Summary

• Catchphrases in ACNH should be short and simple and will come at the end of conversations with villagers.
• Villagers may spread personalized catchphrases to others, so they should be universal expressions.
• To give or change a catchphrase in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, build friendships with villagers and be patient, or talk to Isabelle.

One of the endearing features of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the fun and sometimes quirky conversations that players can have with villagers in the game. Once a player becomes good friends with a villager, they could be given a chance to have the villager ask them about changing their catchphrase. These catchphrases in ACNH are different from greetings and nicknames, and it can be somewhat tricky to get a phrase that works for all conversations but can help to personalize an island and game and create fun exchanges for the player.

Despite it seeming similar to greetings, the catchphrases that the villagers use will typically appear at or near the end of sentences in general conversations. These catchphrases can also spread to other villagers across the island, so it is best not to personalize them too much, such as having "meow" for a cat villager, which will then spread to other animals. Coming up with the right catchphrase can be hard, and having some ideas to use or bounce off of makes it easier to proceed with a solid choice.

Catchphrase Ideas For Animal Crossing: New Horizons Villagers

Keeping Things Simple Avoids Awkward Conversations

Catchphrases in Animal Crossing can be endearing, funny, or rude - anything can work, so long as there's a good idea behind it. Catchphrases usually complete a sentence, so it may not be necessary to capitalize the first letter of a phrase. The same goes for punctuation, which will be supplied by the villagers as necessary. Here are some unique examples of villager catchphrase ideas to help spark some creativity:

Because the catchphrase will be said by other villagers besides the one it was originally given to, it's best to make a catchphrase that will work for everyone. Although it can be tempting to tailor a saying to a villager's personality, it can feel oddly dissonant when it gets ed to others. For example, it can sound strange to hear a personalized phrase given to a jock-type villager later be said by a snooty-type.

How To Give & Change Catchphrases In ACNH

Talk To Isabelle, Or Be Patient

Giving Animal Crossing villagers presents regularly will help increase a player's friendship level with them, thereby setting the stage for them to eventually ask to make up a new catchphrase. They may either call the player's name and run up to them or have a thought bubble above their head, although bubbles can also mean other things, ​​​​such as a villager wanting to leave the New Horizons island. When a villager does prompt for a catchphrase in ACNH, a limited amount of text will be available to enter one in. Therefore, catchphrases should be kept short and to the point.

If a catchphrase has worn out its welcome or spread to villagers that it doesn't quite fit, speaking to Isabelle at Resident Services in New Horizons is the key to a solution. Choosing "discuss a resident," and clicking "the way s/he talks" will revert the catchphrase to the villager's original one. Additionally, continuing to engage with a villager in Animal Crossing: New Horizons may eventually prompt them to request a new catchphrase, even if they've already done so in the past.