands |
| Starting a fire | Playing soccer | Taking medicine |
| Putting on sunscreen | Carrying groceries | Trying on clothes |
| Paddling a boat | Eating soup | Eating spaghetti |
| Bird watching | Mopping the floor | Pillow fight |
| Chopping wood | Sharpening a pencil | Blowing a candle |
| Throwing a frisbee | Making a sandwich | Playing hide and seek |
| Licking ice cream | Peeling an orange | Ironing clothes |
Animals
Animals are always fun to imitate, especially for kids. Here are some ideas:
| Dog | Hippopotamus | Penguin |
| Cat | Lion | Bear |
| Cow | Monkey | Horse |
| Chicken | Zebra | Kangaroo |
| Parrot | Elephant | Seal |
| Hamster | Crocodile | Fox |
| Pig | Gecko | Walrus |
| Turkey | Iguana | Frog |
| Giraffe | Lizard | Llama |
| Tiger | Whale | Panda |
| Snake | Lobster | Skunk |
Disney
Disney has been a Charades category on its own. If you have kids and Disney fans playing, these words will be fun to guess:
| The Lion King | Toy Story | Let it go |
| Cinderella | Moana | Hakuna matata |
| Sleeping Beauty | Wall-E | Ka-chow |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Pinocchio | Roaring like a lion |
| Bambi | Mulan | Losing glass slipper |
| Lady and the Tramp | Finding Nemo | Sharing a long spaghetti noodle |
| The Little Mermaid | Tarzan | Hiding in sea anemone |
| Tangled | 101 Dalmatians | Swinging from a vine |
| Zootopia | Mary Poppins | Brushing really long hair |
| Frozen | The Jungle Book | Rubbing a lamp |
| Princess and the Frog | Alice in Wonderland | Magic carpet ride |
Movie Titles
If you and your guests are movie buffs, check out some of these movie titles to act out or describe:
| Up | Thor: Ragnarok | Madagascar |
| Jaws | Ghostbusters | Happy Feet |
| Back to the Future | Step Brothers | Spy Kids |
| The Lord of the Rings | Hustlers | Jumanji |
| Harry Potter | 10 Things I Hate About You | Big Hero 6 |
| Jurassic Park | Crazy, Stupid, Love | The Lego Movie |
| Cars | The Notebook | The Conjuring |
| First Man | Love Actually | Star Wars |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 50 First Dates | Casablanca |
| Good Boys | Bridesmaids | Titanic |
| 2 Guns | A Quiet Place | The Exorcist |
| The Shining | Split | ET the Extra-Terrestrial |
| Scream | Don’t Breathe | Gladiator |
| Dance with Wolves | Singing in the Rain | Lawrence of Arabia |
| The Wizard of Oz | Rocky | Citizen Kane |
Song Titles
For the charades round, song titles are always exciting to play. Almost everybody listens to music, so here are some titles to work around:
| Endless Love | Every Breathe You Take | Firework |
| Thriller | Happy | Party Rock Anthem |
| Baby | Royals | Shape of You |
| Love You Like a Love Song | Play that Funky Music | Baby One More Time |
| YMCA | Let’s Dance | Side to Side |
| Stronger | Like A Prayer | Watermelon Sugar |
| Whip My Hair | Stand By Me | Stairway to Heaven |
| Baby Shark | Don’t Speak | Don’t Look Back in Anger |
| Ice Ice Baby | Call Me Maybe | How You Remind Me |
| Shake it Off | Umbrella | Laugh Now Cry Later |
| Eye of the Tiger | No Scrubs | Crazy in Love |
| Say My Name | Bye Bye Love | Let’s Groove |
| Poker Face | Stayin’ Alive | Higher Ground |
| Dancing Queen | Toxic | Uptown Funk |
| Whip It | In My Blood | Macarena |
| Party in the USA | Photograph | Achy Breaky Heart |
| Dynamite | Chasing the Sun | Somewhere Over the Rainbow |
| Chandelier | Whistle | Counting Stars |
| Hello | Yummy | Like a Virgin |
| 21 Guns | Imagine | Teardrops on My Guitar |