ESL Game: Strange Words
Strange Words is a simple activity that is aimed at intermediate and above students. In this activity students are given unusual and strange words from the English language. In teams, students must invent a definition for the word. Later, the teams are shown all the definitions plus the actual definition and each team must guess what is the correct definition.
Activity time: 15 minutes + (shorter or longer rounds can be played)
Materials required: List of unusual words and their definitions. See the download below.
Skills practiced: Brainstorming, writing and negotiating.
Level: Teen and Adults intermediate +
Method
- Divide the class in equal teams of no more than four students.
- Write one of the words on the board from the list below. Next, tell students what part of speech the word is (noun, verb, adjective etc).
- Explain to your students that they must invent a definition for the word and make it as believable as possible.
- As soon as each team is finished writing their definitions they must give it to the teacher. Once the teacher has all the definitions, the teacher reads them out in a mixed order including the actual definition.
- Next, students decide what the real definition to the word is. Award points for each correct answer.
Alternative Ideas:
- Award points to teams who can guess which team wrote each definition.
A list of words you could use:
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
| Shallop | Noun | A light sailing boat used mainly for coastal fishing or as a tender. |
| Spurrier | Noun | A person who makes spurs. |
| Transpicuous | Adjective | Transparent. |
| Verjuice | Noun | a sour juice obtained from crab apples or unripe grapes. |
| Petrichor | Noun | the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. |
| Xenology | Noun | the scientific study of extraterrestrial phenomena. |
| Abomasum | Noun | the fourth stomach of a ruminant, such as a cow or sheep. |
| Dismurderized | Adjective | Divested of the character of murder; pronounced to be not murder. |
| Zoolatry | Noun | the worship of animals. |
More Vocabulary Games
Discover more ESL vocabulary games.
Vocabulary Fortunes – This online ESL Game is a great way to practice vocabulary with teens and adults. This activity is a great way to end class.
Vocabulary Circle – A simple warmer for all ages and level.
Quick Fire Vocabulary – This vocabulary revision game is a great way to revise vocabulary with all levels and ages.
ESL Game: Derp, Derp – This activity is a simple vocabulary revision activity.
Find more games and activities weekly on our YouTube Channel
