List of Fun Latin Vocab Games for the Classroom

1. Funniest Drawing Competition

Give each student a sheet of paper that has rows of squares large enough to draw images inside. (In a pinch you can also have students take blank sheets of paper and divide them themselves.) Ask your students to draw a funny, silly, or creative picture that shows the meaning of each vocab word labeled with the Latin. For competition, award prizes for funniest, best drawn, most creative, and so on. After everyone is done, display the drawings and read the words aloud. You can do this in class right away if your school has those document cameras that plug right into your computer. If you do not have access to it, take them home, and tke photos of the best ones and throw them onto a PowerPointStudents vote on the funniest or most memorable ones. Drawing, labelling, and seeing these silly pictures help students really lock those words into memory.

Here are some of my favorites that my students have drawn over the years...

If your students are anything like mine, they love to draw! Make the most of it!

2. Around the World

One student stands beside another student's desk. You say a Latin word, and both students try to say the correct English meaning first. The winner moves on to challenge the next student. The goal is to go “around the world” (around the classroom) by beating every classmate. This has always been one of my students' favorites. Kids love the chance to move around the classroom and the fact that the progress is measured by seats moved makes it easy to keep score.

3. Magnet Toss

Write English meanings on the board (or Latin words), spaced out around the whiteboard. Two students stand behind a toss line with large magnetic decals like the ones that go on cars. You call out a Latin word (or English meaning) and they toss their magnets at the correct answer. The first magnet to land on (or closest to) the right spot wins the round. Rotate players so everyone gets a turn. It is fast, fun, and works great on most magnetized whiteboards, but just remind students to toss, not throw.

4. Pictionary

Write Latin vocab words on slips of paper. One student gets a word and must draw a picture showing the meaning of the word without writing any words or letters! Their team has 60 seconds to guess the correct Latin word. If they guess it, they get a point. Then another team goes. This game helps students connect Latin words with visuals, which makes them far easier to remember. It is also a great quiet activity for a rainy day: instead of two massive teams, friends can play in pairs quietly.

5. Charades

Just like Pictionary, but without drawing! One student gets a Latin word and acts out the meaning using only gestures: no talking, no sounds. Their team tries to guess the word in Latin. If they get it right, they earn a point. This is especially great for verbs and action words, and it brings lots of laughs!

6. Relay Race

Split the class into two or more teams. Have a list of Latin words ready. One student from each team runs to the board and writes the English meaning or Latin translation of a word you say out loud. Then they run back and the next teammate goes. First team to finish all their words correctly wins! This game adds movement and teamwork to vocab review.

7. Jeopardy

Create a game board with categories like "Nouns," "Chapter 1 Vocab," "Roman Numerals," and so on. Each category has questions worth different points (e.g., 100, 200, 300...). Students take turns picking a category and point value. You ask the question, and they must answer in the form of a question (just like the game show). For example, if the answer is studeo, the student says, "What is 'I study'?" This one was always a class favorite.

8. Ball Toss

Stand in a circle or at desks. Toss a soft ball to a student while saying a Latin word. The student must say the meaning, then toss the ball to another classmate while calling out a new word. If someone gets stuck, they can “pass” once. Keep playing until everyone’s had a turn or time runs out. Great for keeping all students alert and engaged!

9. Vocabulary Basketball

You will want a mini hoop and a soft ball, but a trashcan and a wad of paper will do in a pinch. Ask a Latin vocab question. If the student answers correctly, they get one chance to shoot the ball into the hoop. If they make it, they earn a bonus point. You can play in teams or as a whole class. This adds a fun reward for correct answers and keeps things exciting! The randomness of throwing the ball levels the playing field if you have some students who have mastered the vocab already and some who are still struggling.

10. Flyswatter

My German professor first introduced me to this one. Write English meanings on the board (or Latin words), spaced out all over. Divide class into two teams and then one student from each team comes to the board with flyswatters, standing on either side. You call out a Latin word (or English meaning), and they race to swat the correct answer. First one to swat the right word wins that round. Rotate players so everyone gets a turn. This is fast, fun, and competitive! You can also try pool noodles if you are worried about scratching the whiteboard, but the nice thing about fly-swatters is that they stack and you can see easier who swatted the word first.

11. Hangman

Choose a Latin word and draw blank spaces for each letter. Students guess letters one at a time. If they guess right, fill in the letter. If they guess wrong, draw a part of the stick figure (head, body, arms, legs, etc.). The goal is to guess the word before the stick figure is complete. This game helps students remember how to spell Latin words and think about their meanings. It is also great for illustrating common letter groupings in Latin grammar ("Hey class, notice how video and other 2nd Conjugation verbs all end in eo").

12. Sorting Race

Prepare sets of cards with Latin words and separate cards with their English meanings. Split students into teams. Give each team a full set. They race to match each Latin word to the correct meaning. First team to finish wins, but check the matches before announcing the winner! This game is great for reviewing large vocab lists. If you want to make things interesting, you can also use an entire sheet of paper for each word. The chaos of having to coordinate with letter-size sheets of paper makes it extra entertaining. This kind of sorting game is also phenomenal at helping students learn noun and verb endings.

13. Bingo

Make Bingo boards filled with Latin words or meanings. Call out either the Latin word or the English meaning. Students mark the matching word on their boards. First student to get five in a row (across, down, or diagonal) shouts “Bingo!” and wins. You can also play for full board blackout. This is a quiet but effective review game.

14. Four Corners

Label each corner of the room A, B, C, and D. Ask a multiple-choice Latin vocab question and read out the four possible answers. Students go to the corner that matches their answer. After everyone chooses, reveal the correct answer. Students in the correct corner stay in; the others sit out or try again next round. Great for kinesthetic learners and vocabulary recall!