QuizzooPlay now
  1. Quizzoo
  2. Flag quiz for kids and grown-ups
  3. Flag of the United States: stars, stripes and facts for kids

Flag of the United States: stars, stripes and facts for kids

Thirteen red and white stripes with a blue rectangle of fifty white stars in the top left corner.

The flag of the United States is often called the Stars and Stripes. Here is what its stars and stripes stand for, which flags look like it, and a quick quiz to try.

Last changed:

Play the flags quizFree to play. No sign-up, nothing to install.

What does the flag of the United States look like?

The flag of the United States has 13 stripes going across, 7 red and 6 white. In the top corner nearest the flagpole is a blue rectangle with 50 white stars.

Its nicknames include the Stars and Stripes and Old Glory.

What do the stars and stripes mean?

The 13 stripes stand for the 13 colonies that became the first states of the United States in 1776. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states of today.

Since 1818 the law has said there must be one star for every state. A new star is added on the 4th of July after a state joins. The last star to be added was for Hawaii, in 1960.

Flags that look like the flag of the United States

Some flags use the same colours or the same shape. Here is how to tell them apart:

Flags that look like the flag of the United States, and how each one differs
FlagHow it differs
LiberiaRed and white stripes and a blue square too, but only one big white star.
MalaysiaRed and white stripes and a blue corner too, but with a yellow crescent and a yellow star.
CubaStripes and a star too, but the stripes are blue and white, and the star sits on a red triangle.

The United States in a nutshell

Quick quiz: the flag of the United States

Try these, then tap Show answer under each one.

  1. What do the 13 stripes on the US flag stand for?

    • 13 rivers
    • The 13 colonies
    • 13 presidents
    • 13 big cities

    The 13 colonies. They stand for the 13 colonies that became the first states in 1776.

  2. What do the 50 stars on the US flag stand for?

    • 50 presidents
    • 50 years
    • The 50 states
    • 50 cities

    The 50 states.

  3. True or false: a new star is added to the US flag when a new state joins.

    True. The star is added on the 4th of July after the state joins. The last one was for Hawaii, in 1960.

  4. What is the capital city of the United States?

    • New York
    • Los Angeles
    • Washington, D.C.
    • Chicago

    Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is not part of any US state.

  5. Which country's flag has red and white stripes like the US flag, but only one big star?

    • Canada
    • Liberia
    • Cuba
    • Brazil

    Liberia.

Play the flags quiz

Flags linked to this one

More quizzes

By age

By topic

Mixed