Guess the Gibberish!
Create and solve gibberish phrase puzzles by swapping sounds or letters, write clue cards, and challenge friends to decode the hidden phrases.
Step-by-step guide to Guess the Gibberish!
Step 1
Gather all the materials on a table so they are easy to reach.
Step 2
Think of eight short common phrases and write each phrase on a list on your paper.
Step 3
For each phrase swap the first sounds or letters of the words to make a silly gibberish phrase and write that gibberish on one index card.
Step 4
Turn each card over and write a short clue that hints at the original phrase without using the actual words.
Step 5
Decorate the front of each card with drawings or colors to make them fun to look at.
Step 6
Cut or trim any extra paper so each card looks neat and the edges match.
Step 7
Put all the cards face down in a stack on the table.
Step 8
Ask a friend or family member to be the decoder for your game.
Step 9
Set a timer for one minute to use for each card.
Step 10
Have the decoder pick the top card and read the gibberish aloud then try to guess the original phrase before the timer stops.
Step 11
If the decoder asks for help flip the card so they can read the clue on the back.
Step 12
Look at your original phrase list to check the correct answer for the current card.
Step 13
If the decoder guessed correctly give them one point by tapping a finger or writing a tally.
Step 14
Repeat steps 10 to 13 for each remaining card and then count the points to see who won.
Step 15
Share your finished gibberish cards and the rules of your game on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have index cards or a timer?
Cut regular printer paper into 3x5-inch pieces to use like index cards for the step that says to write gibberish on one index card, use a phone or kitchen timer for the one-minute timer step, and swap markers for crayons or stickers when you decorate the front.
The decoder keeps getting stuck — what should we do to make guessing work better?
If the decoder is stuck during the step where they read the gibberish aloud, flip the card sooner to show the clue, simplify your swaps by changing only the first letter instead of whole sounds when you make the cards, and double-check the original phrase list to confirm the exact wording before revealing the answer.
How can we adapt the game for younger kids or challenge older kids?
For younger children, use four simple two-word phrases, draw picture clues on the back instead of words, and set the timer for 90 seconds, while for older kids make 12 or more cards, use trickier multi-word phrases, and shorten the timer to 30–45 seconds to follow the same write-clue-decorate-count steps.
How can we extend or personalize the game after we finish the basic round?
Turn it into a themed tournament by decorating cards with matching art from the decorate-the-front step, award bonus points for fastest correct guesses when you count points, create team rules for multiple rounds, and then share your favorite card sets and rules on DIY.org as suggested.
Watch videos on how to Guess the Gibberish!
The Gibberish Game | Brain Games
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Facts about wordplay and language games
🔤 Anagrams rearrange letters to make new words — a classic is 'listen' turning into 'silent'.
🗣️ Language games like Pig Latin and Ubbi Dubbi let kids play with sounds to hide words from others.
🕵️ Newspapers and puzzle books often include cryptograms and coded-phrase challenges that invite readers to crack secret messages.
🧠 Spoonerisms are named after Reverend William Archibald Spooner, who became famous for accidentally swapping sounds in words.
🧩 Wordplay puzzles (like gibberish phrases, cryptograms, and riddles) train decoding skills and flexible thinking.
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