Hanukkah word search
Fifteen festival-of-lights words, three levels.
Options
Words
Longer lists give you a different puzzle each time.
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How to make a Hanukkah word search
- 1
Pick a difficulty, or the number of bingo cards.
- 2
Edit the word list if you like.
- 3
Tap “New puzzle” until you like the layout.
- 4
Download the PDF (word searches and mazes include an answer key) and print.
About this printable
Fifteen Hanukkah words, including menorah, shamash, candles, latkes, sufganiyot, oil, eight and nights. Choose easy (across and down), medium (with diagonals) or hard (every direction), and download with an answer key.
The word list is a good starting point for talking about the festival: why there are eight nights, what the shamash does and why fried foods are eaten.
What’s included
- Words: Menorah, Candles, Shamash, Latkes, Sufganiyot, Oil, Lights, Eight, Nights, Kislev, Dreidel, Family, Blessing, Window, Doughnut.
Tips
- Find one word each night of Hanukkah for a slow puzzle.
- Ask children to explain three of the words once they’re found.
- Add family names to the list.
About the festival
Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights. It lasts eight nights, and one more candle is lit on the menorah (hanukkiah) each night, using the helper candle, the shamash. Foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, recall the story of the oil. In 2027 it begins at sundown on 24 December.
Sources
Festival facts on this page were checked on 7 November 2026 against:
- Hebcal: Chanukah 2027 dates
- My Jewish Learning: Symbols of Hanukkah
- My Jewish Learning: Must-know Hanukkah words and phrases
More printables
Find more in Festivals & holidays.
Frequently asked questions
What does “shamash” mean?
It is the helper candle on the menorah, used to light the other eight.
Can I spell it “Chanukah”?
Yes. Edit the list; both spellings are common.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, on its own page.
Which paper should I use?
Plain A4 or US Letter paper works. For cards, card stock of about 160–200 gsm folds and stands better; for paint or markers, thicker paper stops colours bleeding through.