invalid syntax points to "return" in python [duplicate]

Question

I am just exploring the vast language of python. I'm heavily relying on the inbuilt error-decetion and googling to debug my programs. I had no luck this time around. Thank you for your time!

I am getting

"invalid syntax at line 5"

Here is my python-code of a simple HANGMAN-game:

import random

def __secretword__():
    secret_word = word_list[random.randomint(len(word_list))
    return secret_word #THIS IS LINE 5

def __ask__():
    ans = input("Would you like to play more? (yes/no): ")
    if ans == "yes"
        __secretword__()
    else:
        print(":(")


__secretword__()

word_list = ["nei", "brun", "ja", "smile", "glad", "gal"]
secret_word = secret_word
sw_list = list(secret_word)
guess_lines = ["_"] * len(secret_word)
mistakes = []
lives = 2 * len(secret_word)

print(guess_lines)

user_guess = input("Guess a letter: ")

while(lives != 0)   
    if user_guess in sw_list:
        i = sw_list.index(user_guess)
        del guess_lines[i]
        guess_lines.insert(i, user_guess)
        print(guess_lines)
        print("Lives: ", lives)
        print("Mistakes: ", mistakes)
        if "_" not in guess_lines:
            break
    else:
        mistakes.append(user_guess)
        print(guess_lines)
        lives = lives - 1
        print("Lives: ", lives)
        print(mistakes)

__ask__()

Answer 1

Your problem is that the line before return is missing its closing square bracket ]. So Python thinks you're still inside the brackets when you get to line 5, and placing return inside brackets is a syntax error.

This is a fairly common problem - if you get a syntax error on a line that looks fine, it's often worthwhile to look at the previous line, and see if your line might be being considered part of that.