What is Shiritori?
Shiritori (しりとり) is the Japanese word-chain game: each word must begin with the sound the previous word ended with, and a word ending in “n” (ん) loses, because no Japanese word begins with it. This page plays it in English with the same spirit — last letter to first letter, timer, chain tracking, lives — at the Family level; the “n” rule is a house rule you call yourselves, for players who want the authentic sting.
It is the game Japanese children play on trains and families play on New Year’s; in English it doubles as a vocabulary drill for language learners in both directions.
Playing Shiritori the Japanese way
- The ん rule: in Japanese, saying a word that ends in “n” (like “mikan”) loses immediately — call it at the table for the real game
- Long vowel rule: a word ending in a long vowel (ラーメン → ramen… ends in n, you lose!) — the classic trap
- Nouns only: verbs and adjectives are not allowed in traditional Shiritori
- Japanese class: play in romaji — neko → kosaru? no, ko-: kome → me-: megane…
- Train version: no timer, just the chain, until the station
- Theme Shiritori: animals, foods, or places
- Written Shiritori: a long chain on paper, decorated
- Reverse (atama-tori): the next word must END with the first letter of the previous word
Game setup
How to play Shiritori
- Read the starting word and the letter the next word must begin with.
- Type your word and tap Go before the timer ends.
- No repeats and no made-up words — the group can Challenge.
- Pass the phone; lose a life for a miss.
What the screen does for you
Shiritori on AllPartyGames.com is the referee, not the whole game: it gives the host Go, Pass, Challenge last word, End game. Tap the ? button inside the game for these rules at any time, or 📺 for TV mode on a big screen.
How many players?
Shiritori works with 2–10 players and a typical round takes about 5–15 min. Recommended age: 6+.
Best occasions
Tips
- Decide whether “y” and “w” words count when a word ends in those letters; in English the chain can stall there.
- For language learners, say the word in both languages before passing.
- Switch the level to Hard once the family stops stalling.
- Landscape mode gives the biggest text when the phone is passed around.
- Turn sound on: the countdown ticks and buzzers keep everyone honest.
Shiritori FAQ
What is the Shiritori “n” rule?
In Japanese no word begins with ん (n), so a player who says a word ending in n loses the round. The page does not enforce it; call it as a house rule if you want the authentic game.
How is Shiritori different from Word Chain?
Same chain rule; Shiritori keeps the Japanese flavour and starts at Family level (15 seconds, two lives). Word Chain is the general English game with Kids, Family and Hard levels.
Can we play in Japanese?
The page tracks letters, not kana, so play in romaji and judge the sound chain yourselves; it works well for Japanese class.
Is there a Japanese mode?
Not yet. The English version follows the same chain rule; a kana-based mode with the ん rule is on the roadmap.
How do you win Shiritori?
Be the last player who has not repeated a word, run out of time or given an invalid word.
How many prompts does Shiritori have?
Hundreds, hand-written and shuffled so replays feel new. Every category is family-safe unless labelled otherwise.