174 Engaging conversation starters for meaningful dialogue in any situation

Good conversation starters can make the difference between awkward silence and flowing discussion, especially if English is not your first language or speaking to people doesn’t come naturally to you.

In this article we provide a comprehensive list of engaging questions and themes that will help you start conversations with confidence, grace, and genuine interest; whether it’s at a networking event, on a first date, or during a family dinner.

Expect to learn strategies suitable for a variety of scenarios, from casual catch-ups to deep, thought-provoking discussions. You can jump to a specific category below, or read through them all for maximum inspiration!

How to start great conversations

Some people are naturally smooth talkers or social butterflies and have no problem initiating conversation with anyone they meet.

The rest of us may need a few tips to help us make a good first impression and set a positive tone for the conversation.

A great conversation starter involves:

• Choosing an appropriate opener for the situation
• Asking an open-ended question
• Really listening to the answer and showing a real interest
• Asking follow-up questions or clarifying questions if needed
• Using non-verbal cues
• Not making assumptions or stereotyping

It may feel awkward at first, but as the dialogue develops you will find something you have in common or a shared interest that you can delve deeper into.

Check out our guide on how to make small talk for more tips and discussion topic ideas like beginning a conversation with a compliment.

Easy conversation starters for any situation

First, we have some general conversation starters that you can use in different social situations, whether you’re killing time with small talk or getting to know someone better.

1. How do you know the host? (or a mutual friend)
2. Do you know many other people here? (in a social situation)
3. What have you been up to today?
4. Where did you grow up?
5. What do you do for work?
6. What is your favorite sport?
7. What kind of movies do you enjoy?
8. What kind of music do you like?
9. Do you listen to any podcasts?
10. What is your favorite food?
11. Are you doing anything special for [upcoming holiday or event]?
12. Have you seen [movie/TV show]?

Networking conversation starters for business settings

Next, we have some great conversation starters to use in professional work settings, whether networking at an event, getting to know a new client, or chatting with colleagues.

The best way to start a conversation at networking events is to introduce yourself and allow the other person to do the same, but after that, you can use these questions to help the conversation flow naturally:

1. What do you do?
2. What does your company do?
3. What do you like most about your current job?
4. What made you want to work at your company?
5. Can you recommend any podcasts about [topic]?
6. I’d like to learn more about [topic]. Can you recommend any people to follow or courses to take?
7. What is your dream job?
8. Which company would you love to work for one day?
9. What do you like about living in your city?
10. What new skill are you working on at the moment?

11. Do you prefer to work remotely or from the office? Why?
12. Who do you admire most in your industry?
13. What training/education has been most/least useful for your career?
14. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
15. Do you travel much for work?
16. Did you hear about [industry news]?
17. What was your very first job?
18. If you had the chance to start your own business, what would it be?
19. What was your favorite subject in school? How has it helped you in your career?

With any luck, these networking conversation starter questions will help you build meaningful connections and mutually beneficial relationships with the people you meet at work events. We have some more useful Business English resources here, too.

Good conversation starters for networking at an event

The questions below are relevant if you are at a conference, convention, or other industry event and you want to begin a conversation with someone you have met there:

1. What did you think of the presentation/speaker/talk?
2. How does this conference/event compare to others you have attended?
3. Have you been here before?
4. Where have you traveled from?
5. What are you hoping to get out of being here?
6. What has been your favorite part of the event so far?
7. Where are you heading next?
8. Can you recommend any other events for me to attend?
9. What do you think of your hotel?
10. Will you have much time to explore the city while you’re here?

Funny conversation starters

The key to a funny conversation starter is to either ask an unexpected question or to ask a question that will elicit an amusing answer.

It’s best to use these fun conversation starters with people you already know quite well; they may not be so suitable for a first date or a business event (unless you really want to make a strong first impression!)

1. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
2. Describe the worst date you have ever been on.
3. What three things could you not live without (apart from your phone).
4. Have you ever laughed so hard you wet yourself?
5. What is your most disgusting habit?
6. Do you have any guilty pleasures?
7. Is there a movie scene that always makes you cry?
8. Do you know any fun facts?
9. Do you have a weird hidden talent?
10. What’s the most random app on your phone?
11. Do you think you act older or younger than your real age?
12. What were you crazy about as a child?

13. What is your favorite smell?
14. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
15. Where is the worst place you have been stuck for a long time?
16. If you could have any animal, real or mythical, as a pet, what would it be?
17. What’s the fanciest house you have ever visited?
18. Which song will you always dance to?
19. You have an hour free and no phone. What will you do?
20. Do you have any irrational fears?
21. What’s your favorite room in your house?
22. Which fashion trend should make a comeback?
23. What food do you love that lots of people hate?
24. What would your personal mascot look like if you had one?

Interesting, deep conversation starters

You can use more thought-provoking conversation starters for friends and family – people you already know and want to build a deeper connection with.

These deep conversation starters delve into more contemplative subjects to stimulate philosophical thinking and encourage meaningful dialogue.

1. What’s one thing that people are surprised to learn about you?
2. What is your purpose in life?
3. When in your life have you been happiest?
4. Do you believe there is life on other planets?
5. What talent or trait do you most admire in other people?
6. Where is the most beautiful place you have been?
7. What is the role of art in society?
8. What is your biggest regret?
9. What’s a controversial opinion you hold but never talk about?
10. What is the relationship between happiness and success?
11. What makes someone human?
12. Can a person change their personality?
13. What is your strongest childhood memory?
14. What’s something you have tried and failed at?
15. Where was the most amazing sunset you ever saw, and what made it special?

Another way to start interesting discussions, especially in group settings as an icebreaker, is with hypothetical “If…” questions.

Here are some ideas to inspire you:

1. What would you do if you found $100 on the street?
2. Would life be better if smartphones never existed?
3. If you could travel back in time to witness any single event, which would it be?
4. If you found out you only had one year left to live, how would you spend that year?
5. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine to have more free time, what would it be?
6. If you could go on a road trip anywhere, where would you go and what would you do?
7. What should be the highest-paid job in the world?
8. If you could re-live any day of your life, which one would it be?
9. You get to live in a fictional world for a year. Which world do you choose?
10. If you were given the power to solve one world problem, which problem would you choose to solve and how?
11. What would you do if you were given the chance to live on Mars, but you could never return to Earth?
12. If you could instantly gain one skill or talent, what would it be?

13. If you could ask one question to anyone in history and get an honest response, who and what would you ask?
14. You’re going to be stranded on a desert island for a week. Which 3 people will you bring with you?
15. If you could speak any language fluently starting tomorrow, which language would you choose?
16. What would you do if you were offered a job that paid incredibly well but went against your morals?
17. If you found out the world was going to end in a week, how would you spend your final days?
18. You’re given a million dollars to donate to any cause. Which cause will you choose?
19. A portal to another world opens up in front of you. Do you jump through it?
20. If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
21. What would you do if you received an anonymous letter that predicted the future, and its first prediction came true?
22. If you could instantly master any musical instrument, which one would it be?
23. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life without any health consequences, what would it be?

First date conversation starters

A first date is a mixture of nerves and excitement, and it can be helpful to have some first date conversation starters up your sleeve to avoid awkward silences.

Here are some good dating conversation starters to show an interest with personal questions:

1. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
2. How long have you lived here?
3. What do you like about living here?
4. Do you have a favorite restaurant? What’s the best dish there?
5. Do you have a bucket list? If no, why not? If yes, what is on your list?
6. What’s the last movie you saw?
7. What is the most exciting thing you did last year?
8. Are there any movies you’d like to see soon?
9. Which three words would you use to describe yourself?
10. Do you believe in love at first sight?
11. What would be your perfect weekend?
12. What is your love language?

13. Which of your family members are you closest to?
14. What was your first impression of me?
15. What is your worst annoying habit?
16. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
17. What puts you in a good mood?
18. What’s the best book you’ve ever read?
19. Do you follow any sports teams?
20. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
21. Have you ever met a celebrity?
22. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
23. Are you a cat person or a dog person?
24. Do you do any volunteering?
25. What’s your favorite season, and why?
26. Who is your favorite fictional character?

After asking your date one of these questions, listen carefully to their response and ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation flowing naturally. The answers they give may come in handy later in your relationship!

Date night conversation starters

If you have been with your partner for a while, you might sometimes run out of interesting things to talk about.

To avoid your date nights centering around work, money, and kids, here are some good couple conversation starters and discussion topics:

1. If you could go back in time and give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
2. What will our life look like in 10 years?
3. What’s one place we haven’t been together that you’d love to explore one day?
4. What is your favorite thing we do together?
5. What brings you the most joy in life?
6. Are there any hobbies you’d like to do but don’t have time/money for?
7. If we could jump on a plane tomorrow, where should we go?
8. What’s your favorite memory from when we first met?
9. If we could start a business together, would you want to do it and what business would you choose?
10. What’s something you’ve learned from your family history that has surprised or impacted you?
11. Tell me about a moment in your life you think I know nothing about.
12. In what ways do you think you’ve grown the most since we’ve been together?
13. What’s something daring or outside our comfort zone that you’d like us to try together?
14. How has our relationship changed your understanding of love?

Random conversation starter questions

Finally, we have some random conversation starters that didn’t fit on any of the other lists.

Use these if you want to deliberately go against the usual small talk conventions – it’ll certainly get you noticed!

If the quickfire ‘X or X?’ question format seems too informal, you can still make these into longer questions and add ‘why?’ at the end to encourage more detailed responses.

1. Cats or dogs?
2. Appetizers or dessert?
3. Fight or flight?
4. Family or friends?
5. Coffee or tea?
6. Books or movies?
7. Mountains or beaches?
8. Physical books or e-books?
9. Cook at home or eat out?
10. Travel by car or plane?

11. Handwriting or typing?
12. Skiing or surfing?
13. Fiction or non-fiction?
14. Online shopping or in-store shopping?
15. Concerts or theater?
16. History or future?
17. Alone time or social gatherings?
18. Hot dog or burger?
19. Spend or save?
20. Style or comfort?
21. Mountain climbing or scuba diving?

Summary

Great conversation starters help set the tone for a meaningful and engaging dialogue, whether you’re catching up with a friend, on a first date, or making small talk at a business event.

Remember to pick appropriate conversation topics for the situation, and follow up your conversation starter with open-ended questions to encourage the other person to open up more.

Have fun adapting the questions we have listed here to suit your own interests and those of the people you talk to.

FAQs