Forbidden Word Drinking Game – Rules and Tips
Say it, and you drink!
How many players?
How to play:
- Choose the number of players and draw a forbidden word for each person.
- Everyone looks at their own forbidden word in secret – don't show it to others!
- Continue the evening as normal.
- If someone says their forbidden word, the others shout "FORBIDDEN!" and that person drinks 1 sip.
- Use the tracker to keep count of sips.
- Want an easier/harder word? Press "New word".
How to play the Forbidden Word drinking game
Each player gets a secret forbidden word (e.g. "yes", "no" or "like"). All players have their own secret forbidden word throughout the entire evening. The others try to trick you into saying it – if you say it, you drink!
Use this digital version to draw random forbidden words for each player and keep track of sips. Common everyday words work best.
Rules for the Forbidden Word drinking game
- Each word is drawn at the start of the evening and applies for the whole game.
- You cannot say your own forbidden word – not on purpose, not by accident!
- When someone says their forbidden word the others shout "FORBIDDEN!" and that person drinks.
- You can have multiple forbidden words per person for extra difficulty.
- The round can last the whole evening, or until a new category of words is chosen.
Frequently asked questions about the Forbidden Word drinking game
How many forbidden words can you have?
Normally each player has one forbidden word, but you can increase the difficulty by giving everyone 2–3 words. With too many words it's easy to forget what you can't say.
Can you have multiple rounds of Forbidden Word?
Yes! After everyone has collected sips for the first round, you can draw new words and start a new round. You can also change the theme, e.g. only celebrity names.
Which words work best as forbidden words?
Common small words in everyday speech work best: "yes", "no", "and", "but", "like", "just", "actually". These are hard to avoid in normal conversation and produce the most catches!
How many players does Forbidden Word suit?
Forbidden Word suits 2–10 players. With many players it's hard to keep track of everyone's words, but that also makes it more fun and chaotic.
Can you play Forbidden Word without alcohol?
Absolutely! Instead of drinking, the loser can do a forfeit, pay a fine into a shared pot, or take a truth-or-dare penalty.