Taboo

1 Game Overview

Taboo is a clue-giving word game where your goal is to get your team to say the target word without using the five most obvious clues. Every instinct you have will be wrong. The word you want to say is almost always on the forbidden list.

A designated "squeaker" from the opposing team listens for violations and buzzes you when you slip up. Fast talking, creative thinking, and the ability to describe things sideways are the keys to winning.

Players: 4 to 10 (best with 6 to 8) | Time: 20 to 40 minutes | Ages: 13 and up

2 What's in the Box

• Over 250 clue cards (each with 1 target word and 5 taboo words)
• 1 squeaker (the buzzer)
• 1 sand timer (60 seconds)
• 1 card holder / deck box
• Score pad

3 Setup

1. Divide into two teams of at least 2 players each. Teams of 3 to 4 work best.
2. Teams sit facing each other. The squeaker from the opposing team should have a clear sightline to the Clue Giver.
3. Shuffle the card deck and place it in the card holder.
4. Decide who goes first. That team picks a Clue Giver to start.
5. The opposing team picks their Squeaker, who holds the buzzer and watches for violations.
6. Agree on how many rounds to play (typically 4 to 6 total, alternating teams).

4 Card Anatomy

Every Taboo card has the same structure:

The large word at the top is the target word. The five words below in red are the taboo words. You cannot say any of them while giving clues, including any part or form of a taboo word (saying "beachy" when "beach" is taboo will get you buzzed).

Also forbidden: You cannot say the target word itself, any form of it ("oceans," "oceanic"), or use rhyming clues ("sounds like lotion").

5 How to Play

1. The Clue Giver draws the top card from the holder. The Squeaker from the opposing team positions themselves to see the card.
2. Flip the 60-second timer.
3. The Clue Giver gives verbal clues. No drawing, no acting, no pointing.
4. Teammates call out guesses freely. There is no penalty for wrong guesses from the guessing team.
5. Correct guess: Score 1 point. Discard that card and draw the next card immediately. Keep going until time runs out.
6. Passing: The Clue Giver may pass on a card (skip it) but the team loses 1 point for each pass. You may only pass once per card.
7. Taboo violation: If the Clue Giver says a taboo word or any form of it, the Squeaker buzzes. The card is discarded and the team loses 1 point. Move to the next card immediately.
8. When time runs out, the current card in play is discarded without scoring.

Teams alternate turns. Each player on a team should get a chance to be Clue Giver before rotating back.

6 Scoring

Scores can go negative. The team with the most points after the agreed number of rounds wins.

7 Strategy

Clue Giver Techniques

• Categories: Place the word in a category. "A large body of saltwater" gets to OCEAN without using any taboo words.
• Fill-in-the-blank: "In Finding Nemo, the setting is the ___" is highly effective for pop culture words.
• Associated actions: "You swim in it, sail on it, and it surrounds continents."
• Famous examples: "The Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Indian are all types of this."
• Do not rhyme: "Sounds like lotion" is officially not allowed.

Speed Matters

• Do not overthink. If a clue is working, keep building on it.
• If a clue is not working after 5 seconds, abandon it and try a completely different angle.
• Skip cards that are genuinely difficult rather than waste 20 seconds on a -1 point card.

Guesser Strategy

• Keep calling out guesses rapidly. There is no penalty for wrong guesses.
• Riff on what the Clue Giver says. If they say "large body of water," call out "lake, river, ocean, sea."
• Listen for what the Clue Giver is dancing around.

8 Variants and Editions

Taboo Buzz'd

An app-based version that replaces the physical card deck with a smartphone app. The app provides words, tracks time automatically, and plays a buzzer sound. It includes different difficulty settings and hundreds more words than the physical deck.

Taboo XXL

A larger-format version with oversized cards, useful for bigger groups where everyone wants to see the card simultaneously.

9 Wrong House Rules

• Allowing body language: The Clue Giver is strictly verbal. No gestures, no acting, no pointing. Body language clues are not permitted.
• Mumbling through taboo words: The Squeaker should buzz any word that is clearly a taboo word or variation, regardless of volume.
• Ignoring word forms: If "beach" is taboo and the Clue Giver says "beachfront," that is a violation. Prefixes and suffixes count.
• Using rhymes: "Sounds like lotion" is officially not allowed. Rhyming clues circumvent the spirit of the taboo restriction.
• Unlimited passes: Many groups skip the pass penalty entirely, which makes the game too easy and removes interesting decision-making.

10 History of Taboo

Taboo was designed by Brian Hersch and published by Hasbro in 1989. Hersch, who would later also design Outburst, created Taboo as a twist on the classic party game format. Instead of just getting someone to say a word, you had to do it with the most obvious clues removed.

The game was an immediate commercial success, becoming one of Hasbro's top-selling party games throughout the 1990s. Its elegant scoring system, the physical squeaker (which became iconic), and the psychological challenge of forbidden words made it stand out from contemporaries.

Multiple editions have been released over the decades, including Taboo Jr., Taboo Buzz'd (app-based), and numerous pop culture themed versions.

Shop Taboo on Amazon

11 Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Taboo timer?

The official Taboo timer is 60 seconds per turn.

How many taboo words are on each card?

Each card has 1 target word and 5 taboo words that cannot be used as clues.

What happens if the Clue Giver says a taboo word?

The opposing team's Squeaker buzzes, the card is discarded, and the active team loses 1 point. Play continues with the next card.

How many times can you pass in Taboo?

You may pass on any card once. Each pass costs the team 1 point. You cannot return to a passed card.

Can you use body language or gestures in Taboo?

No. Taboo is strictly verbal. No gestures, acting, pointing, or drawing is allowed.

Can you say words that contain a taboo word?

No. If "beach" is taboo, you cannot say "beachfront." Any form of a taboo word is a violation.

Are rhyming clues allowed in Taboo?

No. Saying "it sounds like" or "it rhymes with" is not permitted by official rules.

How do you win Taboo?

The team with the most points after the agreed number of rounds wins.

What is the Squeaker's role in Taboo?

The Squeaker is a player from the opposing team who watches the Clue Giver's card and buzzes whenever a taboo word is spoken.

What is Taboo Buzz'd?

Taboo Buzz'd is an app-based version replacing the physical card deck with a smartphone app featuring automatic timers and hundreds of words.