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Word game

Pass the Message

Also called Telephone, Broken Telephone, Whisper Down the Lane

A phrase is whispered down a line of players; the last one says it out loud and everyone hears how wrong it went.

people
8–60
time
10 min
energy
Calm
materials
Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
What you need2
How to play4

Before you start

Form teams of 6–10 standing or sitting in straight lines, all facing the same way. Hand the first player in each line the same folded message.

  1. 1The first player reads the slip silently, hands it back to the host, and whispers it once to the next player.
  2. 2Each player may whisper it only once — no repeating, no “ha?”.
  3. 3The last player writes down or says out loud what they heard.
  4. 4The team closest to the original wins the round. Play 3–5 rounds, rotating who goes first.
Cards for this game25

Edit them now. Host mode deals them one at a time, big enough for the room.

25 cards
  • Three grey geese in green fields grazing
  • The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
  • She sells seashells by the seashore
  • Please bring five fresh mangoes to the party
  • My uncle's jeepney leaves at half past seven
  • The cat sat on the mat and ate a rat
  • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
  • I bought a red balloon for my baby sister
  • Meet me at the corner shop at nine o'clock
  • Bring an umbrella because it will rain this afternoon
  • Our team will present the new plan on Monday morning
  • The big black bug bit the big black bear
  • Grandma baked twelve cookies for the whole family
  • Seven silly sailors sailed seven seas
  • Please remember to turn off the lights after the meeting
  • A tiny turtle tiptoed through the tall tulips
  • We are having sinigang and rice for lunch today
  • The blue bus stops at the library at ten fifteen
  • Fresh fried fish from the Friday market
  • Tell Maria that the party starts at six
  • Ten tiny ducks swam across the silver pond
  • Pack your sunscreen, towel and two bottles of water
  • He threw three free throws in the final game
  • Our Christmas party will have a gift exchange and games
  • Lola's lovely lemon cake is on the long table
What to say3
  1. 1“One whisper only. No repeats, no clues, no lip reading!”
  2. 2“Last players — what did you hear? Say it loud!”
  3. 3“And the real message was… nowhere close! Round two!”
Host tips3
  • Lines too close together hear each other's whispers and copy. Space teams at least two metres apart or play one team at a time.
  • Messages that are too short arrive intact and the game falls flat. Aim for 10–15 words with a name, a number and a place in them.
  • Check the messages beforehand — a phrase can easily mutate into something rude, so avoid words that are one sound away from a swear word.
Variants2

  • Tongue twister

    Use twisters or mixed English–Tagalog phrases. Longer and sillier messages break faster and get bigger laughs.

  • Action message

    Pass a short gesture or dance step down the line instead of words, with everyone else facing away until their turn.

Safety2
  • Whispering into ears spreads colds — skip it during flu season or let people whisper into a cupped hand without leaning in close.
  • Guests with hearing aids or hearing loss can be the message writer or judge instead.
Good for

Occasions

ChristmasTeam buildingBirthdaySchoolReunionRetreat

Venues

Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hallOutdoor
If this one dies early4