Here are some great questions for starting a conversation. There are a lot of random conversation starters to get you startedand then conversation questions listed by topic. You can start with the random questions or find a topic that interests you.There’s no right place to start, just scroll downto wherever you want and get started!
There are tons of ways to use these questions. I find that the most rewarding way is for everyone topull up this list of conversation starters on aphone or tablet,and then take turnsletting everyone choose a question to ask the group. Remember don’t be afraid to delve deeply into the conversation. Answering the specific question isn’t the goal, having an interesting conversation is!
Table of Contents
The title would have you believe that there are 250 questions, but there are actually more. I’m sure you don’t mind a few more questions, right?Dig in and start having some great conversation questions!
This page and the page “Questions to get to know someone” are also available en español as a merged page.
Random Conversation Starters
Here are some conversation starters that span all kinds oftopics.
1. What was the last funnyvideo you saw?
Always fun to follow up on the question by watching thevideo they thought was funny. I’m sure you’ve got a few funny videos to shareas well.
2. What do you do to getrid of stress?
Everyone gets stressed out at times, and everyone deals withit differently. Find out how they deal with it and maybe pick up some extrastress relief tips for you.
3. What is something youare obsessed with?
This is a great question because you can follow up with lotsof questions about what they are obsessed with. I guarantee they’ll have plentyto talk about when it comes to what they geek out on.
4. What three words best describeyou?
Find out how they view themselves, and don’t forget to askfollow-up questions about each of the words they chose.
5. What would be yourperfect weekend?
See what they are into, and you’ll have plenty to talkabout. Everyone loves talking about things they love.
6. What’s your favorite number? Why?
This one is a little off the wall, but you never know, youmight get an interesting answer. Especially by asking, “why?”
7. What are you going to do this weekend?
Very similar to the last one, another oldie but a goodie.
8. What’s the most useful thing you own?
Sure, this one is good for a general conversation starter, butwhat is really nice is being able to get some ideas on what works well and isgenerally awesome to have.
9. What’s your favorite wayto waste time?
Similar to the perfect weekend question, this question triesto get at what they really enjoy doing so that you can both talk about that.
10. What do you think of tattoos? Do you have any?
If they do have tattoos, there is probably a story behindeach one. And if they don’t have any, well it’s good to know what they thinkabout them.
11. Do you have any pets? What are their names?
Are they an animal person? And how clever are the names theygave their pets?
12. Where did you go last weekend? / What did you do last weekend?
A pretty common conversation starter, but sometimes the bestones are the ones people are used to.
13. What is something popularnow that annoys you?
Time to channel some cranky old man vibes. Kids these days,with their stuff and their things and their hair. You know, that type of stuff.
14. What did you do on yourlast vacation?
Vacation stories! Bad or good, everyone likes talking abouttheir vacation. Just duck out before they start showing you pictures.
15. When was the last timeyou worked incredibly hard?
Whether it’s their job or a personal project, you can seewhat they put their heart and soul into.
16. Are you very active, ordo you prefer to just relax in your free time?
Find out if they are all about the gym or all about thecouch. To each their own!
17. What do you do when youhang out with your friends?
See what they like to do when they are social, talk aboutthat activity if you can.
18. Who is your oldestfriend? Where did you meet them?
This is a great question because it often leads to somewonderful stories from when they were younger. I mean, who doesn’t likereminiscing about the good old days?
19. What’s the best / worstthing about your work/school?
Tailor this question to the person you are talking to,whether they work, or they are a student. Also, some people like to let offsteam, and some like to keep it positive so you can choose which way you wantthe question to swing.
20. If you had intro music,what song would it be? Why?
This question can lead to a good conversation about theirfavorite song or the music they like.
21. What were you reallyinto when you were a kid?
Every kid goes through phases when they are REALLY into onething. Now you can find out what they obsessed about when they were a kid.
22. If you could have anyanimal as a pet, what animal would you choose?
This one is fun because a blank check pet choice can lead tosome great answers. And you can always transition the conversation into petsthey had/have.
23. Have you ever saved ananimal’s life? How about a person’s life?
Who doesn’t like listening to or telling a hero story? I’msure it will lead to an interesting story. Even if it isn’t about them, andjust about someone they know who saved an animal or person’s life.
24. If you opened abusiness, what kind of business would it be?
This one can really be a huge conversation starter if theperson you are talking to is in anyway entrepreneurial. It’s always fun to hearand discuss new business ideas. Don’t forget to ask for lots of details abouttheir dream business.
25. Who is your favoriteentertainer (comedian, musician, actor, etc.)?
Pop culture and entertainment are great topics for conversation,and this question is a good entry point into a larger conversation about whatkind of entertainment they like.
26. Are you a veryorganized person?
Does everything have its place, or does their stuff roamabout?
27. Have you ever given apresentation in front of a large group of people? How did it go?
Public speaking is high up there on the biggest fears peoplehave. So, I’m sure if they have, it probably left a big impression.
28. What is the strangestdream you have ever had?
Sure, talking about dreams can be dull, but who knows, ifyou are talking about the strangest dream they’ve EVER had, it might be prettyinteresting. Or not. Let’s see!
29. What is a controversialopinion you have?
So, don’t immediately start bashing their opinion if you don’t like it. I mean, you asked the question after all. Let them explain why they have the opinion and their reasoning behind it. Not everyone has to have the same opinions as you. And if it’s super out there or evil, well it’s good to know so you can avoid them in the future.
30. Who in your life bringsyou the most joy?
An awesome question for keeping it positive, and they’ll betalking about someone they love, so it’ll be easy to jump into a conversationabout whoever that person is and why they are so awesome.
31. Who had the biggestimpact on the person you have become?
This one may or may not have the same answer as the previousquestion, so you might want to choose either this one or the previous onedepending on the type of conversation you want to have.
32. What is the mostannoying habit someone can have?
Find out what annoys them, chances are it probably annoysyou too. Then it’s easy to step into a conversation about annoying habits.
33. Where is the mostbeautiful place you have been?
This one will probably lead to a good travel story. Andconversations about travel are always fun.
34. Where do you spend mostof your free time/day?
Find out what their day to day looks like. It’ll be easy tostart up a conversation about anything of the things they do on the regular.
35. Who was your bestfriend in elementary school?
Time to get nostalgic about how life was when you both weregrowing up!
36. How often do you stayup past 3 a.m.?
Are they a night owl or an early bird, time to find out!This can easily transition into a conversation about what they like to do intheir free time.
37. What’s your favoriteseason? Why?
This question will probably conjure up some wonderfulmemories linked to your and their favorite season. Have fun reminiscing!
38. Which is moreimportant, having a great car or a great house? Why?
Do they care more about showing off to others or havingawesome stuff for themselves? Always good to know! And you can easilytransition into a conversation about cars you/they want or dream houses.
39. What animal or insectdo you wish humans could eradicate?
Probably going to get a lot of mosquito answers. Butdepending on where you are and if they have a special hatred for a creature,you might get a different answer. If you get the mosquito answer, you couldalways talk about the best way to get rid of the evil pokey buzzing things.
40. Where is the mostbeautiful place near where you live?
Similar to the question about the most beautiful placethey’ve seen but this time it’s local! Who knows, you might get a tip on anawesome local spot.
41. What do you bring withyou everywhere you go?
Sure, you’ll get the normal keys, cellphone, purse/wallet,answers, but you might get to hear about a cool keepsake / lucky charm thatmeans a lot to them.
42. How much time do youspend on the internet? What do you usually do?
Find out what sites they enjoy, chances are you probablyenjoy some of the same sites. You can swap good people to follow or suggestionsfor interesting sites.
43. What is the mostdisgusting habit some people have?
An earlier question talked about annoying habits; now it’stime to get gross with it and find out what disgusts them.
44. Where and when was themost amazing sunset you have ever seen?
This one is another way to get into a good conversationabout travel.
45. Which recentnews story is themost interesting?
So, I had to make this one a bit vague, but it can lead toan interesting conversation about recent events. And you might just hear aboutsomething you didn’t know happened. Just make sure to steer clear of politics.
46. Where is the worstplace you have been stuck for a long time?
Whether it’s at an airport, after a car broke down, orsomething else, we’ve all had times where we’ve had to wait for a seeminglyendless amount of time. There is a good chance it’ll lead to a good story.
47. If you had to changeyour name, what would your new name be?
This one is a little creative and fun. They might have tothink about it for a bit, or they may have an answer right off. Don’t forget toask them why and what might be a good last name as well.
48. What is something thatreally annoys you but doesn’t bother most people?
Everybody likes sharing and complaining about what annoysthem. Now you can find out what weird quirks annoy them.
49. What word or sayingfrom the past do you think should come back?
There are all kinds of words and sayings from the past thathave fallen out of use. It can be a lot of fun to dust them off and put theminto modern sentences. If you both can’t think of any, there are plenty oflists online.
50. How should success bemeasured? And by that measurement, who is the most successful person you know?
This question can lead to some surprisingly deep answers. Alot of how we view the world is based on what we consider to be worthwhile, andthis question tries to get at the heart of that to find out what is mostimportant to the person.
51. What is your guiltypleasure?
Everyone has something they absolutely love but might not bein line with how people view them or how they view themselves.
52. Was there ever an eventin your life that defied explanation?
Time to learn about some cool mysteries! This one quiteoften leads to several good stories.
53. If you could learn theanswer to one question about your future, what would the question be?
A fun question that helps you figure out what is importantto them.
54. Has anyone ever savedyour life?
This one can get quite personal and sometimes tragic. Sojust a heads up, you might want to save this one for when you know the personwell.
55. What benefit do youbring to the group when you hang out with friends?
Every member of a group has their duties. Time to find out what role they play! Plus, you can expand the conversation into what they usually do when they hang out with different groups of friends. And if you want more questions to ask friends, we’ve got ’em.
56. How often do you curse?And what’s your go-to string of curse words?
This question is definitely unique. You’ll have to judge thesituation and who you are talking to in order to see if this question is a goodfit for the situation. It can be fun, though.
57. What trends did youfollow when you were younger?
Each generation has its trends. And if you are of a similarage, there is a good chance that you both share some similar trends that youfollowed.
58. What do you fear ishiding in the dark?
This is a great question to get into a conversation aboutfears that you both share.
59. What was the best periodof your life so far? What do you think will be the best period of your entirelife?
Another question that leads to a lot of fond memories andstories to tell, but also lets you know how hopeful of the future they are andwhat their ideal life would look like.
60. What do you do toimprove your mood when you are in a bad mood?
Everyone needs to blow off steam sometimes. With thisquestion, you can see if you share some stress relief techniques.
61. What is the silliestfear you have?
Another one about fear, but this one is more lighthearted.Everyone has fears that they know are irrational.
62. What are some thingsyou want to accomplish before you die?
The classic bucket list question. It’s great because itshows you what they want out of life and what is most important to them. Andit’s easy to split off into a conversation about any of the things theymention.
63. What is the best roomin your house? Why?
Are the all about food and the kitchen? Perhaps they prefer tosleep or chill on the sofa? Or maybe there is a special reading nook they have.This is another question that helps get a conversation going about what they doin their downtime.
64. Who is someone popularnow that you really like? Why do you like them so much?
This one serves as a great stepping stone into aconversation about celebrities and other people in the limelight.
65. Where is the best placeto take a date?
This one you’ll have to be selective with, it’s not appropriate for all situations, but you might be able to get the low down on a good spot you didn’t know about. Just don’t let the conversation stray into their dating life, that can get a bit awkward. And if you need date ideas, we have 200!
66. What smell brings backgreat memories?
Cookies at Christmas time, the smell of gas on a road trip,the salty air of the ocean. Smell has a strong link to memories and can be agreat conversation starter.
67. What’s the best pet name you can come up with for a specific type of pet?
Go for funny names, puns make great animal names. And youcould tailor it for a pet that they have or would like to get.
68. How often do you helpothers? Who do you help? How do you help?
This is a great question to see how empathetic and prosocialthey are. And can lead to conversations about volunteering or times they’vehelped others.
69. What are you best at?
With this one, you might learn about a hidden talent, orperhaps a hobby you didn’t know about. Both can be the beginning of anexcellent conversation.
70. What makes you nervous?
Very similar to the fear one but a little bit broader. Itcan be something happening in their life right now, something that happensregularly, or something they think is likely to happen in the future.
71. Who is the funniestperson you’ve met?
Not necessarily a comedian, but a friend or family memberwho always manages to make them laugh. It definitely could spin off into aconversation about comedians, though, which would also be fun.
72. What weird or uselesstalent do you have?
Wiggling ears, burping the alphabet, farting on command,humans are weird, and we all have some weird and useless talents that are funto talk about.
73. What are some strangebeliefs that some people have?
Be careful with this one, because they may end up labelingone of your beliefs as strange. Just be ready not to take their answer toopersonally.
74. Who would be the worstperson to be stuck in an elevator with? How about the best person to be stuckin an elevator with?
Hypothetical questions can be a blast to talk about. Andthis is a fun one to ponder.
75. What was the bestbirthday wish or gift you’ve ever received?
Hopefully, everyone has had a super thoughtful birthday wish or gift given to them. It’s a perfect question to get in a conversation about past birthdays.
For more random questions try our random questions to ask friends.
TV Conversation Starters
With so much great TV out there, it’s a great way to jumpinto a conversation.
76. What’s the best sitcom past or present?
Chances are you probably binge-watched it as well, so it’s agreat way to talk about a shared interest.
77. What’s the best show currently on TV?
Get ready for a lively debate, this is a golden age of TV,and everyone has their favorites.
78. What will be the future of TV shows?
There has been such a shakeup in the TV show marketplacethat who knows what is coming next and where TV is headed. There is muchspeculation to be done!
79. How often do you binge watch shows?
They have, you have, we all have. But the real question iswhich ones and how often? Is it the same old show or something new each time? Perhapsyou’ll even find your next binge-worthy show.
80. What cartoons did you watch as a child?
Even if you or the person you are talking to didn’t grow upin the age of Saturday morning cartoons, you both probably still have somebeloved childhood cartoons.
81. What’s the funniest TV series you have seen?
Perfect for starting a conversation about a show you bothare into, and if you haven’t watched the show they mention, you now have a newshow to check out!
82. Which TV show do you want your life to be like?
I think secretly everyone wants to inhabit one of theirfavorite shows. Or maybe it’s just me. Just don’t forget to ask them why andget lots of details.
83. How have TV shows changed over the years?
Depending on how old the person you are talking with is,this might be a rich vein of conversation. Boy howdy has TV changed a lot overthe years.
84. If you could bring back one TV show that was canceled, which one would you bring back?
We all have that one show that was so good we can’t believeit got canceled *cough* Firefly *cough*. Find out what show they fell in lovewith.
85. What do you think about game shows? Do you have a favorite one?
While they have fallen a bit out of favor, whoever you aretalking to probably has a special love for at least one game show.
86. What’s the most underrated or overrated TV show?
Whichever way they choose to answer will probably lead to apretty interesting conversation about the merits and failures of several TVshows.
87. What do you think about reality TV? Why do you think it’s so popular?
Love it or hate it, reality TV is huge. Now you can have aconversation about why it’s so popular. If you are looking for a simpler, moredirect question, you can try the next one.
88. Do you like reality TV shows? Why or why not? If so, which ones?
Very similar to the previous one but a little narrower. I definitely wouldn’t ask both of these, but either one will probably get you a good conversation going.
Movie Conversation Starters
Everyone loves a good movie, so why not make it aconversation topic!
89. What is the mostoverrated movie?
But if you ask this question, don’t get offended becausethey start hating on a movie you love. Ask them why, and just remember everyoneis entitled to their own opinion.
90. What’s your favoritegenre of movie?
Pretty typical conversations starter, but a great jumping-offpoint for a discussion about their favorite movies.
91. Which do you prefer?Books or movies?
Feel free to transition this one into books made frommovies, movies adapted from books, or just a general conversation about booksor movies.
92. What movie scene chokedyou up the most?
We’ve all got that scene that consistently chokes us up.Find out what movie brings a tear to their eye or which movie brings on a fullsobbing fit.
93. Do you like documentaries?Why / why not?
Perfect for starting a great conversation about the best andworst documentaries you’ve both seen.
94. What’s the worst movieyou have seen recently?
There is definitely no shortage of bad movies to pick from,so I’m sure they’ll be able to think of at least a couple of really bad movies.You can also transition into a conversation about what makes a movie bad andwhat tropes you hate in movies.
95. What’s the strangestmovie you have ever seen?
There are some BIZARRE movies out there. I’m sure you’veseen a few, but if you haven’t, treat yourself. There is nothing quite like amovie so strange and terrible that it’s entertaining on a whole new level.
96. Do you like horrormovies? Why or why not?
It’s weird, but people seem to either really like horrormovies, or they are just not into them. There don’t seem to be a lot of peopleon the fence that can take them or leave them.
97. When was the last timeyou went to a movie theater?
You can use this question to start up a conversation aboutthe movie they saw, the local theater, or movie theaters in general.
98. What was the last movieyou watched? How was it?
Maybe you saw it too, or maybe you’ll get a goodrecommendation for a movie you wouldn’t normally consider.
99. Do movies have the samepower as books to change the world?
This one is kind of a heavy one, so you might not want todrop it to start a conversation with someone you just met. Or maybe that’s yourjam, you do you.
100. Do you prefer to watchmovies in the theater or in the comfort of your own home?
Big screen and big sound vs. comfort and convenience. Either way, I think we can agree, movies are pretty awesome.
Book Conversation Starters
Here are some conversation starters for the book lovers outthere.
101. What was the last bookyou read?
A good question to see what kind of books they are into. Andif they really liked the book, well now you’ve got a good recommendation.
102. What was your favoritebook as a child?
This can either be one when they were really young or whenthey were young adults. It’s another question to draw out some fond memories.
103. Do you prefer physicalbooks or ebooks?
They both have their good points and drawbacks, and oftenpeople have a definite preference.
104. What is the longestbook you’ve read?
This one isn’t a competition. But it is great for findinggood books. If they finished the whole thing, it must have been good!
105. What book genres doyou like to read?
It’s funny how even people who read a lot of books usuallylean heavily in the direction of two or three genres.
106. How fast do you read?
Again, not a competition. No bragging. Just a fun questionfor folks who love books.
107. How often do you go to the library?
This question is perfect for starting a conversation about how libraries are changing and your local library. Did you know some libraries are starting to loan tools and cooking supplies as well as books? Very cool.
108. What book has influenced you the most?
Whether they read it recently or long ago, there is probablyone book that has stuck with them over the years.
109. Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction books?
Don’t forget to ask why they prefer one over the other andget some recommendations for their choice.
110. What book has changedone of your long-held opinions?
Books have the power to shape and change how we view theworld. Usually for the better.
111. What book has had thebiggest effect on the modern world?
This is another one of those questions that can get quitedeep and philosophical quite quickly. So, make sure to take stock of thesituation before busting this one out.
112. What was the worstbook you had to read for school? How about the best book you had to read forschool?
We all had to read lots of books for school, and you bothprobably read some of the same books. You might have come away with verysimilar or very different opinions of the books, either way it can lead to agood conversation.
113. Do you think peopleread more or fewer books now than 50 years ago?
Sure, the knee jerk reaction is to say definitely peopleread more in the past. But with the spread of so many screens, I’m not so sure.
114. Now that indie publishing has become easier, have books gotten better or worse?
Or perhaps stayed the same, one thing is for sure, there are a ton more books out there.
Music Conversation Starters
Time to pump the jam! And by pump the jam, I mean askconversation questions about music.
115. What was the last song you listened to?
Have they been playing a new favorite on repeat, reminiscing,or just trying something new?
116. What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
Definitely some great soundtracks out there and of course,some really horrible ones as well. Feel free to transition into a conversationabout movies or game soundtracks or whatever.
117. Do you like classical music?
This is another space where some people are really into it, andsome people hate it.
118. What song always puts you in a good mood?
Which song is their feel-good go to? Feel free to steal it.Everyone needs more feel-good music in their life.
119. What’s the best way to discover new music?
There is a ton to talk about here with all the new musicplatforms; it’s never been easier to get music, whether it’s easier to findgood new music is debatable.
120. How has technologychanged the music industry?
This is a really broad topic with a lot of avenues to followand can really lead to some excellent conversations.
121. Are there any songsthat always bring a tear to your eye?
Whether it triggers a bittersweet memory or is just a sadsong, most folks have a song that chokes them up a bit.
122. What bands or types ofmusic do you listen to when you exercise?
I can almost guarantee if they are into exercise, they havea particular type of music that works for them. And lots of types thatdefinitely don’t.
123. Which do you prefer,popular music or relatively unknown music?
No judgment, lots of people get uptight about what musicpeople should or should not like. But hey it’s not your ears. Come to thisquestion with an open mind.
124. Do you like going toconcerts? Why or why not? What was the last concert you went to?
There are people who think concerts are alright, and thosewho REALLY love concerts. This can easily lead to a good conversation aboutconcerts they’ve been to.
125. Who was the first bandor musician you were really into? Do you still like them?
So, this will probably pull up some cheesy music memories,and that’s always fun. We all have some cheesy music in our past and present,embrace it.
126. Records, tapes, CDs,MP3s, streaming. Which did you grow up with? What is good and bad about each?
Yeah, this one is going to vary greatly depending on the age of the person you are talking to. Just don’t get all elitist about your preferred method of getting music to your ears, it’s not a good look.
App Conversation Starters
We’ve all got a ton on our phone, why not have a conversationabout apps?
127. What are the threebest apps on your phone?
App recommendation time! Go find you some awesome new apps.
128. What is the mostuseful app on your phone?
Similar to the last but a bit more specific, and although itmight not be one of their favorites, it’s one that they can’t live without.
129. What do app makers do that really annoys you?
The ads? The microtransactions? Bait and switch tactics?There are some really annoying and shady things about apps that annoy a lot ofpeople.
130. How many apps do you have on your phone?
I’m willing to bet they have no idea, and you probably don’teither. Heck, even I don’t. Now you can count them up and compare. And probablybe surprised at how many apps you have on your phone.
131. What’s the most frustrating app you have tried?
Whether it be a malfunctioning app or a really frustratinggame, there are plenty of apps that get rage deleted. And you might even learnabout some that you want to avoid.
132. What’s the most addictive game on your phone you have played?
We’ve all been there. Sure, you know you should quit, but it’s just so good! Looking for another addicting game? Try some of our conversation games like never have I ever, 21 questions game, truth or dare, or our would you rather questions.
133. Which app seemed like magic the first time you used it?
With all the tech around us, we often forget how cool itreally is. I’m sure there were apps you tried in the past, and you were just dumbfoundedwith how amazing they were.
134. What is the strangest app you have heard of or tried?
Oh, there are some weird ones out there. Now you can swapstories of bizarre apps. And if you don’t know of any, just Google them and beamazed.
135. What’re the best and worst things about the marketplace where you get your apps?
While probably not the most thrilling conversation starter,whoever you are talking about probably has a bit to say about where they gettheir apps.
136. Which app has helpedsociety the most? Which one has hurt society the most?
This one can get into a really deep conversation abouttechnology and society. Or not. It depends on how the conversation flows.Either way I’m sure you’ll be able to get into a good conversation with thisone.
137. An app mysteriouslyappears on your phone that does something amazing. What does it do?
Everyone loves a good hypothetical. So, what does your mysterious/magical app do?
Phone Conversation Starters
We’ve all got a phone, so we’ve all got something in commonto talk about.
138. How often do you checkyour phone?
Answers will vary, wildly. Some people hate checking theirphone, some do it compulsively.
139. Do you text more or call more? Why?
While there are outliers, the answer to this one will dependa LOT on age. And probably they have strong opinions about their preference,which always makes for a good conversation. As long as you don’t start arguingwith them.
140. What will phones be like in 10 years?
Pure speculation, but why not? Speculation is fun, and whoknows, you or the person you are talking to might be right with your guesses.
141. What do you wish your phone could do?
They are getting better and better, but are they gettingbetter in the way you want them to? What features would you like to see in thenext round of phones?
142. Do you always have to have the latest phone?
There are basically three camps. The early adopter camp, the“it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” camp, and the “I hate new technology” camp. Findout which one they are in.
143. What is the most annoying thing about your phone?
Phones, it’s often a love-hate relationship. Now you canboth complain about your phones. Together!
144. How do you feel if you accidentally leave your phone at home?
For some people, they get REALLY anxious without their phone, and for some it’s just a minor inconvenience.
145. What kind of case doyou have for your phone? Why did you choose it?
This is another one that people sometimes get reallypassionate about, and some don’t. It might lead to a good conversation, or theymight just say, “I don’t know, I just liked how it looked.”
146. What was your firstsmartphone? How did you feel when you got it?
Whether young or old. You’ll always remember your first.
147. Do you experiencephantom vibration? (Feeling your phone vibrate even though it didn’t.)
This one goes along with the compulsive checking of phones. But I think it’s a pretty common phenomenon.
Sports Conversation Starters
Sports! There’s a reason it’s one of the most popularconversation topics.
148. What sports do youlike to watch?
Try to find one that you both have in common, or you bothfollow. Once you find it, the rest of the conversation will flow naturally.
149. Who are some of yourfavorite athletes?
If you are into sports, you have favorite athletes. Find outwho their favorite athletes are and why they like them.
150. Which sports do youlike to play
This may be very similar to which sports they like to watch,or it could be a completely different list. Either way, talking about somethingthe person is passionate about is always a great way to have a goodconversation.
151. What is the hardestsport to excel at?
This one is pretty debatable. The case could be made for plentyof sports. Give this question a go and see if you both agree.
152. Who are the 3 greatestathletes of all time?
Another one that you can debate a lot about. Probablyeasiest to pick a sport to narrow it down first, though.
153. How much time do you spend watching sports in a week?
This one probably depends a lot on their favorite sport, andthe season it’s played in. Or they might just be super into sports. Or theymight not like sports. But if they don’t like sports, then why are you talkingto them about sports?
154. Do athletes deserve the high salaries they receive? Why or why not?
This one can be a little contentious at times. But it shouldlead to a lively conversation no matter what side of the coin they fall on.
155. What defines a sport? Is fishing a sport? How about video game tournaments?
This one can lead to an excellent conversation becauseeveryone has an opinion, and all the opinions are on a sliding scale. There isdefinitely a limit on what someone will consider a sport.
156. Do you play in any fantasy sports leagues? If so, how into fantasy sports are you?
There a lot of people who are REALLY into fantasy sports. Ifthe person you are talking to is into it, they are more than happy to have aconversation about their team.
157. Why do you thinksports are common across almost all cultures present and past?
This is a little deeper than the normal sports question. Butit can lead to an interesting conversation about human nature with a bit of asports spin.
158. Do you play sportsvideo games? Which ones? Is playing the video game or playing the sport morefun? Why?
If they like sports, there is a good chance they play somekind of video game involving sports. Even if it is just an app on their phone.
159. Which sport is themost exciting to watch? Which is the most boring to watch?
Oh yeah, everyone has an opinion about this one.
Restaurant Conversation Starters
Nearly everyone enjoys going out to eat at a restaurant. So,here are some questions to help you have a conversation about restaurants!
160. What restaurant do youeat at most?
Which one is their go-to restaurant? This will probably tellyou a lot about what types of restaurants they like.
161. What’s the worst fastfood restaurant?
A lot of fast food is pretty terrible, so which is theworst?
162. What is the bestrestaurant in your area?
It may be their local go-to restaurant, or it might be onethat they only eat at for special occasions.
163. What is the fanciestrestaurant you have eaten at?
The sky is the limit, and so this one will probably lead toa good story. You can also branch off into a conversation about ridiculouslyexpensive foods or things in general.
164. What kind of interiordo you like a restaurant to have?
Bright and modern, dim and cozy, more like a bar, lots ofkitsch? Restaurant décor comes in almost as many flavors as food. So, what doyou and they like the most? Or the least?
165. What is the worstrestaurant you have ever eaten at?
We’ve all got one, and they are always entertaining to hearabout.
166. If you opened arestaurant, what kind of food would you serve?
This is another one that a lot of people have thought about.For some reason opening a restaurant appeals to a lot of people and so you’llprobably get an interesting answer for this one.
167. What is the strangestthemed restaurant you have heard of?
If you haven’t heard of strangely themed restaurants, boyhowdy are you in for a roller coaster. Just Google it, people go buck wild withrestaurant themes.
168. Would you eat at arestaurant that was really dirty if the food was amazing?
How close to the food poisoning sun do you want to fly,Icarus?
169. What is the mostdisgusting thing you have heard happened at a restaurant?
This one piggybacks on to the last question. We’ve all heardhorror stories. Now it’s your turn share yours and to hear theirs.
170. What was your favoriterestaurant when you were a child?
I find that a lot of people have really strong favorites when it comes to this period in their life.
Travel Conversation Starters
Whether it is near or far, everyone loves a good vacation.
171. Where would you liketo travel next?
Most people have a spot they have their eyes and heart on.Find out where it is, maybe you’ve been and can give them some tips.
172. What is the longestplane trip you have taken?
Who doesn’t love long plane trips? Everyone! Everyone hateslong plane rides. So, find out about their horror stories and share your own.
173. What’s the best way totravel? (Plane, car, train, etc.)
This one probably varies a lot, depending on what countryyou are in. But usually people have a favorite they like to talk about.
174. Where is the mostrelaxing place you have been?
Are they more of a beach and chill or a cabin and chill kindof person? Find out with this question.
175. Do you prefertraveling alone or with a group?
They both have their benefits and drawbacks. And almosteveryone has a preference. Plus, it’s a great starting point to talk aboutprevious trips they’ve taken.
176. What do you think oftour group packages?
This one is somewhat similar to the last one but a littlemore specific. If you’ve already covered a lot of tour group ground with thelast question, feel free to skip this one.
177. Do you prefer to gooff the beaten path when you travel?
Whether it’s literally going off the beaten path like whenthey are hiking, or just the figurative beaten path like a guidebook, you canuse this question to find out how adventurous they like to be.
178. What was the most overhypedplace you’ve traveled to?
If you’ve traveled to any popular destinations, you may havecome across this. So much hype. But a big letdown once you get there.
179. Have you traveled toany different countries? Which ones?
Depending on what country you are both from the answers tothis question vary a lot. Are you in the US? You might find most people haven’tleft the country or have just been to one or two other countries. Asking inEurope? You’ll probably get a ton of travel stories about different countries.
180. Where is the most awe-inspiringplace you have been?
This is great for getting new travel ideas for yourself. Andif you’ve been there, you can talk about your experience too.
181. What’s the best thingabout traveling? How about the worst thing?
Again, this will vary a lot based on who you are talking toand how they travel. But chances are they have pretty strong feelings aboutboth questions.
182. What is the worsthotel you have stayed at? How about the best hotel?
So many bad hotels out there. Get ready for some horrorstories about gross stuff. Or you know, a tip about a sweet hotel you can try. Itdepends on how the conversation goes.
183. How do you thinktraveling to a lot of different countries changes a person?
Someone once said you are the same person you were 5 yearsago except for the places you’ve been, the people you’ve met, and the booksyou’ve read. So, what do you think travel does to someone?
184. Talk about some of theinteresting people you have met while traveling.
Oh, this one leads to rich veins of great stories. I’m sureyou have a lot of stories about interesting characters you’ve met, and theyprobably do too.
185. What do you think of staycations?(Vacationing and seeing tourist attractions where you live.)
Some people love them, and some don’t see the point. Eitherway, there is plenty to talk about!
186. Where do you get yourrecommendations for what to do and where to stay when you travel?
Is it from fellow travelers, guidebooks, the internet, social media, or a combination?
Technology Conversation Starters
Tech, some hate it, and some love it, but even those wholove it probably have a love/hate thing going on with it. Either way, it makesfor some great conversation questions!
187. What is your favoritepiece of technology that you own?
Let’s start it out positive and see what kind of tech theyrely on.
188. What piece oftechnology is really frustrating to use?
And now, let’s look at the dark side of tech when it justdoesn’t work the way we want it to. Probably a lot more to talk about in thisquestion than the previous one.
189. What was the bestinvention of the last 50 years?
Lots of good answers to this one. You both will probablycome up with quite a few contenders. And it can be fun to debate the merits ofeach.
190. Does technologysimplify life or make it more complicated?
This one sometimes leads to an interesting conversationabout tech and modern life, but if the person lands hard on one side or theother usually there isn’t much more to talk about.
191. Will technology savethe human race or destroy it?
So, this is a pretty heavy question that you don’t want todrop in casual conversation. It’s better left for conversations with people youknow quite well, or folks who you know are into this type of question.
192. Which emergingtechnology are you most excited about?
There is a lot of promising tech fields that seem like theyare just on the horizon. So which ones are you looking forward to? And perhapswhich make you a little uneasy?
193. What sci-fi movie orbook would you like the future to be like?
So many futures to choose from. Especially if you or theperson you are talking to is a sci-fi fan. Everything from dystopian utopias toutopian dystopias.
194. What do you think thenext big technological advance will be?
This is similar to the emerging technologies question, butthis one isn’t about playing favorites, but about which will arrive first.
195. What technology from ascience fiction movie would you most like to have?
Even if you don’t like sci-fi movies, you’ve probably craveda gadget that featured in a movie or book. This can lead to a fun spin-offconversation about gadgets.
196. What problems willtechnology solve in the next 5 years? What problems will it create?
Everybody likes making predictions about the future, it’sone of the human race’s defining features. And another common human behavior isfear about the future. Probably why many people are always making direpredictions that never come to pass.
197. What piece oftechnology would look like magic or a miracle to people in medieval Europe?
What awesome revolutionary invention would get you executedwith a quickness back in the day?
198. Can you think of anytechnology that has only made the world worse? How about a piece of technologythat has only made the world better?
Probably you both can think of quite a few from each category. And probably plenty of tech that has made the world better and worse at the same time.
Clothes / Fashion Conversation Starters
Conversation questions about clothes are always in fashion.
199. What is your favoriteshirt?
Whether it’s for comfort, style, or just an exceptionallyclever or funny t-shirt, everyone has a favorite.
200. Does fashion helpsociety in any way?
This is a bit philosophical but can be a fun one to discuss.If the person seems into deeper conversations, you could give this one a go.
201. What old trend is comingback these days?
It seems that fashion always pulls from the past. Whetherit’s coloring, types of clothes, or just the general style of a past decade. So,which past fashion trends are they pulling from currently?
202. What is a fashiontrend you are really glad went away?
This can be the start of a fun conversation about theridiculous fashions that have come and gone in recent decades.
203. What is the mostcomfortable piece of clothing you own?
It might be their favorite t-shirt, or perhaps some comfypajamas. Either way there is bound to be something that they love relaxing in.
204. What is the mostembarrassing piece of clothing you own?
This is always a fun one, we all have some embarrassingpieces of clothing lurking in our closet that we either secretly love or justhaven’t gotten around to tossing out.
205. How do clothes changehow the opposite sex views a person?
Another one that can lead to some deeper conversations aboutsociety or might just stay superficial. Just make sure you are in the rightsocial situation to ask this one.
206. Do you care aboutfashion? What style of clothes do you usually wear?
Some people care a lot about fashion, some don’t, and somecare a lot but pretend that they don’t. Which one are they?
207. If you didn’t care atall what people thought of you, what clothes would you wear?
It might be what they are currently wearing, or it might besomething totally different. It all depends on how well their ideal clothingmatches current trends. It’s always fun, though, if the person is into cosplayor period clothing.
208. What is the best pairof shoes you have ever owned? Why were they so good?
Comfortable shoes that look good are a rare find. You mightjust get some good tips on a new pair of kicks.
209. Who do you think hasthe biggest impact on fashion trends: actors and actresses, musicians, fashiondesigners, or consumers?
This sounds like a question from a fashion textbook, but it can actually often lead to some thoughtful answers and a good conversation.
Goals Conversation Starters
Let’s talk about goooooooooaaaaaaaaals!
210. What personal goals doyou have?
Some people are a little cagey about their personal goals,and some are pretty open to sharing them. Just don’t make this one the firstquestion you ask a person. Best to get to know them a bit better before poppingthis one.
211. What are your goalsfor the next two years?
Similar to the last one, but this one is a little morespecific and deals with midterm goals rather than long term goals.
212. How have your goalschanged over your life?
Oh, I guarantee your and their goals have changed quite abit from 10 or 20 years ago. It’s always fun to talk about goals from the past.
213. How much do you planfor the future?
The answers to this one vary a lot from person to person.And it’s a great one to find out if they are spur of the moment or moremethodical.
214. How do you plan tomake the world a better place?
Some people have a solid plan, some don’t care, and some, itseems, are actively trying to make the world a worse place. Find out where on thespectrum the person you are talking lands.
215. What are some goalsyou have already achieved?
This one is pleasant because they get to talk about theirsuccesses. And even if they are humble, they probably still enjoy having theirsuccesses recognized.
216. What do you hope toachieve in your professional life?
Switching over from personal goals, now it’s time for aconversation about professional goals.
217. Have your parentsinfluenced what goals you have?
For some, it might be a positive influence; for others thepressures might have pushed them in the opposite direction. Either way, this isa pretty personal question so make sure you know the person pretty well beforeasking them this question.
218. Do you usually achievethe goals you set? Why or why not?
Again, kind of personal, and can often lead to some bummerconversations, so be wary of this one. Make sure you know the person beforeasking this one.
219. What is the best wayto stay motivated and complete goals?
Moving on from personal questions and kind of bummerquestions, this one is looking more on the bright side of life. And you mightget some good suggestions to help you achieve your own goals.
220. What are some goalsyou have failed to accomplish?
Whoops back into negative territory, while it can lead to agood conversation, just be cognizant of how the conversation might turn withthis question.
221. What is the craziest,most outrageous thing you want to achieve?
This one is always a fun one to ask. Sometimes the personhas to think a while, and sometimes they already have it lined up. But howeverlong it takes them to answer, the answer is usually a really good one.
222. When do you want toretire? What do you want to do when you retire?
I like this question because it gets to the point of what they really want to be doing. Not what they have to be doing. You can find out a lot about a person by learning what they want to do when they aren’t obligated to be doing anything in particular.
Seasons Conversation Starters
There is a time for everything. A time to sow and a time toreap. And a time to discuss seasons!
223. Do you prefer summeror winter activities?
Fun in the sun or ummm.. furlough in the snow? There isprobably a better rhyme than that, but for now, furlough will have to do. So,which is their jam, snow skiing or water skiing?
224. What do you like to doin the spring?
Whether it’s hiking or just sitting on the porch, the dawnof spring is always a pleasant time of year.
225. Did your family takeseasonal vacations?
Don’t forget to follow up by asking where they would go ifthey answer yes to this one. Not everyone was lucky enough to be able to takevacations when they were younger, but if they were it’s always fun to hearabout them.
226. Which do you prefer,fall or spring?
Both are pretty amazing, and both have some really goodthings going for them. But probably you and the person you are talking withhave a strong preference one way or the other.
227. Which season are youmost active in?
Because the seasons are so different depending on where youlive, the answers to this one vary a lot from region to region. See if you andthe person you are talking to agree.
228. What’s the mostrefreshing thing on a hot summer day?
Whether it’s a dip in the pool, a glass of fresh lemonade,an ice-cold beer, or something else entirely, it’s always fun to talk about thethings that make us go “Ahhhhh.”
229. What’s the best thingto do on a cold winter day?
Indoors or out? Fun or warming? Lots of different ways youcould go with this conversation starter.
230. Where is the nicestplace you have been to in fall?
The leaves changing, the crisp air, there is something soinvigorating about fall. I’m sure you have a favorite place, even if it is justa bench in a nice park.
231. What is your favoritething to eat or drink in winter?
So much warm and delicious things to eat and drink in winter,it’s pretty hard to decide. Don’t feel like you have to choose just one!
232. Is it better to livewhere there are four seasons or where one season takes up most of the year?
I imagine this one depends on where you live. Lots of people want what they don’t have. So, my guess is that if where you live has four seasons you probably want to live somewhere with a long summer. But feel free to test out my hypothesis with this question!
Holiday Conversation Starters
Time to celebrate with some holiday conversations!
233. What is the biggestholiday for your family?
Whether holidays usually end up being a big disaster or not,there is probably at least one holiday where their family goes all out.
234. What is your favoriteholiday?
Whether it’s a traditional one or a newer one, everyone hasa favorite. Don’t forget to ask them why it’s their favorite, as well.
235. What holidays have beenover-commercialized?
“All of them” is a totally viable answer, but this is a goodsteppingstone into talking about the topic in general as well as some of thenewer holidays that seem to be popping up.
236. Do you wish there weremore or fewer holidays? Why?
So, there are a TON of “holidays” out there. But there couldalways be more, or different ones, or less. Or even better yet more holidayswhere you can take off from work or school. Those are always fun.
237. What do you know aboutthe history of some holidays?
The traditional holidays have some buck wild history to them. We’ve got some trivia pages on the site that go into some of the history behind a few popular holidays. You can find the links to those pages below.
238. What kinds of food doyou usually eat on your favorite holiday?
It wouldn’t be a holiday without food! And every holidaytends to have its own flavors. So, find out what is traditional for them andtheir family and see how it compares to your traditions.
239. If you had to get rid ofa holiday, which would you get rid of? Why?
There are definitely some holidays that could use a bit ofpruning, rebranding, or just be outright replaced. Looking at you, ColumbusDay. With this question you can find out which holidays they aren’t a fan of.
240. Does having a day offfor a holiday increase or decrease productivity at work?
Sure, you might think that with a day off, productivitymight decrease, but happy employees do tend to get more done. So, does it evenout? Now you both can weigh in and decide together.
241. If some of the lesser-knownholidays were commercialized, what would the commercialization look like?
If you can’t think of some of the lesser-known holidays, youcan check out this page. So manyunofficial and official holidays. So many.
242. If you could make aholiday, what would it be like? What traditions would it have? What wouldpeople eat on your holiday?
This one is really fun, especially if the person you are talking to is in any way creative. There are basically endless amounts of crazy holidays you could come up with.
Education Conversation Starters
Sharpen your pencils. It’s time for an educationconversation.
243. What do you think ofonline education?
Whether it be online courses for schools, Khan Academy, ortutorials on YouTube there is lots of education happening online. If the personyou are talking to is into education this is a rich vein for conversations.
244. What do you think of standardized tests?
Love them or hate them, they are an entrenched part of theschool system. You could talk about possible improvements, how effective orineffective they are, and if there are any viable alternatives.
245. Are bigger or smaller schools better?
Most people will agree that small class sizes are better.But how about the whole school? What are the pros and cons of a small or a bigschool?
246. Is teaching a skill that can be taught?
Are good teachers born, or are they created? Are there anyinherent traits that might make a person more likely to be a good teacher? Thisone is a good pool of possible conversations to dive into.
247. What will the future of education be?
Who doesn’t love some fortune-telling? See if your idea ofthe future of education matches up with their prediction. What would be thebest outcome? What is the most likely outcome?
248. What do you think of homeschooling?
Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular. And withanything, it has pros and cons. Whether you are for or against, it’s a greattopic for those who are interested in education.
249. How can governments make education more efficient?
Because if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that peopleare totally happy with the public-school system and there is no room forimprovement.
250. How has the educationyou received changed your life?
And if you don’t think it’s changed your life in any way, justimagine having no education, and you can see the impact of education.
251. How can technologyimprove education? Can it hurt education?
As with anything involved with technology, the use oftechnology in the classroom is hotly debated. Most want more, some want less.What kind of technology would you like to see put into the classroom, and isthere any you would want to be taken out?
252. What or who has taughtyou most of the information you use regularly?
Is it school, friends, family, the internet? We pullinformation from lots of sources. Which do you think is the best source forgood information?
253. What are some good andbad things about the education system in your country?
This kind of brings all the previous questions together in a big whopper of a question. Get ready for a long conversation with this question.
Food Conversation Starters
Whether they are a foodie or not, everyone has to eat, andthat makes it a great topic to have a conversation about.
254. What is your favorite cuisineor type of food?
Everyone has a favorite type of food, whether it beinternational or local. And even if it is international cuisine, there isprobably a local spin to it. This question transitions nicely into what theirfavorite foods are.
255. What foods do youabsolutely hate?
Everyone has foods they can’t stand. And they usually liketalking about why they hate them so much!
256. What do you think ofbuffets?
With this one, you might have to consider how the personmight take it. If they are a little on the heavier side, they might think youare making a comment about their weight. Just a heads up, so you don’t offendanyone accidentally.
257. When was the last timeyou had a food fight?
Who doesn’t love a good food fight? Well, I guess anyone whodoesn’t want food on their clothes… or anyone who doesn’t like wasting food… but still they can be fun.
258. What food looksdisgusting but tastes delicious?
There are so many foods out there that are like this. Myguess is that you can think of a couple off the top of your head, and I betwhoever you are talking to can as well!
259. What do you get everytime you go grocery shopping?
We all have that one snack or treat that we just can’t getenough of. And who knows you might just find your next favorite snack by askingthis question.
260. If your life was ameal, what would kind of meal would it be?
Definitely a weird one. But it can be fun depending on howcreative you both get with it. The fun is in the explanation of why it would bethat kind of meal.
261. What would you want your last meal to be if you were on death row?
What’s the perfect meal to go out on?
262. What food do you knowyou shouldn’t eat but can’t stop yourself?
Don’t worry, I think we all do. And probably the person youare talking to has one as well.
263. Do you like spicyfood? Why or why not? What is the spiciest thing you have ever eaten?
And have you seen some of the videos of people eating spicyfood or peppers? Whew, some of those look really painful, especially when theywipe tears away, and it gets in their eyes. Ouch.
264. Does the governmenthave a place in regulating food? To what extent should government regulatefood?
This can definitely get political, so fair warning you maywant to avoid this one if you don’t want to get into a conversation aboutpolitics and regulation.
265. When people make mistakes about food (especially foreign food), do you feel the need to correct them?
Some people like to know when they get something wrong, and some definitely don’t. Are you one of the people that gets annoyed when someone corrects you about food, or do you appreciate being corrected?
Weird Conversation Starters
Bring your creativity; you are going to need it.
266. If your mind were anisland, what would it look like?
Whoa, dude, we are all like islands unto ourselves.
267. What flavor of icecream do you wish existed?
So many flavor possibilities. I want spicy ice cream. I knowit’s probably out there; I just haven’t run across it yet.
268. If you had a personalmascot, what would your mascot be?
Animal, ethnic stereotype, or something more abstract?
269. If you were a king/queen,what would your throne look like?
Just remember it can be any shape, size, and be made out ofany combination of things.
270. Time freezes for everyonebut you for one day. What do you do?
Time to find out what kind of person they really are!
271. You have to relive oneday of your life forever. Which day do you choose?
Welcome to Groundhog Day, but now you get to pick. Also,there is no way out, infinite loop, but you can do whatever you want on eachday.
272. What does your ownpersonal hell look like? How about your own personal heaven?
Put your Dante hat on and get to creating!
273. You find a remote thatcan rewind, fast forward, stop, and start time. What do you do with it?
Yeah, I know there was a lame movie about this. But it isstill a pretty cool hypothetical.
274. If you could call upanyone in the world and have a one-hour conversation, who would you call?
You could learn something from them by asking questions, youcould try to convince them to do something or not do something, or you couldjust try to befriend them.
275. The world has becomeinfested with rabid dogs with the intelligence of a 5-year-old, where do youhole up to survive the “a-pup-calypse”?
I’m not sure if this has been made into a really cheesyhorror film, but if it hasn’t, it should be.
276. A portal to anotherworld opens in front of you. You don’t know how long it will stay open or ifyou’ll be able to get back after you go through. What do you do?
You don’t know if what’s on the other side is bad or good,but you’ll need to make a choice relatively quickly.
Even more questions
Sure 276 questions is a lot, but how about more than 1,000 extra questions!
- 500 Good questions to ask
- 200 Icebreaker questions
- 200 Questions to get to know someone
- 200 Questions to ask a guy
- 200 Questions to ask a girl
