Table of Contents
- Is Google Calendar a Disorganized Mess? Try This Amazing Codeword Trick to Visually Transform Your Agenda.
- What Are Google Calendar Illustrations?
- Why You Should Use Calendar Codewords
- Better Visual Organization
- Increased Engagement
- Personal Motivation
- Clearer Communication for Teams
- The Complete List of Google Calendar Codewords
- Health and Wellness
- Food and Drink
- Professional and Work
- Learning and Education
- Leisure and Hobbies
- Sports and Fitness
- Martial Arts
- Travel and Adventure
- Holidays and Special Events
- Home and Chores
- Instruments and Music
- How to Use Codewords and Best Practices
- Tips for Success
- Language Matters
- Be Specific but Flexible
- One Image Per Event
- Where This List Comes From
Is Google Calendar a Disorganized Mess? Try This Amazing Codeword Trick to Visually Transform Your Agenda.
Are you wondering how to make your Google Calendar more visually appealing and organized? Do you want an amazing way to make important events stand out so you never miss them?
Here is the ultimate guide to using Google Calendar’s secret codewords. This will help you take complete control of your schedule by automatically adding helpful illustrations to your events.
What Are Google Calendar Illustrations?
You may have noticed that some events on your Google Calendar have special pictures. A dental appointment might show a toothbrush, or a birthday event might have a cake. These images appear automatically in the Google Calendar apps on Android and iOS, as well as on the website. They make your calendar more lively and easier to read at a glance.
These are not random decorations. They are triggered by specific words, which we can call codewords, that you type into the title of an event. When Google Calendar sees one of these words, it adds a pre-designed, themed illustration to that event. This is a built-in feature, meaning you do not need to install anything extra to use it. It is a simple, powerful way to customize how your schedule looks and feels.
Why You Should Use Calendar Codewords
Using these codewords is more than just a fun trick. It offers practical benefits that can improve how you manage your time and tasks. A few simple words can transform your calendar from a plain list of text into a dynamic and personal dashboard for your life.
Better Visual Organization
Your brain processes images much faster than text. By adding illustrations, you can quickly scan your week and understand what it holds without reading every single event title. A running shoe icon for your workout, a coffee cup for a meeting, and a book for study time create a visual language for your schedule. This helps you instantly recognize different types of activities.
Increased Engagement
A plain, text-filled calendar can feel like a chore to manage. A visually rich calendar is more engaging and pleasant to use. When your calendar is more appealing, you are more likely to open it, review your plans, and stay on top of your commitments. It turns scheduling from a task into a more enjoyable part of your day.
Personal Motivation
These small illustrations can act as powerful mental cues. Seeing a serene yoga pose for your morning session can help set a calm tone for your day. An icon of a person lifting weights can give you a small motivational push before you head to the gym. By personalizing your calendar, you are reinforcing your goals and priorities in a visual way, making it a tool that not only organizes your time but also inspires you.
Clearer Communication for Teams
This feature is not just for personal use. If you manage a shared calendar for a team or family, illustrations can improve clarity for everyone. Using a codeword like “team lunch” or “presentation” adds a visual cue that helps colleagues or family members quickly identify the purpose of an event. It reduces confusion and ensures everyone is on the same page.
The Complete List of Google Calendar Codewords
Here is the most comprehensive and organized list of codewords available. The list is sorted into categories to help you easily find the perfect word for any event you want to create. Just include one of these words in your event title to activate its illustration.
Health and Wellness
Use these keywords for appointments and self-care activities to prioritize your well-being.
- back rub
- backrub
- dental
- dentist
- dentistry
- fitness center
- fitness class
- fitness evaluation
- fitness program
- fitness test
- fitness training
- gym
- hair
- haircut
- hairdresser
- massage
- massages
- maternity
- nap
- napping
- relaxing
- resting
- sleep
- sleeping
- teeth cleaning
- yoga
Food and Drink
Organize your meals, coffee breaks, and social outings with these delicious-looking icons.
- barbecue
- barbeque
- bbq
- beer
- beers
- breakfast
- breakfasts
- brunch
- brunches
- candle light dinner
- candlelight dinner
- cocktail
- cocktails
- coffee
- coffees
- cook dinner
- cook lunch
- cook meal
- cooking
- dinner
- dinners
- drinks
- family meal
- lunch
- luncheon
- lunches
- make dinner
- make lunch
- prepare dinner
- prepare lunch
- prepare meal
- restaurant
- restaurants
- romantic dinner
- wine bar
- wine night
Professional and Work
For work-related tasks, meetings, and professional services, these keywords help keep your schedule organized.
- auto maintenance
- auto mechanic
- auto repair
- car maintenance
- car mechanic
- car repair
- car service
- electrician
- fridge repair
- handyman
- oil change
- payment
- plumber
- reach out to
- send invitations
- tire change
- tire replacement
- video call
- write letter
Learning and Education
Whether you are studying, taking a class, or learning a new skill, these keywords will make your educational goals stand out.
- back 2 school
- back to school
- back2school
- backtoschool
- book club
- codecademy
- coding time
- computer science
- ebook
- english class
- english course
- first day of school
- first school day
- french class
- french course
- german class
- german course
- hackathon
- hour of code
- learn to code
- newspaper
- practice english
- practice french
- practice german
- programming in java
- programming in python
- rails girls
- railsgirls
- reading
- web development
- web programming
Leisure and Hobbies
From movie nights to creative pursuits, use these words to highlight your downtime and fun activities.
- art workshop
- art workshops
- board game
- board games
- boardgame
- boardgames
- cinema
- classical music
- concert
- concerts
- crochet
- diy
- dog sitting
- dog walker
- dog walking
- dogsitting
- drawing workshop
- embroidery
- felting
- games done quick
- gig
- gigs
- handicraft
- knitting
- millinery
- movie
- movies
- music class
- music ensemble
- opera
- orchestra
- painting
- patchwork
- quilting
- sewing
- sketching workshop
- string quartett
- take dog out
- take out dog
- theater
- theatre
- video game
- video games
- video gaming
- videogames
- videogaming
- walk dog
- walk the dog
Sports and Fitness
Give your workouts and sports activities a dynamic visual boost with these energetic icons.
- american football
- archery
- artistic gymnastics
- badminton
- baseball
- basketball
- billiard
- bmx
- bouldering
- bowling
- boxing
- climbing
- competitive shooting
- cricket competition
- cricket game
- cricket match
- crossfit
- cycling
- dance
- dances
- dancing
- discus
- diving
- dressage
- equestrian
- eventing
- fencing
- field hockey
- football
- golf
- hammer throw
- handball
- javelin
- jog
- jogging
- jogs
- jumping
- ping pong
- ping-pong
- pingpong
- rhythmic gymnastics
- rowing
- rugby
- running
- shooting competition
- shooting sport
- shooting sports
- shot put
- ski
- skiing
- skis
- snow boarding
- snow shoe
- snowboarding
- snowshoeing
- soccer
- sprinting
- super bowl
- superbowl
- swim
- swimming
- swims
- synchronized swimming
- table tennis
- track and field
- triathlon
- volleyball
- water polo
- waterpolo
- weight lifting
- weightlifting
- workout
- workouts
- wrestling
Martial Arts
For training in various disciplines, these keywords help you track your practice.
- Aikido
- jiu jitsu
- jiu-jitsu
- judo
- Jujutsu
- karate
- martial arts
- taekwondo
Travel and Adventure
Plan your next trip or outdoor activity with these adventurous illustrations.
- bicycle
- bicycles
- bike
- bikes
- biking
- boat cruise
- camping
- canoe
- canoeing
- going for a walk
- hike
- hikes
- hiking
- horse riding
- horseriding
- Mountain Bike
- Mountain Biking
- sail
- sailboat
- sailing
- vacation planning
- walking
Holidays and Special Events
Make celebrations and important dates feel even more special with festive icons.
- all hallows’ eve
- all saints’ eve
- allhalloween
- baby shower
- babyshower
- bachelorette party
- birthday
- Boxing Day
- chinese lunar new year
- chinese new year
- chinese new year’s
- chinese new years
- christmas
- christmas brunch
- christmas dinner
- christmas eve brunch
- christmas eve dinner
- christmas eve lunch
- christmas eve luncheon
- christmas eve party
- christmas lunch
- christmas luncheon
- christmas party
- christopher street day
- date night
- datenight
- dyke march
- euro pride
- europride
- Fat Tuesday
- father christmas
- gay and lesbian
- gay lesbian
- gay parade
- gay pride
- gaygler
- gayglers
- graduation
- halloween
- halloween dance
- Head of the Charles
- Head of the River Race
- helloween
- hen do
- hen night
- Hijri New Year
- Islamic New Year
- ladies night
- lesbian march
- lesbian parade
- lesbian pride
- mardi gras
- mardigras
- May Bumps
- new year
- new year’s
- new years
- Nowruz
- october fest
- octoberfest
- oktoberfest
- Parsi New Year
- Persian New Year
- quinceanera
- santa claus
- Shrove Tuesday
- St Patricks
- stag and doe
- stag do
- stag night
- stag party
- thanksgiving
- valentine day
- valentines day
- vietnamese new year
- wedding
- wedding eve
- wedding-eve party
- weddings
- world pride
- worldpride
- x-mas
- x-mas brunch
- x-mas dinner
- x-mas eve brunch
- x-mas eve dinner
- x-mas eve lunch
- x-mas eve luncheon
- x-mas eve party
- x-mas lunch
- x-mas luncheon
- x-mas party
- xmas
- xmas brunch
- xmas dinner
- xmas eve brunch
- xmas eve dinner
- xmas eve lunch
- xmas eve luncheon
- xmas eve party
- xmas lunch
- xmas luncheon
- xmas party
Home and Chores
Even chores can look a little better with a designated icon to help you stay on top of them.
- clean house
- clean the apartment
- clean the house
- tidy up
- vacuum clean
- vacuum cleaning
Instruments and Music
For music lovers, these keywords cover lessons, practice, and different instruments.
- cello
- choir
- choir practice
- clarinet
- contrabass
- cornett
- flute
- guitar lesson
- oboe
- piano
- saxophone
- singing
- trombone
- trumpet
- tuba
- violin
- violins
How to Use Codewords and Best Practices
Activating these illustrations is incredibly simple. Follow these steps to get started.
- Open Google Calendar: You can do this on the web at calendar.google.com or through the Google Calendar app on your phone or tablet.
- Create a New Event: Click the “Create” button or tap the plus (+) icon to start a new event.
- Enter a Codeword in the Title: In the event title field, type your event details and include one of the codewords from the list above. The codeword can be at the beginning, middle, or end of the title. For example, “Team Lunch” or “Morning running session” both work.
- Save the Event: Fill in the rest of your event details, such as the date and time, and save it.
- View the Illustration: The illustration will not appear while you are editing the event. After you save it, click on the event to view its details, and the image will appear at the top.
Tips for Success
Language Matters
The codewords are language-specific. The list above works for calendars set to US English. If your Google account’s primary language is set to French, German, Spanish, or another language, you will need to use the corresponding keyword in that language. Google supports this feature in dozens of languages, from Japanese and Korean to Polish and Portuguese.
Be Specific but Flexible
If a word does not work, try a synonym. For example, if “jog” does not trigger an image, try “running.” The system recognizes many variations, but the master list is your best guide.
One Image Per Event
If you include multiple codewords in a single event title (e.g., “Birthday Dinner”), Google Calendar will only choose one illustration to display. It usually defaults to the first keyword it recognizes, but this can vary. For best results, stick to one main keyword that best describes the event.
Where This List Comes From
This powerful feature is not officially documented by Google in a user-facing guide. The comprehensive list of keywords was compiled by a community of curious users and developers. Most of this information is gathered and maintained in a public project on a website called GitHub.
Think of GitHub as a library for software projects where people can collaborate and share information. A dedicated project there hosts the complete list of keywords for all supported languages. This community effort ensures the list stays updated as Google adds new illustrations.
You can even preview the images directly without creating an event. The illustrations are stored at a specific web address. By changing the end of the URL, you can see any image you want. For example, the URL for the coffee image is: https://ssl.gstatic.com/tmly/f8944938hffheth4ew890ht4i8/flairs/xxhdpi/img_coffee.jpg
By replacing coffee with another keyword like running or birthday, you can see that specific illustration. This allows you to check out the artwork before you even add an event to your calendar.
Start personalizing your schedule today. Pick a few keywords from the list and add them to your upcoming events. You will find that this small change makes a big difference in how you view and manage your time.