diff --git a/src/main/c/hangman.c b/src/main/c/hangman.c
index 4df1645..0c3bb8d 100644
--- a/src/main/c/hangman.c
+++ b/src/main/c/hangman.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ void hauptSpiel(int level);
 void draw_hangman(int attempts);
 void add_guessed_letter(char* guessed_letters, char guessed_letter);
 char eingabe_buchstabe();
+void lade_secret_word(char* secret_word, int level, char* path);
 
 void protokoll(){
 	clear_screen();
@@ -267,4 +268,27 @@ char eingabe_buchstabe(){
 		scanf(" %c", &guess);
         guess = tolower(guess);
 		return guess;
+}
+
+void lade_secret_word(char* secret_word, int level, char* path){
+	FILE *file = fopen(path, "r");
+	int count = 0;
+	if ( file != NULL )
+	{
+		char line[100]; /* or other suitable maximum line size */
+		while (fgets(line, sizeof line, file) != NULL) /* read a line */
+		{
+			if (count == level)
+			{
+				strcpy(secret_word, line);
+				secret_word[strlen(secret_word) - 1] = '\0';
+				return;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				count++;
+			}
+		}
+		fclose(file);
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file