Game where you say words fast

Fun Spoken Word Games You Can Play Anywhere

Michael Kwan • May 23, 2022 • 6 min read

Getty

Playing word games with friends and family can be a lot of fun, but you may not always have access to a chalkboard, a giant pad of paper, or a series of flashcards. That doesn’t mean that games are off the table. Well, at least figuratively, because there are all sorts of fun spoken word games you can literally play anywhere, including off the table.

Whether you’re self-isolating at home or you’re taking a road trip across the country, verbal games can be both entertaining and educational! Go ahead and play in pairs or small groups.

I Spy (With My Little Eye)

While tradition dictates that “I Spy” is played on long car journeys, it’s actually better to play when you’re going to be in one physical place for the duration of the game. You wouldn’t want to lose sight of the object that you spy, right?

Young girl playing game I Spy (With My Little Eye)

The basic rules are that one player is designated as the spy, choosing an object or item clearly within view. For example, let’s say the spy chooses a flower. Then, they’d say, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with F.” The other player or players then try to guess the object. They might ask yes-or-no questions for more information. “Is it blue?”

Other variations include:

I spy with my little eye something that is blue. (color)
I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with floor. (rhyming words)
I spy with my little eye something that is fast. (other characteristic)

20 Questions

In many ways, 20 Questions is very similar to I Spy. The main difference between these conversation games is that you don’t need to actually see the chosen object with 20 Questions. And, as the name clearly indicates, the “guesser” is limited to a total of 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what the target object is.

Some variations of the game include the final guess as part of the 20 question limit, whereas others say the final guess is in addition to the 20 questions. That’s up to you to decide.

Charades

Prefer spoken word games that are a little more active? Charades may be more your jam. For this game, you’ll need at least two teams of two players each. One person goes up with a clue and must act out the word, phrase or title without making a single sound. The other player or players on their team then try to guess the word, phrase or title.

Funny how such a popular verbal game involves complete silence from one of the players, right? If you need inspiration coming up with charades clues, YourDictionary has an extensive charades words list for kids to get you started.

True Story

How good are you at telling a lie and sticking with it? One player describes, in a single sentence, an experience that they’ve had. This experience might be a true story or it might be made up. The other player or players then have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions, and the storyteller has to respond accordingly.

You can decide on either a time limit (like five minutes) or a set number of questions (like 10 questions). After that, they have to guess whether or not it is a true story.

Similar conversation games can be less personal but equally entertaining.

Look up an obscure fact on your phone (or one that you already know) instead of telling a story. This can be a common myth or misconception too. The other players ask questions and then they guess whether it’s fact or fiction.
You can also do the same with an obscure word and its definition. Is “emordnilap” a real word? Or did you just make it up?

Sparkle

Want to add a dash of education into the mix? If you’ve got younger children who are learning how to spell (or adults who aren’t very good at spelling), then Sparkle is one of the best spelling word games you can play! It’s best enjoyed with a group of at least about six players, topping out at a typical classroom at around 30 students.

Players sit around in a circle.
The person in charge chooses a word and calls it out.
The first person starts spelling it, saying only the first letter.
The next person says the second letter and so on.
The player who says the last letter turns to the next player and says, “Sparkle!” That player is now “out.”
The game continues with a new word with the next player after that.
If anyone suggests a wrong letter along the way, they’re also “out.”

Can your friends spell oxyphenbutazone correctly?

Random Word Game

Many popular vocabulary games, like Boggle and Words With Friends, require a game board or game pieces. But, you can also enjoy verbal games like the Random Word Game to challenge your knowledge and dig deep into your vocabulary. It’s easiest if you sit in a circle to remember whose turn it is.

The first player chooses a word and defines the category. For example, they might say, “The category is wild animals. The first word is tiger.” The second player must then come up with a wild animal that starts with the last letter of “tiger,” like R for “raccoon. ” The third player must then name a wild animal that starts with the last letter of “raccoon,” like N for “newt.” and so on.

Another variation, called the Alphabet Game, involves naming items in the category in alphabetical order. For example, if the category is countries:

The first player might say, “Argentina.”
The second player can then say, “Brazil.”
The third player can say, “Canada,” and so on.

Just hope that you don’t get stuck with harder letters like Q and X!

Common Quality

This verbal game can be enjoyed in pairs or in small groups. The first player starts by naming an object and a quality or characteristic about it. The second player must then name a different object that has the same quality, plus a quality that this new object has. Play goes back and forth (or around, with multiple players).

For example:

Player 1: Daffodils are yellow.
Player 2: Bumblebees are also yellow. And they’re fuzzy.
Player 1: Teddy bears are also fuzzy. And they’re loved by children.
Player 2: Candy is also loved by children. And they’re sweet.
And so on...

For an added challenge, you might choose to restrict the objects to a certain category, like “plants” or “household objects.”

Fun With Words With Friends

Board games and mobile games can be a lot of fun. And it helps when you’ve got a clever word-finding cheat tool to help with top scores too. But, even if all you’ve got is your voice, your imagination, and a friend or three, you can still have a terrific time with conversational games and verbal games. And that’s the word. I have spoken.

Michael Kwan is a professional writer and editor with over 14 years of experience. Fueled by caffeine and WiFi, he's no stranger to word games and dad jokes.

Games

Words Wordle Won't Let You Play (Even Though They Should)

Oct 4, 2022 • 5 min read

The Story of Squaredle: Talking With Game Creator Michael Giuffrida

Jul 18, 2022 • 27 min read

8 Best Boggle Online Game Versions

Apr 21, 2022 • 5 min read

Best Word Board Games Top 20 Game Adults & Kids

If you’re a wordsmith, a word-wiz, or just enjoy a little wordplay, these word board games are right up your vocabulary alley. Word board games can be used as an educational tool, as a hilarious party game, or simply as a way to keep your wordy wits about you. If you’re not into word games, don’t fret, word unscrambling tools can give you an assist in any word game while improving your vocabulary.

So on-words and up-words, here are our top 20 best word board games!

Like Word Games? Why not also check out our list of Puzzle Games and Trivia Games that keep you mentally active, while still having fun?

🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Word Board Games

In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.

Best Team Game

Decrypto

Decrypto is fast-paced and tense. The wordplay involved along with a focus on teamwork makes this a great family favorite.

Best Quick

Bananagrams

Bananagrams is quick and easy to play making it a fun little diversion whenever you have ten minutes or so to spare. Definitely, a must if you want a quick and fun word game.

Best Overall

When I Dream

When I Dream takes a simple concept and pulls it together in such a fun and creative way. With so many new games being published it’s always incredible when a concept I’ve never seen before is brought to life so well. Give it a go.

#1. When I Dream

Players: 4-10
Playing time: 20-40 min

Put on your sleep masks and try to decipher your dreams!

When we fall asleep and enter a dream world, the imagination and imagery can be truly magical. When I Dream turns players into dreamers. Be careful when entering the magical world of dreams because the Dream Spirits want to have fun!

When I Dream is an innovative game that puts a focus on creativity and player imagination. Put on your sleep mask and try to interpret the Dream Spirits messages. With fairies, naughty spirits, and even the Boogeyman, the game has an array of characters that make it challenging and that give the game depth.

This is an excellent fast-paced party game that’ll have you storytelling before the Boogeyman wreaks havoc!

When I Dream

Innovative gameplay focuses on player imagination and creative...
The simple turn structure and rules make it easy for players of...
The various hidden roles add mystery, depth, and endless replay...

#2. Werewords

Players: 4-10
Playing time: 10 min

Guess the magic word!

In Werewords, players must guess a secret word by asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. Be careful, time catches up to you! Like in most games, there’s always a villain looming and trying to interrupt play. In Werewords, one player is secretly a werewolf. Not only is this player working against you, but they also know the Magic Word. Even if you don’t guess the word in time, you still have the chance of exposing the werewolf and winning the game!

What’s cool about this word game is that it comes with an iOS/Android app that’ll provide thousands of words in hundreds of categories giving the game-high replayability.

Will you figure out the word or will the werewolf get you? Better get your top wordsmith on the case.

Werewords

For 4 to 10 players
10 minute playtime
For ages 8 and up

#3. Trapwords

Players: 4-8
Playing time: 30-45 min

You know the secret word your teammates must guess. You’ll give clues to help but the other team has other plans in mind. They’ve set a list of ‘trapwords’. You can’t say them or you’ll end up trapped in dungeons with terrifying monsters. Easy enough? Oh, there’s also a time limit.

Trap words is a fast-paced party game that seems like a simple task of giving clues but gets more challenging by not knowing which words can be said.

If you’re looking for a word game with a fantasy theme, Trapwords takes you into the fantasy world of dungeons and monsters.

Trapwords

4 to 8 players
Ages 10 and up
30 minutes average playtime

#4.

Decrypto

Players: 3-8
Playing time: 15-45 min

Decrypto has a fun vintage aesthetic, surely making it a favorite among the hipster community. But really, this word game blends decoding and player-interaction through interesting mechanics.

In this game, teammates try to transmit secret codes without letting the opposing team intercept them. Using clever graphic anaglyph components, players slide cards into the screens to decode the words.

The communication limits make Decrypto a fun and challenging word game to play, plus you’ll feel like a code breaker sending secret messages.

Decrypto

Country Of Origin : China
New Party Game Where Teammates Try To Transmit Secret Codes...
Clever Components Use Anagylph Effects To Scramble The Codes...

#5. Letter Jam

Players: 2–6
Playing time: 45 min

Your friend gives the clue. Can you guess your secret letter?

Letter Jam is a cooperative word game where players work together to compose meaningful words from letters around the table. But the twist is only the other players can see your letter cards, not you.

Letter Jam combines team-based play and players’ deduction skills. Pull together as a team, find the clues, and reap the fruits of cooperation!

Jam out at the next game night and decipher the codes!

Letter Jam

The Bundle Includes:
★Cooperative Word Game Czech Games Letter Jam (Provide...
★Fapeto More Than A Simple Name - Random Color Drawstring Bag,...

#6. Bananagrams

Players: 1-8
Playing time: 15 mins

A fun game for everyone that’ll drive you bananas.

Gather your friends and family and race against each other to build crossword grids. Bananagrams is an educational and entertaining game with which you can teach kids how to spell words all while having fun at the same time.

In Bananagrams, players have to build their words with letters as fast as they possibly can. A race to finish, speed, and a great vocabulary make the game super exciting.

The game is in a case that’s shaped like an actual banana, making it a great travel game.

Bananagrams

FUN FOR EVERYONE – Gather your family and friends and race...
ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL – While this game is easy to play,...
GREAT FOR TRAVEL – Bananagrams comes in a fun banana-shaped...

#7. Blank Slate

Players: 3-8
Playing time: 20-35 min

The game where great minds think alike.

Blank Slate is a game of predictions. “The game where great _ _ _ _ _ think alike!” Easy to learn and quick to play makes Blank Slate a fun game for all levels. By picking a word cue card, you’ll write which word you think best completes a phrase. To take this a step further, you’ll have to try to match it to another player’s words.

In this clever party game, prediction skills are key to matching words. If you get good enough you’ll soon be winning the _ _ _ _!

Blank Slate

The game where _______ minds think alike!
Prepare yourself for Blank Slate, a game of addicting. ..
Pick a Word Cue card, write the word you think best completes the...

#8. Codenames

Players: 2-8
Playing time: 15 min

‘The top-secret word game. Win or lose, it’s fun to figure out the clues!’

There are good reasons why Codenames has become a staple on board gamers’ shelves. Codenames is a deceptively awesome game that’s easy to learn and perfect for parties.

Codenames is a social word game in which two rival spymasters know 25 secret agents. Their teams only know agents by codenames. Make contact with all your agents first and win. Although this game can be challenging, the social component keeps everyone entertained as they race to finish first.

This is a fun game when you’re winning, but even better when you’re losing.

Codenames

$19.95 $13.20

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

10/22/2022 07:30 am GMT

#9. Poetry for Neanderthals

Players: 2-12
Playing time: 15 min

A word game where you must ‘speak good’ or get hit with a stick.

Poetry for Neandertals is a competitive word-guessing game. Players are only allowed to use single-syllable words to give clues to their team to guess the phrase. For example, the word is broccoli, you’ll have to say something like, ‘green food, live long’. Use a big word, you’ll get hit on the head with a 2-foot long inflatable club.

From the geniuses that brought us Exploding Kittens, Poetry for Neandertals is another fun addition to a game night. Only 15 minutes to play, this hilarious, challenging, cutthroat game tests the patience of logophiles the world over.

Poetry for Neanderthals
Poetry For Neanderthals Is A Competitive Word-Guessing Card Game. ..
Using Only Single Syllable Words, Give Clues To Your Team Trying...
So, Instead Of Saying "Broccoli," You'D Say Something Like "Green...
#10. Just One
Players: 3-7
Playing time: 20 min
A cooperative party game where you’ll have to work together to discover the mystery words!
Just One starts with one player drawing a card and choosing a number from it. Each player gets one clue word and together you’ll try to solve the mystery word. Just One is a brilliant word game as it combines cooperative skills with deduction, memory, and creative thinking.
Easy-to-learn and easy to play make Just One a relaxed game for everyone.

Just One
Cooperative party game
550 words to guess and make others guess
Quality erasable markers to write clues forever
#11. Punderdome
Players: 3- 99
Playing time: 30-90 min
A card game for the pun lovers among us.
Punderdome will have you laughing out loud with its punny cards and creative style of play.
Once a pun a time, the creators of Punderdome saw a space in the word game market for a pun game for family and friends. With pun jokes on the back of each card, you can entertain the crowds while waiting to come up with a pun. Some can take longer than others but you can play with no time limits.
If you’re a pun lover, this is a punderful card game that you won’t regret purchasing.

Punderdome
Firestone, Jo (Author)
English (Publication Language)
#12. Quiddler
Players: 1-8
Playing time: 30 min
Quiddler: Simply for the fun of words.
Quiddler is a short word game that’s a great pick for word lovers as well as non-word-game players. With this card game, the goal is to arrange your cards in your hand to create one or more words. If you deal more cards, you’ll have more opportunities to create words. At the end of the game, the highest score wins.
Quiddler is a sort of Uno-style word game as some cards can double letters and add bonuses to your points. Sharpening your word skills and a bit of luck will have you winning Quiddler!

Quiddler
AWARD-WINNING – Best-selling game that is fun to play over and...
FAMILY FUN – Suitable for 1 to 7 players ages 8 & Up!
EASY TO LEARN – Gameplay is simple enough for quick learning...
#13. Hot Words
Players: 4-16
Playing time: 20-30 min
Hot Words is a party game where you can’t say that.
In Hot Words, you’ll describe words while your team tries to guess what the word is. In each of the 4 rounds, your team will pick a spicy jalapeño card that has a ‘Hot Word’ on it that you can’t say.
As each round goes by, it’ll get hotter and harder but also more hilarious trying to avoid all the ‘Hot Words’ your team has accumulated. With fun added elements like a ghost pepper round, a 90-second sand timer, a dinner bell, and little hot sauce bottles, Hot Words is a fun and exciting party game!
Can you handle the heat?

Hot Words
WORD GUESSING GAME: Describe words while the rest of your team. ..
THE PARTY GAME WHERE YOU CAN'T SAY THAT: As rounds advance, the...
BEWARE THE TIE-BREAKING GHOST PEPPER ROUND: You want more heat,...
#14. Dabble
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30-60 min
The game where if you can spell, you can play!
Dabble is a fast word game that’s both educational and fun. To start the game you say ‘GO!’ and players race to spell 5 words using 20 tiles. The first person to spell their word wins!

Dabble
Wordle Fans will love Dabble. Dabble is a captivating game of 5...
Dabble is a great brain game for all ages! Winner of multiple...
To play, say GO and race to spell 5 words using your 20 tiles --...
#15. Word a Round
Players: 2
Playing time: 20 min
Race to unravel the word!
Word a Round is a challenging word game where you’ll have to quickly figure out where the word starts and then read it aloud before your opponent. As you answer on the spot, the game becomes a little more difficult as you race to answer. Mistakes are made under pressure so players have to have their wits about them.
Word a Round is an award-winning card game that’s a great educational tool in classrooms or and at home. It helps develop critical thinking skills, making it a favorite among speech therapists. If you are looking for a fun game that’ll also help with learning, this is a great choice.

Word a Round
Trusted by Families Worldwide - With over 50 million sold,...
Develops critical skills – Word A Round is a favorite of speech...
What you get - 100 word-a-round cards with 300 total words, each...
#16. Word on the Street
Players: 2-10
Playing time: 20 min
A hilarious tug of words.
Word on the Street is a card game in which players take turns flipping category cards, racing the clock to come up with the answer. With each correct answer, you move closer to the sidewalk… and to safety.
With 432 different categories, there is huge variation and replayability. This game is particularly focused on being educational. It helps players improve vocabulary, practice spelling, and develop social skills.

Word on the Street
Easy-to-learn and fun-to-play word game helps to develop...
Includes game board, 17 letter tiles, 216 category cards (432...
Place all letters in the center of the board. Flip the...
#17. Wordplay: Family Edition
Players: 2
If your family loves word games, WordPlay is a fast-paced challenge in which everyone plays every round.
A fun spinner determines the letters and the category for each round. For example, ‘Food and Drinks’ means you can only use words that begin with the letter ‘E’. The difference with this family edition is even if you think of things that don’t start with the correct letter, you still score some points.
This game is a friendly and inclusive way to help kids learn and be introduced to the wonderful world of word board games.

Wordplay: Family Edition
Get ready for WORDPLAY FAMILY EDITION - a fast-paced,...
The spinner determines the letters and category for each round....
Having a mental block trying to think of Places with those...
#18. Upwords
Players: 1-4
Playing time: 90 min
Upwords a game of quick stacking and word hacking.
In this word-building game, the higher you stack, the higher your score. With each player starting out with 7 words that you can play up or down, the game almost feels like Scrabble. But here, you can stack letters on top of others. When you stack letters higher on each other, you earn more points. This makes Upwords more intense and strategic.
Upwords is very versatile and can be played solo to challenge yourself, with kids, or with your friends. Experience this high-stakes, high stacking word game and grow your vocabulary as you go!

Upwords
High-Stacking, Word-Building Game: The Higher You Stack, The. ..
Intense, Stategic Word Play: Stack And Hack To Get The Highest...
Rotating Game Board: With A Lazy Susan Design, Players Can Easily...
#19. Wordical
Players: 2-8
The radical, dice-rolling, word-building race!
Wordical is another educational word game in which players roll a vowel die and combine consonants to make a word. It’s a fun way for kids to develop their spelling skills and build vocabulary. It’s easy to learn and moves quickly so there are no long pauses.
This is a wonderful game for the classroom or for students who are struggling with their phonics.

Wordical
Roll the vowel dice and combine the letters with the consonant...
Includes 108 consonant cards, 2 vowel dice, and guide
Develops word building and spelling skills, and builds vocabulary
#20. Wordsmithery
Players: 2- 99
Playing time: 20 min
The game for every wordsmith, young and old.
Wordsmithery is a fun, fast-paced game in which you can test your wordsmith skills. Draw a word, read it to your opponent, and see if they can guess the meaning from three options.
With some difficult words like ‘egregious’ or ‘phalanx’, it could seem difficult for children but included are 50 easier cards for kids. The different levels of difficulty make this a family-friendly word board game.

Wordsmithery
TEST YOUR WORDSMITHERY - Fun and fast-paced family game lets you...
QUICK AND EASY GAMEPLAY - Draw a word, read it to your opponent,...
2 OR MORE CAN PLAY - Board games for 2 players can be hard to...
Wrap-Up
What are your favorite word games to play? We hope you enjoyed our top picks for the best word board games out there! Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these or if we missed any that you think should be on the list. We’d love to hear from you!
Happy Wordsmithing!
what not to say in front of native English speakers / Sudo Null IT News

Do you like Sacher? I love. But I have mixed feelings about this. If Franz Sacher started production of his cake in today's Russia, kind people would advise him to think about changing the name. Just as they suggested at one time to change the name of the first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgy Kakalov .

The Russian ear instantly picks up obscene connotations in quite decent foreign words. To the same extent that foreigners are in our speech. There are many Russian words that raise questions among English-speaking people. There are also features of Russian pronunciation that turn neutral English words into abusive ones. Let's talk about these two categories.

Russian words that sound obscene in English

Well, they sound and sound, you say, I don't communicate in Russian with the English. Absolutely. But there are situations when we communicate in Russian among English speakers. And in the name of maintaining health and good neighborly relations, it is useful to understand what words they can misunderstand.

Book

Sounds very similar to the word Nigga , that is, “Niger”. If a black person hears this out of context, it can be non-illusory to get in the face. White people will not beat, but they will blame. Perhaps the worst word that can be said in public in an English-speaking country.

You might think that there is a letter “k” at the beginning, and the Russian “i” differs decently from the English “i”. But if your diction and pronunciation are as far from ideal as mine, then understanding for the listener that these differences exist and that they are intentional will not be as easy as it seems.

Fact

Very similar to English fucked . What can mean a whole range of situations: from “fucked” to “was fucked” (literally and figuratively). English word fact is written in the same way as Russian, but is pronounced with an “e”: “fact”.

Fart

Fart in English means fart or fart. It is unlikely that you, dear reader, actively use this word, but if you suddenly think about it, “luck” will sound better. Interestingly, “luck” has no English analogue at all, this is our unique invention. English only has the boring luck .

Douche

Sounds close to English douche meaning an unpleasant, smug person. There is no direct Russian analogue, unfortunately. There is also an alternative meaning - "enema". Same as douchebag .

It's funny that popular online translators indicate that the main meaning of the word douche is “shower”, which has nothing to do with reality. “Shower” as a place where you can wash yourself is only shower .

Shield, shield, sewing

Reminds of the word shit – “shit”.

Day, money

Similar to dang , an exclamation in the manner of our “damn!” Such a light version of the word damn - “damn”, “damn”, “damn”, etc.

English words that sound obscene when pronounced incorrectly

In addition to false-sounding Russian words, there are many English words that drastically change their meaning with slight variations in pronunciation. The so-called minimal pairs ( minimal pairs ).

Their insidiousness lies in the presence of sounds that are absent in the Russian language, and in the chaotic rules of English pronunciation. Many students choose the nearest Russian analogues of English sounds and slide into some kind of stereotypical Russian accent . Others choose one of the close English sounds, and everyone pronounces with it. Like, “i” , “ee” - what's the difference, it sounds similar.

I rarely hear that when studying English we focus on critical minimal pairs. This happens, I think, because our English teachers often do not hear the difference in pronunciation themselves. Yes, and they pronounce four with a minus. How do you learn important nuances here?

In this context, one might get the impression that native speakers also don't really hear the differences. And if they do, they will give a discount to a foreigner. The second is basically correct. Most people will figure out what you meant and will not show that they heard something indecent. However, they will hear exactly what you said , and not what you meant. Just as a Russian does not confuse the words “donkey” and “donkey” by ear.

It is not superfluous to be at least familiar with these couples.

In the first group of words, the focus is on sounds “ee” and “i” . In transcriptions, they are indicated as “iː” and “i”. The first sound is a long one, similar to the Russian “and”, only pronounced with a forced smile. The second is short, similar to a strangled “e” in the rudiment. Detailed video .

Sheet / shit

Sheet - sheet, sheet
Shit - shit

Test sentence:
There shit is on the sheets.
The sheets are crap.

Piece, PEACE / PISS

Piece - piece, part
PEACE - Peace, peace
Piss - urine, PICT

PLAYINGS
Bagpipes are easy to play.
(stable expression, something like our "like two fingers piss")

Beach / bitch

Beach - beach
Bitch - bitch, complain

Test sentence:
This is our beach, you bitch!
This is our beach, bitch!

Steal / still

Steal - steal, steal
Still - motionless, still, still

There is also the word steel (steel), which sounds exactly the same as (steal ) . The difference between them can only be understood from the context.

Test sentence:
We still steal other people's steel.
We are still stealing other people's steel.

In general, the letter combinations “ee”, “ea”, “ie” in most cases are pronounced as a long “iː”, the letter “i” as a short “i”. Although there are quite a few exceptions, like bread (bread), great (excellent), anxiety (alarm), time (time), sight (look). Such is the English language.

Can't / cunt

Can't - can't
Cunt - [rug. female genital ]

In American pronunciation, these words are difficult to confuse: can’t is pronounced “cant”, cunt is “cant”. In non-US, they are much closer than . If you're a fan of British pronunciation, can't should be spoken with a long open "a" (a:) and cunt with a short closed "a" (ʌ). Read more . But frankly, without context and musical ear, it is quite difficult to understand where what the British say in ordinary speech. As a last resort, you can always say cannot .

Test sentence:
I can't stand that old cunt.
I can't stand this old n****.

Coke / cock

Coke – cola (also “cocaine”)
Cock – cock (also “cock”)

In this case, the difference in sound is quite clear: coke is pronounced “cock” , and cock - the same as it is written: “cock”. Read more .

Test offer:
Put your cock away, all I want is a coke.
Put your dick away, I just want a Coke.

Crepe / CRAP

Crepe - Bran (food)
Crap - shit

This pair is similar to the previous one: Crepe is pronounced through a combination of two sounds: “ CREP ”, and CRAP - Simp. “ crap ”.

Test sentence:
This crepe tastes like crap.
This pancake tastes like shit.

Third / turd

Third - third, third
Turd - shit

third throat has a θ sound at the beginning, as in think (think) or . turd has a simple “t”. Read more .

Verification offer:
We need to deal with the third turd.
We need to deal with the third piece of shit.

How to feel the difference between similar words

Small aspects in pairs of words are most effective in pairs and practice: listen to the correct pronunciation of both options and try to pronounce them yourself. Sheet, shit, sheet, shit, and so on. Then the next similar pair. After several iterations, the speech apparatus should feel the difference. To fix the result, you can find a couple of sentences containing the desired words , and practice pronouncing them. Combinations of words are not always as easy to pronounce as single words. The network has a lot of collections and exercises on this topic.

I would not recommend learning pronunciation from transcription. This is a strange way to describe sound. Something like drawing music. An example of pronunciation will replace a thousand descriptions. If it is difficult to hear it, you can reduce the playback speed. However, you should not pronounce slowly yourself, the length of the sound in English matters.

Pronunciation with Russian-speaking teachers should not be included as a separate line.

Find a good English dictionary with examples of pronunciation from real people and examples of usage in context. For example, Cambridge Dictionary , which has examples of American and British pronunciations for each word. There are also tools that work right in the browser, with additional useful features for learners.

In general, it is good practice to keep a word in tune with its sound. When learning a new word, you should always listen to its correct pronunciation at least a couple of times. Also, say it out loud. This approach helps to really learn the word, and not just remember what it means. Try it. You'll be surprised, as they say.

Top 30 mobile apps for learning English

Have you heard of an app that makes you do English tasks every time you open social media? And what about the dictionary of English slang with detailed articles? Or an app that checks grammar in sentences? We have collected 30 apps for iOS and Android that will help you learn English in a fun and effective way.
To write this article, LinguaTrip.com co-founder Dmitry Pistolyako installed and tested 152 English learning apps on his phone. 😅
Universal English learning apps

Duolingo
Website • App Store • Google Play

Popular language learning app used all over the world. Cool interface. Lessons are organized by topic and focus on life goals, such as ordering at a restaurant or asking someone out on a date. There are many topics, the lessons are short, but a little monotonous: first you make sentences from the words given to you in Russian, then in English, and at the end of the lesson you write the translation yourself. There are even pronunciation exercises that try (with varying degrees of success) to recognize your speech.

For each completed lesson, they give out the local game currency - diamonds. You can use it to buy a new costume for an owl mentor, freeze the game for several days so as not to lose progress, or open a special theme. There is a paid subscription that removes intrusive ads. You can also take the standardized Duolingo-style English proficiency test, which, along with IELTS and GMAT, is accepted by hundreds of universities around the world.

The best part of the app is the daily reminders. The application will write you letters, show notifications, build visit schedules. It really works: you will feel ashamed in front of the owl, and you will go through the daily portion of the lessons.

Lingualeo

Website • App Store • Google Play
Lingualeo is Dima's favorite among the apps in this section.
Lingualeo has more varied lessons than Duolingo: there are real texts, articles, book excerpts, videos, original podcasts and clips, as well as entire courses on tenses and other aspects of English. All materials contain clickable subtitles and translation. The exercises are interactive, some of them are for listening, and some grammar courses require a subscription to a premium account. There is also gamification: by doing exercises, you earn meatballs that you feed to the lion.

Semper

Google Play

Lessons in Semper are grouped by topic and created by different users. From this all the problems: the quality of the lessons is very different, it is difficult to choose a good one. There are no different types of content either, so the lessons are monotonous. But there is one feature in Semper, because of which you should not write off the application.

Imagine you're studying for the GMAT, but you can't resist browsing your friends' social media feeds. You click on the social network icon, but first you see a short task with a word from the GMAT vocabulary and several translation options. You remember the translation, you answer, you see the result, and after that you go to social networks. Great idea that works: one task is not annoying, and the practice is constant.

Busuu

Website • App Store • Google Play

Busuu has an original dialogue exercise where you insert missing words into a two-person chat. There are also small written exercises that English-speaking users check. These are not professional teachers, but with multiple people correcting mistakes and leaving comments at once, it's a very effective way to practice written English.

There is also a course for travelers in the application, but only in a premium subscription. Without a subscription, most of the test tasks do not work either. Try the free part and decide for yourself if it's worth it.

We have collected for you useful and modern vocabulary used by native English speakers. Sign up for the online intensive "Vocabulary Everyone Wants" and upgrade your vocabulary.

Sign up for intensive

Lingvist

Website • App Store • Google Play

A little-known but useful app for English learners. There are texts, listening, grammar articles, verification tests. Great emphasis on learning words. However, there is a minus - the materials are designed mainly for the language level Intermediate (Average).

The best day to start learning English is now. But where to start? We offer a plan of five simple effective steps that will help you learn a language faster.

Dictionaries for Android and iOS

reDict

Website • App Store
Dima's favorite Russian-English dictionary.
Russian-English dictionary for iOS with a nice interface. Included: transcription and voice acting of words, thesaurus, grammar articles. There is a possibility of text recognition for translation, but it does not work well, try Google Translate instead. In-app purchases expand the already huge list of thesaurus words and definitions. Alas, there is no Android version.

Google Translate

Website • App Store • Google Play

The official Google app. This is not only a dictionary, but also a translator: it successfully translates entire phrases. There is handwriting translation, voice recognition and - the most interesting - text recognition from the camera in real time. The quality of the translation is not very good, but it looks impressive. You can download an English-Russian or any other dictionary and work with it offline.

In the article "Online translators from English to Russian" we compare translators, check their effectiveness and give advice on how to work with them.

Website • App Store • Google Play

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

The official app of one of America's oldest dictionary publishers. There is transcription, voice acting of words, recognition of voice input. Feature - built-in quizzes on definitions and spellings of words. You can also install the "word of the day" widget in the notification center. The paid version disables ads and expands the thesaurus, but you can get by with the free version.

Dictionary.com

Website • App Store • Google Play

This dictionary has detailed definitions and a description of the origin of the word. You can see the transcription and pronunciation of the word by syllable. The notification center widget not only shows the word of the day, but also offers to guess its meaning. The free version displays ads. But the main disadvantage is that this is not an offline dictionary, it needs the Internet to work.

Why is it better to learn words with Google Images instead of a dictionary? 36 life hacks for learning English quickly.

Word memory apps

Most of the apps below use the interval method. They remind you of the words when you start to forget them. This is the most effective way to learn new vocabulary.

Memrise

Website • App Store • Google Play

Memrise helps you memorize words and phrases using spaced repetition. Words are voiced, for many a video of their pronunciation is recorded by different people on the street. There are excellent ready-made lists of words and phrases for different levels and on different topics. Memrise founder Ed Cook can memorize a thousand random numbers and ten shuffled decks of cards in an hour. Perhaps he should be trusted!

The best way to use the Memrise app and website is to keep your progress in sync. On the site, you can add pictures and / or text associations to complex words. This creates a strong association and is great for remembering. This functionality is not implemented in the mobile version.

Easy ten

Website • App Store • Google Play

On the one hand, it's a great idea to learn ten words a day, this is the optimal amount. On the other hand, this is an exclusively paid version, and you need to make a monthly subscription. But you still try, because the quality of the application is really on top. If it doesn't work, take a closer look at the Upmind application from the same developers.

AnkiApp

Website • App Store • Google Play

Clone of the legendary Anki app adapted for mobile platforms. The only way to learn words is flipping flashcards. You are shown a word, you turn over the card, see the translation and answer whether you remembered it and how difficult it was. Depending on your answer, the application changes the period after which it will show it to you again.

You can add cards yourself using pictures and different fonts. There are thousands of ready-made sets from different sources and of different quality, which are added, including by the users themselves. Understanding this variety and finding something suitable is quite difficult, and the search does not work very well. But you can find sets of not just words, but also, for example, irregular verbs.

Tinycards

Website • App Store
Dima's favorite application with flash cards.
Developed by the creators of Duolingo. Great interface, nice to use. There are several ways to test memorization. But with ready-made kits, the same problem as in the case of AnkiApp - the quality varies greatly, it is difficult to choose the right one.

Phrasal Verbs

App Store

Application for learning English phrasal verbs: add up, find out, etc. Each phrasal verb has a picture, pronunciation and examples. There are also short jokes, each with a few phrasal verbs in the text.

English Phrasal Verbs

Google Play

The best phrasal verb app for Android. Enables the spaced repetition mechanism. Completely in English, so suitable for language levels from Intermediate (Average) and above.

You can also write down new words in the old fashioned way in a notebook, but not in a simple one, but in our bright diary LINGUABOOK 2. 0. Suddenly the phone will charge?

WANT DAILY BOOK

Mobile apps for learning English grammar

LearnEnglish Grammar

AmE: Google Play • App Store

BrE: Google Play • App Store

There is no doubt about the effectiveness of The British Council resources: with their materials they will be able to hone the nuances of English grammar even the natives. The LearnEnglish Grammar app has 25 English grammar topics, 600 interactive activities, and over a thousand questions with gap filling, multiple choice, and word matching. The application has two versions - with British and American English.

English Tenses Practice

Google Play • App Store

This application is dedicated to the difficult topic of English tenses. All times are collected in a visual table, for each there is a short explanation and education scheme, as well as examples and practical tasks to train. You can work offline. We recommend the application to those who are going to take the IELTS or TOEFL exams.

How to learn all English tenses, we tell in our article. For more explanations on English tenses, check out our 12-in-1 Tenses Handbook.

want tutorial

Color Verbs

Google Play

Color Verbs is an Android app for learning and repeating irregular verbs. There are pictures, examples of use and voice acting for verbs. There is a practice mode. Contains only 200 of the most popular verbs, but for levels below Advanced (Advanced) this is quite enough.

IVERBS Irregular Verbs

App Store • Google Play

Effective application for learning irregular verbs in English. 187 irregular verbs are voiced by native speakers to help improve pronunciation. There are also colorful illustrations with which it is easier and faster to memorize verbs. It is possible to make your own lists, highlighting words in different colors. Plus applications - there are flash cards that will help with the repetition of already learned verbs.

Our "Grammar is all you need" guide will help you deal with recalcitrant English grammar once and for all.

I WANT TO LEARN GRAMMAR

Learn English by video

FluentU

Website • App Store

A great app that few people know about. The heart of FluentU is videos for different language levels. Complex vocabulary for each video is analyzed separately with examples and pictures. There are subtitles for the video, for any word of which you can also see an explanation. The application has a free 14-day period, then you need to subscribe.

TED

Website • App Store • Google Play

TED are regular conferences that you can watch on the app. Vocabulary of different levels, charismatic speakers, different topics, among which you will definitely find something to your taste. All videos have subtitles in English, for the most popular - and in Russian. Try it, you'll like it.

YouTube

Website • App Store • Google Play

Hardly any description is needed here. 😄 The largest video archive in the world. A huge number of recordings of TV shows, video blogs and even video lessons in English. Find something for yourself and watch regularly, it's one of the most fun ways to learn English. Subscribe to our channel, for example. ☺️

16 Netflix series to improve your English

0013 Documentary series to watch: Tiger King and more

Read articles, watch videos and listen to news broadcasts - all with a perfect British accent.

CNN News

Website • App Store • Google Play

Same features as the BBC app, but with an American accent instead of a British one. And the American way of looking at the news.

One of the pieces of advice given to English learners is that if you have a free minute, spend it on English. Repeat the words, read a post by an English-speaking blogger on social media, learn a line from your favorite song, or watch a short video on the new streaming service Quibi .

Apps for learning English conversation

Urban Dictionary

Website • App Store • Google Play

The official application of the main English slang dictionary. Three functions: word of the day, search and a list of random articles. Maximum immersion in colloquial jargon. Caution: Lots of foul language.

Genius

Website • App Store • Google Play

The Genius.com app is the largest collection of lyrics with commentary. A great way to learn English from your favorite songs. Right in the application you turn on the clip, read the text and sing along. If you do not understand the meaning of certain expressions (especially true for hip-hop), see the comments: there you can often see an explanation from the artist himself!

What are rappers Eminem, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z and Drake singing about?

Smigin Travel

Website • Google Play

An interesting idea: the application helps to connect words into phrases that will be useful on trips, for example, to a cafe, hotel, emergency. This solves a common problem for beginners who know single words but can't make sentences out of them. Although the application is intended for travel, these standard phrases are the basis of communication, so it is quite possible to learn spoken English with its help. Alas, only one theme (cafe) is available for free, the rest need to be bought.

Language exchange apps

The best way to improve English — start speaking it. Language exchange apps will help you improve your speaking skills, where you can communicate with native speakers.

Tandem

App Store • Google Play

Tandem — a large language exchange community with millions of users. You practice English, and in return you help someone who is learning Russian. There are no extra people here.

You register in the application and find an interlocutor with whom you can communicate with text or audio messages in a chat like WhatsApp. For the brave, there is a video chat. The application is good because you yourself choose the topic you want to talk about, and Tandem selects available interlocutors according to your wishes. You can talk not only about the grammar of English, but also about the culture, traditions and characteristics of a particular country.

The application has a built-in translator - in case you forgot a word and don't have a dictionary at hand.

If you are embarrassed to communicate with natives, read our teacher Nastya Ivbule's advice on how to overcome the language barrier. It's not as scary as it seems!

HelloTalk

App Store • Google Play

A global language learning and cultural exchange community that allows you to connect with natives. The interlocutor can be selected according to interests and goals in learning the language.

Of the features of - chat with the ability to correct errors and check messages before sending to the interlocutor. All messages can be saved. There is also a built-in translator of text and audio into English, but this function is for the lazy, on the contrary, do you want to pump up your spoken language?

HiNative

App Store • Google Play

Community for English learners in the form of "question - answer". Suitable for those who are still embarrassed to communicate directly with native speakers or do not have time for friendly conversations, but just want to clarify some aspect of the language. You will be explained phraseological units, puns, slang, idioms and other wisdom of the language, which is not always written about in textbooks and which only native speakers know.

Questions can be asked not only by text, but also by audio messages, for example, asking users if you pronounce a certain word correctly. You can send pictures if it is an incomprehensible sign or document, as well as ask natives for advice on absolutely any issue.
Learn more

Sensory play for 4 year olds

Are sight word

Dramatic area preschool

Following directions test for adults

Why rhyming is important

Meditation benefits for children

Syllables for children

Duck on a bike activities

Rectangle shapes for kids

Very fairy princess

Kids bedtime stories