🪢 Hangman

Guess the hidden word — one letter at a time.

Won: 0
Lost: 0
Streak: 0

How to play Hangman

Pick a category from the dropdown — animals, food, countries, films and more — then click letters on the on-screen keyboard. Correct letters fill in the blanks; wrong letters add a body part to the gallows figure. You have six wrong guesses before the figure is complete and the game ends. The keyboard greys out used letters so you don't waste a turn. A win streak counter at the bottom tracks consecutive correct solves; lose a round and it resets. Keyboard input also works on desktop — just press a letter key.

Strategy and letter frequency

English follows a predictable letter distribution: E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R appear in most words and should be your opening guesses. Common letter pairs (TH, HE, IN, ER) are clues — if you've revealed an E and the position before is empty, H is a strong bet. Word length narrows possibilities sharply: a 3-letter word is almost certainly THE, AND, FOR, NOT, BUT, YOU or a similar staple. Save Q, X, Z, J for last unless the category strongly suggests them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the word come from?
Each game pulls a random word from the chosen category's curated list. Categories cover everyday vocabulary so words are always recognisable — no obscure scientific terms.
How is my streak saved?
Streaks are stored in your browser's local storage on the device you played on. Clearing site data resets the streak. There's no account required.
Why is the figure called "Hangman"?
The classic schoolyard game traditionally drew a stick figure being hanged, with each wrong guess adding a body part — head, torso, two arms, two legs. The game dates back to at least the Victorian era and survives largely because it's perfect with just paper and pencil.
Are guesses case-sensitive?
No. Letters are normalised to uppercase. Click "A" or press "a" — both work the same.

Tips for streak hunters

Pick a familiar category — your odds are much better in topics you know. After three correct vowels, switch to consonants T, N, S, R. If the word is short, list possibles silently before guessing. And don't double-tap the keyboard on mobile; ghost taps cost wrong guesses.

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