Shakespeare quiz – how well do you know his words?

June 15, 2026
skakespeare quiz

Did you know that there are hundreds of words and phrases in English that were created by Shakespeare? From swagger to break the ice, Shakespeare helped shape the modern English language we use today.

Let’s test your knowledge! Take the Shakespeare quiz and find out how much Shakespeare trivia you know. You might be surprised!

Questions about Shakespeare

1. Which of these emotion words did Shakespeare invent?

  1. Happy
  2. Lonely
  3. Scared
  4. Embarrassed

2. What does the Shakespearean phrase to ‘wear your heart on your sleeve’ mean?

  1. To feel excited about an upcoming event
  2. To make conversation with a stranger
  3. To show your emotions easily
  4. To have a passion for fashion

3. What does the Early Modern English word thou mean in today’s English?

  1. They
  2. You
  3. We
  4. Him

4. Which Shakespeare play features the expression, to be or not to be?

  1. Hamlet
  2. Othello
  3. Romeo and Juliet
  4. Macbeth

5. What does the Shakespeare phrase, in a pickle mean?

  1. You’ve eaten too much
  2. You don’t like something
  3. You buy something you don’t need
  4. You’re in a difficult situation

6. Which of these places in a house did Shakespeare first write the word for?

  1. Bathroom
  2. Hall
  3. Stairs
  4. Bedroom

7. Which Shakespeare play includes the famous line, all the world’s a stage?

  1. King Lear
  2. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  3. Twelfth Night
  4. As You Like It

8. In Shakespeare’s English, what does art mean in the phrase, wherefore art thou?

  1. are
  2. gave
  3. have
  4. do

9. In Othello, Shakespeare talks about a green-eyed monster. Which emotion does this represent?

  1. Love
  2. Jealousy
  3. Fear
  4. Happiness

10. Which of these verbs did Shakespeare first use in his work?

  1. Lose
  2. Punch
  3. Gossip
  4. Regret

Shakespeare quiz: answers

  1. B, Lonely. This word first appeared in Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus. Read more about the words Shakespeare invented.
  1. C, To show your emotions easily. Shakespeare used this phrase in Othello. The character imagines wearing his emotions so that everyone can easily see them, rather than keeping them hidden inside. Learn more Shakespeare idioms still used today.
  1. B, You. Thou is an informal Early Modern English word which means you. For example in Romeo and Juliet there’s the famous phrase, where for art thou, Romeo? This translates to ‘Why are you, Romeo?’, when Juliet asks why he is a member of a rival family.
  1. A, Hamlet. This saying is one of the most quoted lines in English literature, but it isn’t just one line – it’s part of a long paragraph! To be, or not to be, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them. To die: to sleep; no more; and by a sleep to say we end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub…
  1. D, You’re in a difficult situation. Read our blog on 8 Shakespeare phrases still used today to find out where it comes from!
  1. D, Bedroom. Although Shakespeare didn’t necessarily invent this word, he was the first person to use it in print in written English. Before this, people referred to it as a bed chamber or sleeping chamber.
  1. D, As You Like It. All the world’s a stage means that life is like a big performance, and everyone is playing different roles at different times.
  1. A, Are. Art is a form of the verb to be. Shakespeare used this form in lots of his insults, too.
  1. B, Jealousy. This idiom is still used today. In modern English, people also use the colour green on its own to mean envy or jealousy, e.g. I was green with envy when I heard that she’d won. Learn more Shakespeare idioms still used by English speakers nowadays.
  1. C, Gossip. Before Shakespeare used gossip as a verb, the word had a different meaning related to friendship and connection.

How did you score on the Shakespeare language quiz?

0–3 correct: Shakespeare novice

You’re just beginning your Shakespeare trivia journey – it’s an exciting place to be!

4–6 correct: Getting there

You already know the answer to quite a few Shakespeare quiz questions. The Bard would be impressed!

7–9 correct: Impressive

You clearly know your Shakespeare trivia.

10/10 correct: True Bardolater!

A perfect score on our Shakespeare quiz. You’re a genuine expert when it comes to Shakespeare’s English!

If you’ve enjoyed learning about Shakespeare and putting your knowledge to the test, don’t forget to check out the rest of our Shakespeare series. Then, why not add to what you’ve learnt from the quiz and check out the meaning of Shakespearean phrases in simple English?