Printable Word List for the Fishbowl Game

These fun phrases are guaranteed to bowl you over (hardy har har).

The Fishbowl Game – also known as Succotash in some parts – is a unique party game where players guess the same set of phrases in three different rounds. Of course, as any Fishbowl Fanatic knows, the rules change with each round, making it harder to guess the words as they become more familiar to the players.

So, where do those phrases come from? One option is to have the players themselves come up with them before the game. However, this isn’t ideal for a few reasons. One obvious issue is that, for every prompt that comes out of the fishbowl, there will be a player who has a leg up on the competition because they jotted down the phrase themselves.

The alternative is to have a word list prepared before the game. That’s exactly what this article is all about. Check out the word list below, and stick around for a few ideas I have for coming up with your own fun phrases.

Fishbowl Game Word List

Here’s a list of funny and interesting words you can use for the Fishbowl Game. You probably don’t want to use all of these phrases for your game (unless you’re going for a marathon session). The list is sorted by difficulty, so you can pick and choose the perfect set of phrases for your players.

Easy

Medium

Hard

Coming Up With Your Own Word List

As mentioned, you don’t have to stick to pre-prepared word lists, and there’s a lot of fun to be had by making your own. Here are some thoughts on what makes a good phrase for the Fishbowl Game.

Note: I’ve created a simple PDF file that’s partitioned for cutting out individual paper slips. If you’d like to use it for writing down your own word list, you can download it by clicking here.

Player tie-ins. One way to add a little humor to the game is to use words that have something to do with the players themselves. This could mean using phrases relating to their professions, family life, location, or whatever makes them unique. For example, if you have teachers and/or students in the crowd, you could use a word like detention.

Educational subject matter. Speaking of teachers, the Fishbowl Game can be a tool for learning about different subjects. You could have some or all of your phrases relate to History, the Bible, or whatever subject is appropriate for the group.

Topical stuff. Another idea is to use phrases that relate to current events. Look for words that are in the news and/or on people’s minds, like inflation. Just be mindful about using political or other potentially controversial subject matter, as it could put a damper on things for people who are just looking for some lighthearted fun.