My Word

Published June 09, 2020 Updated May 27, 2022

My Word “The last word in card games” designed by Michael Kindred and Malcolm Smith, published in 1980 by Waddingtons.

1980 United KingdomSpellingMichael Kindred and Malcolm SmithWaddingtonsCard Games
My Word “The last word in card games” designed by Michael Kindred and Malcolm Smith, published in 1980 by Waddingtons

My Word “The last word in card games”, designed by Michael Kindred and Malcolm Smith, published in 1980 by Waddingtons.

My Word is a word-making game for one to six players consisting of 48 playing cards and 6 rules cards. Each card is printed on each side with a pair of letters or wild card symbols, together with a number beside each letter pair. The object of the game is to make four letter words by placing cards next to each other, and scoring by adding together the numbers of the letter-pairs so joined.

The game went through several editions of packaging including the introduction of a two-pack deluxe set with a score pad.

See the Rules

My Word published in 1980 by Waddingtons

Above: cards from My Word laid out to form words.

The game was also produced in several European languages by Alga, ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, Carlit, Clipper, Dal Negro and Heraclio Fournier.

Swiss edition of My Word published by Carlit

Above: Swiss edition of My Word published by Carlit.

Spanish edition of My Word by Heraclio Fournier

Above: Spanish edition of My Word by Heraclio Fournier.

Above: Italian edition.

German edition of My Word by ASS Altenburger Spielkarten

Above: German edition of My Word by ASS Altenburger Spielkarten.

My Word published in 1980 by Waddingtons

Above: English edition.

avatar
308 Articles

By Matt Probert

United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.

Related Articles

1999 Polygo™

Polygo™

Cards of irregular, four-sided shape for playing word and colour games as well as more traditional o...

1975 Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes

Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes

Nursery rhyme playing cards by Waddingtons, Leeds, UK, 1975.

1930 Radio Banker

Radio Banker

Radio Banker by John Waddington Ltd for Marconiphone Co Ltd.

1927 Beaver!

Beaver!

The Game of Beaver designed by G E Studdy and published by John Waddington Ltd in 1927.

1953 Crown the Queen

Crown the Queen

Crown the Queen card game invented by Elaine Burton, c.1953.

1958 Spell

Spell

Spell word game published by Pepys Games, 1958.

1930 Pooltella

Pooltella

Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s.

1935 Rush Hour

Rush Hour

“Rush Hour” by Universal Publications Ltd, London, c.1935.

1973 100 Pipers

100 Pipers

100 Pipers Scotch Whisky promotional deck, Waddingtons P.C.Co., c.1973. Includes a Tarot pack offer....

Snap

Snap

Spear’s “Snap” card game from the 1920s.

1935 Bobs y’r Uncle

Bobs y’r Uncle

“Bobs y'r Uncle” nursery rhyme card game designed by Frank H. Simpson for John Waddington Ltd. in 19...

1932 Lexicon

Lexicon

The summer of 1932 saw the introduction of Lexicon, when a small edition was produced and sold to te...

Happy Families No.5367

Happy Families No.5367

Tower Press “Happy Families” No.5367

1908 Spelka

Spelka

Spelka, a word game published by John Jaques & Son Ltd, c.1908.

1994 Historical Characters

Historical Characters

“Historical Characters” playing cards printed by Waddington’s for Thermawear Ltd, 1994.

1963 Cheers & Tears

Cheers & Tears

Cheers & Tears by John Waddington Ltd, 1963.

1878 The New Game of Animals

The New Game of Animals

Victorian card game with imaginatively designed letters which spell the name of an animal, with one ...

1935 Whot

Whot

Whot was invented by William Henry Storey in 1935. It comes from the days when friends and family pl...

1948 Sylabex / Wordmaker

Sylabex / Wordmaker

Sylabex / Wordmaker was first published by Pepys in 1948.

2004 Card Games for Kids

Card Games for Kids

Card Games for Kids by Hamlyn 2004.