Finish the word

Finish the word offers insight and fun for all skill groups.

Have the players stand in a circle.

One player turns to their right and begins a word by saying the first syllable. Instruct the players to hold the sound while making eye contact with the player on their right.

The other players repeats the beginning syllable and finishes the word by supplying the ending syllable(s).

Play continue around the circle.

EXAMPLE
Player 1 turns to player 2: Briiiiiiiii…
Players 2 looking at player 1: Briiii…ght.
Player 2 looks at player 3: Connnnnnn….
Player 3 looking at player 2: Connnnn…ecticut.
Player 3 looks at player 4: Silllllll….
Player 4 looking at player 3: Sillll…able.

Notes

Keep the game playful. Laughter comes with the unexpected words. If a players says a gibberish word… celebrate it and keep going. If a players says a phrase instead of a word, celebrate it and keep going. This game is used a to create a playful co-creation moment.

You can break the circle pattern and choose a partner at random in the circle.

The pace may slow during the game… if it does simply pick the pace up.

It’s not a guessing game… it’s a collaborative game. In improv terms the first syllable is the ‘offer’… and the rest of the word is the way the other player accepts the offer (“Yes and”).

Origin

I learned this game from Lisa Rowland of BATS Improv

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