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120 Pictionary® drawing prompts

Choose a category that suits your group, keep the prompt hidden from the guessers, and start drawing. Begin with familiar objects or animals, then try actions and phrases for a challenge. Copy a list or print it for your next round.

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Six categories of drawing prompts

Start with clear shapes. Actions and places need a scene; phrases work best when the group is ready for a harder round.

Everyday objects: easy shapes

  1. Umbrella
  2. Toothbrush
  3. Backpack
  4. Key
  5. Clock
  6. Candle
  7. Spoon
  8. Scissors
  9. Ladder
  10. Pillow
  11. Bicycle
  12. Telephone
  13. Teapot
  14. Camera
  15. Sunglasses
  16. Suitcase
  17. Watering can
  18. Book
  19. Kite
  20. Headphones

Animals: easy to medium

  1. Cat
  2. Dog
  3. Elephant
  4. Giraffe
  5. Penguin
  6. Butterfly
  7. Octopus
  8. Rabbit
  9. Turtle
  10. Snake
  11. Owl
  12. Shark
  13. Kangaroo
  14. Snail
  15. Crab
  16. Horse
  17. Crocodile
  18. Bee
  19. Dolphin
  20. Peacock

Food: recognizable outlines

  1. Pizza
  2. Banana
  3. Ice cream cone
  4. Watermelon
  5. Carrot
  6. Hamburger
  7. Pineapple
  8. Donut
  9. Popcorn
  10. Fried egg
  11. Taco
  12. Strawberry
  13. Croissant
  14. Sushi roll
  15. Spaghetti
  16. Birthday cake
  17. Mushroom
  18. Pretzel
  19. Cheese wedge
  20. Bowl of noodles

Actions: medium scene drawing

  1. Brushing hair
  2. Flying a kite
  3. Walking a dog
  4. Baking cookies
  5. Climbing a mountain
  6. Playing guitar
  7. Planting a tree
  8. Riding a horse
  9. Washing dishes
  10. Building a sandcastle
  11. Taking a photograph
  12. Juggling balls
  13. Fishing from a boat
  14. Wrapping a present
  15. Dancing ballet
  16. Shoveling snow
  17. Reading in bed
  18. Painting a wall
  19. Blowing bubbles
  20. Rowing a canoe

Places: medium to challenging

  1. Airport
  2. Library
  3. Beach
  4. Train station
  5. Lighthouse
  6. Castle
  7. Zoo
  8. Campsite
  9. Museum
  10. Bakery
  11. Playground
  12. Waterfall
  13. Farm
  14. Cinema
  15. Space station
  16. Swimming pool
  17. Treehouse
  18. Amusement park
  19. Desert island
  20. Underwater cave

Challenging phrases: draw the idea

  1. Time flies
  2. Break the ice
  3. A piece of cake
  4. Under the weather
  5. Raining cats and dogs
  6. A fish out of water
  7. The early bird
  8. A needle in a haystack
  9. Walking on sunshine
  10. Head in the clouds
  11. A rolling stone
  12. A light-bulb moment
  13. The elephant in the room
  14. A storm in a teacup
  15. A helping hand
  16. A balancing act
  17. A fresh start
  18. A leap of faith
  19. Burning the midnight oil
  20. A race against time

How to use this collection

Keep one prompt secret

Let only the drawer read the selected word or phrase. Draw on paper or a shared drawing surface while everyone else guesses aloud. Agree on whether symbols are allowed before the first round.

Match the difficulty to the group

Objects, animals and food suit a quick start. Actions need motion clues, places need a recognizable scene, and phrases ask players to represent an idea. Let a player exchange a prompt they do not understand.

Use a timer and rotate the drawer

Agree on a round length that suits your group, then rotate the drawing role. Open the Pictionary word generator for fresh prompts and its existing timer and session-list tools.

Questions, answered

Does this page generate new words?

This is a browsable collection for choosing, copying and printing drawing prompts. Use the separate Pictionary word generator for fresh words, category choices and game tools.

Which words are easiest for beginners?

Start with recognizable shapes such as an umbrella, banana, cat or clock. Move to action scenes and phrases after the group gets comfortable guessing drawings.

Can I use the list offline?

Yes. Copy a category into notes or print the collection before playing. The full list is available here without signing in.

Is the generator free?

Local generation is free within daily limits. Some categories and custom generation require Premium; the game shows the available options and limits.

Is CardYard affiliated with Pictionary?

No. Pictionary is a trademark of its respective owner. CardYard is an independent prompt tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by that owner.