Free, no sign-up Random Letter Generator

How to use the random letter generator

The page shows one huge letter at a time, big enough to read from across the table. Here is what each control does.

• "New letter" picks the next letter at random.
• "Skip hard letters" leaves out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z, which are tough in most categories. That leaves 20 letters to play.
• "No repeats" is on by default. Every letter comes up once before any letter comes up again, and the ones already used are shown crossed out. Tap "Start over" to bring them all back.
• The round timer can be off or set to 30, 60, 90 or 120 seconds. It starts the moment the letter appears, beeps at the end and shows "Stop!".
• "Full screen" makes the letter fill a laptop or a TV, so a whole room can see it.

Is the letter really random?

Yes. Each letter is picked with your browser's secure random generator, so every letter still in the pool has the same chance. With "No repeats" on, the pool shrinks as you play, and you won't see a letter twice until the rest have had their turn.

Turn "No repeats" off for pure chance. Then any letter can come up on any tap, including the one you just had.

Keep in mind that random isn't the same as easy. With every letter in, X is just as likely as S, even though S is far easier to play. That's what "Skip hard letters" is for. Nothing you do here is sent to a server, and there's no sign-up or app.

How to play Name, Place, Animal, Thing with a random letter

Name, Place, Animal, Thing is the classic categories game, also called Stop or Categories. Each player needs paper and a pen.

1. 1Draw four columns: Name, Place, Animal, Thing. Add more if you like, such as Food, Job or Movie.
2. 2Set the timer to 60 or 90 seconds and tap "New letter".
3. 3Everyone fills each column with a word that starts with that letter. With M, that could be Maria, Mexico, Monkey and Mirror.
4. 4When the screen shows "Stop!", pens down.
5. 5Read the answers aloud one column at a time. An answer nobody else wrote scores 10, a shared answer scores 5 and a blank scores 0.
6. 6Play five to ten rounds and add up the totals.

Rather skip the paper? Our Name, Place, Animal, Thing game runs the whole thing on one phone, letter and clock included.

Where a random letter comes in handy

More letter games to play

Name, Place, Animal, Thing is only the start. These games also need just a letter and a little time.

Settle the house rules before round one: whether "The" counts as a first word, whether brand names are allowed, and whether a place can be a street or only a city or country.

Tips for hosts and teachers

• Turn on "Skip hard letters" for younger players or a new group. Turn it off once people want a challenge.
• Keep "No repeats" on for a long game, so the same easy letters don't keep coming back.
• Give adults 60 seconds a round. Kids, or lists with six or more categories, need 90 to 120.
• In class, put the letter on the projector with "Full screen" and set the timer, so you can walk around while students write.
• When an answer is disputed, the group votes with a thumbs up or down. Majority wins, and the game moves on.

Games and tools that go with it

A letter and a timer are the base of a lot of party games. These pair well:

• Name 3 Things: three answers in five seconds. Add a rule that all three must start with the letter on screen.
• Charades: for a twist, act out only things that start with the current letter.
• Spin the Wheel: put your categories on the wheel and spin for one each round.
• Scoreboard: keep the totals across rounds on a phone instead of on the back of an envelope.

Questions