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Sub words. find every word hiding inside one.

One long word on every phone, and a countdown to find as many smaller words inside it as you can. Longer finds are worth more.

The letters round from every teatime quiz show, played by everyone at once instead of one contestant at a time. Nobody has to wait their turn.

2 to 200 players·Free for up to 10 players·In the room or over a call
Round 2 of 60:31

FACILITATOR

  • RATIO+50
  • TRIAL+50
  • AIRCRAFT+80

Only the letters in the word above. Keep them coming until the clock stops.

Your best round so far: 6 words

What actually happens

The word game that rewards thinking sideways.

FACILITATOR appears on every device and the clock starts. Three-letter words come in first: cat, far, art, lot. Then the longer ones: facto, ratio, trial.

Somebody lands AIRCRAFT with two seconds left and the room reacts. Even the people who did not get it are impressed.

The reveal shows every word that counted and how many each person found. The board updates. The next main word is harder.

The rules

How Sub words actually plays.

How to play

  1. 1

    Everyone sees the same main word or name.

  2. 2

    Form smaller words from its letters. Press Enter or tap the plus button after each word to add it to your list.

  3. 3

    Keep adding words during the countdown, or submit your list when ready.

  4. 4

    When the round ends, compare your finds with the accepted words and check your score.

How to win

Words on the round's accepted list earn points, with longer words contributing more. Each round is worth up to 1,000 points, with no speed bonus. The highest total wins.

What makes it work

  • Find multiple words from one main word

  • Live leaderboard visible to all players between rounds

  • Tests vocabulary and quick thinking

  • Everyone plays at the same time

  • Hints available for tricky rounds

While you host

Give the word hunt a clear finish.

Choose the countdown, follow submitted lists and compare the finds at the reveal.

Leaderboard

After round 3 of 6

  • 1CACarl1st place650
  • 2PRPrecious2nd place560
  • 3MEMei3rd place490
Example scores during a game

Example final podium

Carl wins

Precious

1,080

2

Carl

1,240

1

Mei

940

3

Example final scores

Choose time for a proper search

Set the round count and countdown before you begin. A main word with many possible answers benefits from more thinking time than a quick opening puzzle.

Keep growing lists on the phones

Players build their lists on their own devices. The host sees how many lists have been submitted, while the accepted answers stay hidden until the round ends.

Review the finds after the hunt

Use Manual to spend time with the accepted-word reveal. Open View submissions to see the submitted lists and compare discoveries before moving to the leaderboard or next word.

Leave room to think and type

In the room

Keep the main word visible on a shared screen. Explain how to add a word to the list before the first countdown starts.

On a video call

Put the join link in chat and let players build lists quietly. Save the conversation about unusual finds for the answer reveal.

With a hybrid group

Have everyone join on their own device. In team mode, agree who is collecting suggestions and adding them to the team's list.

Use cases

Give your group a word to explore

Choose the main word and accepted answers to suit the occasion.

  • Classrooms & workshops

    Find the words inside the lesson

    Start with a lesson word such as TRIANGLE and ask students to find TRAIN, RING, ANGLE and other accepted words. They can rearrange the letters to build their lists. Use the reveal to explore unfamiliar finds and compare short answers with longer ones.

    Games for teaching and workshops

  • Launches & events

    Make the name part of the game

    Choose a product or event name with enough varied letters to form several smaller words. Prepare its accepted-answer list before hosting, then challenge the room to find as many as they can. The reveal puts the name back at the centre of the conversation.

    Games for events

  • Virtual groups

    A quiet hunt, then a shared reveal

    Give everyone on the call the same main word and a moment to think. Players build lists on their phones without speaking over one another. After the countdown, compare the accepted answers and invite people to explain a longer word that others missed.

    Games for virtual groups

Build a set around your subject, guests or occasion in the Playground.

Customise Sub words

Ways to play

Build your own list or pool your ideas.

Everyone works from the same main word during the round.

Individual play

Find your own words

Build a list on your device and submit it when ready. Your accepted words determine your score for the round.

Best for

A focused puzzle for word-game fans.

Team play

Build a list together

Suggest words to your team lead, who adds them to the team's list. If everyone can submit, the team's highest-scoring list counts.

Best for

Groups that like exchanging word ideas.

Before you start

Sub words questions

Does every dictionary word count?
Only words on that round's accepted list score. The list is revealed after the round. Repeated submissions of the same word count once.
How many words can I submit?
You can add up to 15 different words, with at least two letters in each. Edit or remove words while building your list; submitting locks the list for that round.
Does submitting early earn more points?
No. A round is worth up to 1,000 points based on how much of the accepted list you find, weighted by word length. Longer accepted words contribute more; speed adds no bonus.
Can I build a round around a company or event name?
Yes. In a custom set, choose the main word or name and supply the smaller words that should count. Check that each accepted answer can be made from its letters, without using a letter more times than it appears.
How do players join?
Start a session and share its link or QR code. Players open it in their browser, enter a name and join you in the lobby. They don't need an account or an app. The joining guide covers team selection and what guests see next.
Can I use my own questions?
Yes. Use Neegma's ready-made content or create a reusable set of questions in the Playground. Type your own or import a spreadsheet, then shape the set around your subject, guests or occasion. You can edit and reuse your set whenever you host.
Can AI help me create a Sub words set?
Yes. AI generation is available to every signed-in host, including the Free plan. Describe the topic and audience, review the preview, add the batch, then edit the questions before hosting. Each successful batch uses one credit. The AI guide explains credits and how to write a useful brief.
Can I include Sub words in a ready-made event?
Yes. Browse free and paid session templates for prepared game lineups, or build your own template with Sub words included. A template saves your game selection, order and available settings so you can run it again with another group. The template guide explains playlists and other session flows.
What can we play alongside Sub words?
Neegma has 15 games in its library. Try Charades for a round of acting and guessing, or browse all games to build a varied lineup. In a template session, the included games and session flow determine which game you can choose next.
Can we play in person, remotely or as a hybrid group?
Yes. Share the host screen on a TV, projector or video call, and have players join on their own devices. Neegma runs the game; your room or call carries the conversation. The screen-sharing guide covers the setup, and the large-event guide helps you plan for venue Wi-Fi and bigger audiences.
What happens if someone loses connection?
Return to the same browser tab on the same device and use Rejoin when it is offered. A new browser or device may be treated as a new player, and when someone can resume depends on the game. The reconnecting guide explains how to recover a place without resetting the whole group.
Can players share their results and keep their achievements?
Yes. After an online game finishes, players can use Share result to share or download their card. Save My Results emails the result and records an achievement, even before a player has an account. Signing up with the same email connects those saved results. Leave time to save before starting the next game.
How many people can play, and is it free?
The suggested group size is 2 to 200 players. The Free plan includes up to 10 players and 5 sessions a month, with no card required. For larger groups, compare a one-off Party Plan with a Pro subscription on pricing and choose the allowance that fits your event.

More about hosting? Visit the help center.

Ready to run

Templates with Sub words

Choose a prepared game lineup and review its settings before you host.

1 GAME
Auto-Start

Sub-Words: Word Builder

by Neegma

Build as many small words as you can from a bigger word.

8 min
Free

How many words will you find?

Choose a set and put your group's vocabulary to the test.