• 200 ESL drawing words

ESL Drawing Game Words

English words to draw, graded A1 to C1: one learner draws, the class guesses out loud.

ESL Drawing Game Words

Juice

Next step ESL first day icebreakersA word from the big deck

All 200 ESL drawing words

A1 40

  • Juice Noun. A glass with a straw next to a cut orange.
  • Bicycle Noun. Two wheels joined by a frame, with a seat and handlebars.
  • Umbrella Noun. A curved top on a hooked handle, with raindrops falling around it.
  • Elephant Noun. A big body with a long trunk and two wide ears.
  • Guitar Noun. A rounded body with a hole in the middle, a long neck and strings.
  • Sandwich Noun. Two slices of bread with layers showing between them.
  • Jacket Noun. A short coat with a zipper and a collar, on a hanger.
  • Nurse Noun. A person in a uniform holding a clipboard beside a hospital bed.
  • Plane Noun. A long body with two wings and a tail, flying above the clouds.
  • Island Noun. A small hill of sand with one palm tree and water all around.
  • Tomato Noun. A round fruit with a star of small leaves on top, growing on a vine.
  • Sweater Noun. A top with long sleeves and a thick knitted pattern.
  • Piano Noun. A row of keys with a stool in front.
  • Passport Noun. A small book next to a suitcase and a plane.
Show all 200 ESL drawing words (186 more)

A1, continued

  • Newspaper Noun. A folded sheet with a big headline block and a picture box.
  • Waiter Noun. A person carrying a tray of plates to a table.
  • Horse Noun. A four-legged animal with a mane, a long tail and a saddle.
  • Pen Noun. A thin tube with a pointed tip, drawing a wavy line.
  • Map Noun. An unfolded sheet with a dotted path and a cross at the end.
  • Glass Noun. A clear cup half full of water.
  • Jeans Noun. A pair of pants with pockets and thick seams, on a clothesline.
  • Supermarket Noun. A wide building with a cart outside and shelves of food inside.
  • Camera Noun. A box with a round lens and a flash going off.
  • Onion Noun. A bulb cut in half to show its rings, with a crying face next to it.
  • Swim Verb. A person in waves with one arm reaching forward.
  • Climb Verb. A person halfway up a rock wall, reaching for the next hold.
  • Sing Verb. A person with an open mouth and music notes floating out.
  • Dance Verb. Two people with arms out and feet off the ground.
  • Sleep Verb. A person in bed with closed eyes and a moon in the window.
  • Wash Verb. Two hands under a running tap with bubbles.
  • Paint Verb. A person with a brush in front of a half-covered wall.
  • Ride Verb. A person sitting on a horse, holding the reins.
  • Laugh Verb. A face with a wide open mouth and tears of joy.
  • Cook Verb. A person stirring a steaming pot on a stove.
  • Tall Adjective. A very long person standing next to a very short one.
  • Hungry Adjective. A person holding their stomach and looking at an empty plate.
  • Cold Adjective. A shivering person in a hat and scarf, with snow falling.
  • Tired Adjective. A yawning person with drooping eyes, next to a bed.
  • Angry Adjective. A face with low eyebrows and steam coming from the ears.
  • Dirty Adjective. A shirt covered in mud spots next to a spotless one.

A2 40

  • Bridge Noun. A curved road on pillars, crossing a river.
  • Frog Noun. A small animal with big eyes and bent back legs, on a lily pad.
  • Insect Noun. A small animal with thin legs and two feelers, walking on a leaf.
  • Knife Noun. A handle and a long blade, next to a cut loaf of bread.
  • Oven Noun. A box with a glass door and a tray of cookies inside.
  • Laptop Noun. A screen that folds down onto a keyboard.
  • Detective Noun. A person in a long coat studying footprints through a magnifying glass.
  • Lake Noun. Still water with hills around it and one small boat.
  • Monkey Noun. An animal with a long curled tail, hanging from a branch.
  • Towel Noun. A cloth hanging on a rail next to a shower.
  • Suit Noun. A matching jacket and pants with a tie, on a hanger.
  • Thief Noun. A masked person tiptoeing away with a full bag.
  • Valley Noun. A low green space with a river, between two mountains.
  • Prize Noun. A ribbon with a star, handed to a smiling winner.
  • Roof Noun. A house with an arrow pointing at its sloping top and chimney.
  • Wheel Noun. A circle with spokes, rolling away from a cart.
  • Tower Noun. A tall narrow building, far higher than the houses next to it.
  • Queen Noun. A woman in a long dress with a crown, sitting on a throne.
  • Nut Noun. A hard shell cracked open, held by a squirrel.
  • Refrigerator Noun. A tall box with two doors, one open to show shelves of food.
  • Stamp Noun. A small square with a wavy edge, in the corner of an envelope.
  • Pilot Noun. A person in a cap at the controls, seen through the front window of a plane.
  • Bone Noun. A stick with two knobs at each end, in a dog's mouth.
  • Crowd Noun. Many small heads packed together in front of a stage.
  • Jump Verb. A person in the air above a puddle, knees bent.
  • Throw Verb. A person with one arm back and a ball leaving the hand.
  • Catch Verb. A person with both hands up and a ball dropping into them.
  • Hide Verb. A child peeking out from behind a curtain while another child looks around.
  • Push Verb. A person leaning with both hands against a heavy box.
  • Pull Verb. A person leaning back, holding a rope tied to a wagon.
  • Smile Verb. A face with a curved mouth and raised cheeks.
  • Cry Verb. A face with tears running down both cheeks.
  • Shout Verb. A person with cupped hands at the mouth and big lines of sound.
  • Knock Verb. A fist against a door, with small sound lines.
  • Asleep Adjective. A cat curled up on a pillow with its eyes closed.
  • Curly Adjective. A head of hair made of small spirals next to one with straight lines.
  • Heavy Adjective. A person bent under a huge box, with sweat drops.
  • Loud Adjective. A speaker with big sound waves and a person covering their ears.
  • Lazy Adjective. A person lying on a sofa while dishes pile up beside them.
  • Scared Adjective. A person with wide eyes and hair standing up, hiding under a blanket.

B1 40

  • Bee Noun. A striped insect with small wings, flying to a flower.
  • Bell Noun. A cup shape with a clapper inside and sound lines.
  • Bubble Noun. A clear ball with a shine mark, floating up from a wand.
  • Chain Noun. A line of oval links joined together.
  • Coin Noun. A small circle with a face on it, dropping into a piggy bank.
  • Curtain Noun. Two folded cloths pulled to the sides of a window.
  • Diamond Noun. A cut stone with flat faces and sparkle lines, on a ring.
  • Battery Noun. A small cylinder with a bump on one end, going into a flashlight.
  • Ceiling Noun. The inside of a room with an arrow pointing up at the top, where a lamp hangs.
  • Flag Noun. A cloth waving at the top of a pole.
  • Ghost Noun. A floating sheet with two eyes and no feet.
  • Glove Noun. A hand shape with five fingers and a cuff.
  • Helicopter Noun. A rounded cabin with a tail and spinning blades on top.
  • Keyboard Noun. A flat board of small square keys in front of a screen.
  • Leaf Noun. A pointed shape with a line down the middle, falling from a branch.
  • Needle Noun. A thin pin with a hole at one end and thread through it.
  • Robot Noun. A square head with an antenna, a box body and claw hands.
  • Rope Noun. A twisted line with a knot, tied around a post.
  • Shelf Noun. A board fixed to a wall with books standing on it.
  • Shell Noun. A fan shape with ridges, lying on a beach.
  • Statue Noun. A stone figure standing on a block in a park.
  • Nail Noun. A thin metal pin with a flat head, half driven into a board.
  • Wing Noun. A bird with an arrow pointing at one spread feathered arm.
  • Tail Noun. A cat seen from behind, with an arrow pointing at the long curl.
  • Bake Verb. A person in oven gloves sliding a tray into an oven.
  • Bend Verb. Two hands curving a straight bar into an arc.
  • Bite Verb. Teeth closing on an apple, with a piece missing.
  • Breathe Verb. A face with air lines going in at the nose and out at the mouth.
  • Freeze Verb. A puddle turning to ice, with a thermometer low beside it.
  • Hang Verb. A person putting a coat on a hook.
  • Pour Verb. A jug tipped over a glass, with water flowing.
  • Sink Verb. A boat half under the water, with bubbles rising.
  • Fold Verb. Two hands bending a sheet of paper in half.
  • Explode Verb. A balloon bursting into pieces with a star of lines.
  • Brave Adjective. A small knight standing in front of a huge dragon.
  • Frozen Adjective. A fish inside a block of ice.
  • Proud Adjective. A person with chest out, holding up a trophy.
  • Shy Adjective. A child half hidden behind a parent's leg, with red cheeks.
  • Sharp Adjective. A pencil with a fine point next to a blunt one.
  • Lonely Adjective. One person on a bench, far from a group of friends.

B2 40

  • Feather Noun. A curved stem with fine lines on both sides, floating down.
  • Flame Noun. A teardrop of fire on top of a match.
  • Shadow Noun. A person in the sun with a dark copy of them on the ground.
  • Canal Noun. A straight channel of water between two walls, with a long boat on it.
  • Wire Noun. A thin line running from a wall plug to a lamp.
  • Satellite Noun. A box with two flat panels, circling a planet.
  • Arrow Noun. A straight stick with a point and feathers, flying to a target.
  • Cabin Noun. A small house built of logs, among trees.
  • Basket Noun. A woven bowl with a handle, full of fruit.
  • Blanket Noun. A large cloth with squares, pulled up over a sleeping person.
  • Brick Noun. One block held next to a half-built wall.
  • Firework Noun. A burst of sparks high in the night sky.
  • Castle Noun. Stone walls with towers, a gate and a flag.
  • Elbow Noun. A bent arm with an arrow pointing at the joint in the middle.
  • Cliff Noun. A high wall of rock dropping straight to the sea.
  • Hook Noun. A curved metal point on the end of a fishing line.
  • Firefighter Noun. A person in a helmet pointing a hose at a burning house.
  • Helmet Noun. A hard hat with a strap, on a cyclist's head.
  • Ladder Noun. Two long poles joined by steps, leaning on a wall.
  • Mosquito Noun. A tiny insect with long legs and a thin nose, landing on an arm.
  • Parade Noun. A band and decorated trucks moving down a street lined with people.
  • Treasure Noun. An open chest full of coins and jewels.
  • Wolf Noun. A dog-like animal with pointed ears, howling at the moon.
  • Thumb Noun. A hand in a fist with the short side finger pointing up.
  • Dig Verb. A person pushing a spade into the ground beside a pile of soil.
  • Float Verb. A duck toy resting on top of the water in a bath.
  • Melt Verb. A snowman turning into a puddle under a hot sun.
  • Wrap Verb. Two hands folding paper around a box, with a ribbon ready.
  • Sweep Verb. A person moving a broom across a dusty floor.
  • Stretch Verb. A person just out of bed with both arms reaching up.
  • Lean Verb. A person resting one shoulder against a wall, legs crossed.
  • Chase Verb. A dog running after a cat, both with speed lines.
  • Dive Verb. A person in the air, head first, above a pool.
  • Whisper Verb. One person with a hand at another person's ear.
  • Bent Adjective. A nail curved to one side next to a straight one.
  • Hollow Adjective. A tree trunk with an open space inside and an owl in it.
  • Steep Adjective. A road going up a hill at a sharp angle, with a cyclist struggling.
  • Sticky Adjective. A hand that cannot let go of a spoon of honey, with stretching strings.
  • Furious Adjective. A red face with clenched fists and a storm cloud overhead.
  • Curious Adjective. A cat looking into a box, with a question mark above its head.

C1 40

  • Anchor Noun. A heavy hook with two curved arms on a chain, under a ship.
  • Angel Noun. A figure with two wings and a ring of light above the head.
  • Barrel Noun. A round wooden container with metal bands, wider in the middle.
  • Bench Noun. A long seat with a back, under a tree in a park.
  • Crown Noun. A ring of points with jewels, on a cushion.
  • Crystal Noun. A cluster of clear pointed stones with sparkle lines.
  • Banner Noun. A long strip of cloth stretched between two poles above a street.
  • Blade Noun. A knife with an arrow pointing at its flat cutting part.
  • Hammer Noun. A handle with a heavy head, above a nail.
  • Mask Noun. A face-shaped cover with eye holes and a string.
  • Carriage Noun. A closed coach with big wheels, pulled by horses.
  • Pirate Noun. A sailor with an eye patch, a big hat and a parrot on one shoulder.
  • Pond Noun. A small circle of water with reeds and a duck.
  • Sword Noun. A long blade with a cross-shaped handle.
  • Thread Noun. A thin line unwinding from a spool, through a needle.
  • Sketch Noun. A quick pencil drawing on a pad, with the pencil lying beside it.
  • Lawn Noun. A flat area of short grass in front of a house, with a mower on it.
  • Choir Noun. Rows of people in robes holding books, mouths open.
  • Canvas Noun. A stretched cloth on an easel, with a brush and a half-made picture.
  • Laser Noun. A pen sending one thin straight beam to a dot on a wall.
  • Peak Noun. The pointed top of a mountain, with a small flag on it.
  • Warehouse Noun. A huge plain building with a wide door and stacks of boxes inside.
  • Wildfire Noun. A line of flames moving through a forest, with smoke above.
  • Horizon Noun. One flat line where the sea meets the sky, with half a sun on it.
  • Applaud Verb. Rows of people clapping toward a stage.
  • Bounce Verb. A ball with a dotted path going down to the floor and up again.
  • Carve Verb. A person cutting a face into a block of wood with a small tool.
  • Crawl Verb. A baby moving on hands and knees.
  • Leap Verb. A deer in the air above a fence, legs stretched out.
  • Nod Verb. A head with curved arrows moving it up and down.
  • Shrink Verb. A sweater coming out of a washing machine much smaller than it went in.
  • Spin Verb. A toy top with curved arrows going around it.
  • Squeeze Verb. A hand pressing a tube so that paste comes out.
  • Yell Verb. A person on a mountain top with a wide open mouth and huge sound lines.
  • Fragile Adjective. A box marked with a cracked glass, carried very carefully.
  • Invisible Adjective. A hat, glasses and shoes with no person between them.
  • Magnetic Adjective. A horseshoe shape pulling a line of pins toward it.
  • Transparent Adjective. A window with a tree seen clearly through the glass.
  • Fierce Adjective. A tiger showing its teeth and claws.
  • Awkward Adjective. Two people reaching for the same door handle, both stepping back.

How this list was compiled: Written for this page on 2026-10-15: 200 English words to draw, 40 at each of five CEFR levels, and in every level 24 nouns, 10 verbs and 6 adjectives. Each word's level and part of speech were checked on 2026-10-15 against The Oxford 3000 by CEFR level and The Oxford 5000 by CEFR level, American English editions (Oxford University Press): https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/external/pdf/wordlists/oxford-3000-5000/American_Oxford_3000_by_CEFR_level.pdf and https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/external/pdf/wordlists/oxford-3000-5000/American_Oxford_5000_by_CEFR_level.pdf. The A1, A2 and B1 words and 16 of the B2 words stand in the Oxford 3000 at that level; the other 24 B2 words and the 40 C1 words stand in the Oxford 5000 at that level. Where the lists give a word a different level for each part of speech, the card is the part of speech named in its note, at the level the list gives it: Swim is a verb at A1 and a noun at B1. What the two lists are is from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/about/wordlists/oxford3000-5000, read the same day. The sentence after the part of speech is a suggested drawing in our own words, not a definition. The deck holds no brand names and no real people. Licence: own work

How it works

These ESL drawing game words are graded by CEFR level, 40 each from A1 to C1, for a class game in the style of the game sold as Pictionary. The deck opens on A1. Every level was checked in the Oxford word lists.

Read the full guide

Match the level to the class

A1 deals words such as Umbrella, Swim and Hungry. Press Level to move up: A2 has Bridge, Throw and Lazy, B1 Curtain, Pour and Shy, B2 Feather, Whisper and Steep, and C1 Anchor, Shrink and Fragile. All mixes the five for a class of mixed ability.

Nouns, verbs and adjectives in every level

Each level holds 24 nouns, 10 verbs and 6 adjectives, and the list under the deck names the part of speech of every word, with one way to draw it. Nouns are single things, such as Sandwich. Verbs need a small scene, and adjectives such as Lonely need a comparison.

  • Ask the guessing team for a whole sentence, such as It is an umbrella, before the point counts.
  • After a verb card, have the class say the word in the past tense as well.

Questions and answers

How do you play a drawing game in an ESL class?

Split the class into two teams. One learner reads the card and draws on the board without speaking and without writing letters or numbers. Their team calls out guesses in English until the minute ends, then the other team sends a drawer.

Where do the levels A1 to C1 come from?

From Oxford's word lists, which give each word a CEFR level. A1 to B2 are the levels of the Oxford 3000, the 3,000 most important words to learn in English. The Oxford 5000 adds words at B2 and C1 for advanced learners.

Which ESL words are easiest to draw?

The nouns. Each is a thing a learner can picture, from Sandwich at A1 to Castle at B2 and Anchor at C1. Save adjectives such as Curious or Transparent for a confident class.

Does the deck work as a random ESL word generator?

Yes. Each press of Next card deals a random word from the level in play, and a word does not come back until the others have been dealt. Deal one at the start of a lesson as a warm-up.

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