300 Good Conversation Starters: Only the Best Questions and Topics

300 Good Conversation Starters: Only the Best Questions and Topics

Looking for good conversation starters, questions and topics to kick off a truly engaging discussion? Here’s a list of only the very best!

Conversation is easily the most important part in building any relationship. Whether that relationship is based in a business partnership, an acquaintance, or a close friend — talking to each-other is vital. It’s the only way to really get to know someone, and the best way to strengthen bonds.

Without conversation we’d know nothing about one another.

The way a person speaks and the idiosyncrasies in each individual’s response is how we get a better gauge on who someone is. You can tell a lot about someone by how they engage in conversation.

Therefore, you must really try to understand the person you are talking to before you attempt to engage in a constructive dialogue.

MORE: The Best 300 Conversation Starters: The Only List You’ll Ever Need

Everyone responds differently!

Remaining objective and positive regardless of their response is essential to having a productive conversation that will lead to a deeper connection with whomever you are speaking with. You can always find out something new about someone no matter how long and well you have known them.

Conversation is the gateway to securing a healthier alliance with those around you.

I’ve compiled a list of only the best topics and questions that are awesome at starting great conversations for you to use.

I’ve categorized them into different sections, so you can have an arsenal at the ready for whatever situation you find yourself in. With this list you’ll always have something to say! Hopefully some of these questions will be able to help you find out something about that person you might never have known, and moreover, get each other talking!

Work Conversation Starters:

  • Do you enjoy your job?
  • How long have you worked there?
  • Have you ever quit a job?
  • What would be your dream position?
  • Do you find your job easy?
  • Do you get along with the people you work for/with?

History Conversation Starters:

  • What century would you choose to live in and why?
  • Who is your favorite historical character?
  • If you could meet anybody from the past who would it be?
  • What historical event do you think has changed the world?
  • If you could go back in time and stop something what would that be?

Technology Conversation Starters:

  • What do you think the most important invention is to humanity?
  • Would you be able to live without a cell phone or computer?
  • What kind of inventions do you think we will have in one hundred years?
  • What’s your favorite piece of tech?
  • What the most useless invention of all time to you?
  • Do you think technology is benefiting us or hurting us?
  • Are we really living in the age of information?
  • If we had no electricity what would you do?

Hobby Conversation Starters:

  • What do you like to do in your free time?
  • Is there anything you are particularly good at?
  • Do you have a hobby/ hobbies?
  • What would you do if you could transform your hobby into a high paying job?

MORE: Conversation Starters for Couples To Get Closer

Music Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite song out right now?
  • What’s your favorite song of all time?
  • Who is your favorite band?
  • Who would you say is the best musician of all time?
  • Do you listen to classical music or like any composers?
  • What is the best album of all time to you?

Family Conversation Starters:

  • What kind of parents did you have growing up?
  • Were they strict and crazy or were you free to do what you wanted?
  • Do you have any siblings?
  • Did you ever have any family pets?
  • Do you have anybody eccentric in your family?
  • Do you have anyone famous or important people in your family past or present?
  • What did your parents do for work?
  • Have you ever been in a fight with anyone in your family?
  • What’s your favorite family story?
  • Do you have any fun family traditions?
  • Do you have any secret family recipes?
  • What’s the most trouble you’ve ever been in with your mom or dad?

Restaurant Conversation Starters:

  • What was your favorite restaurant growing up as a kid?
  • Did you ever have a special restaurant you would go to for your birthday?
  • Is there any particular restaurant you would never go to?
  • What’s your favorite quick stop place to go to?
  • What your favorite “hole in the wall” spot to eat at?

Where You Grew Up or Live Conversation Starters:

  • Where did you grow up?
  • Do you prefer living in the city or in the country?
  • What part of town do you live in now?
  • Do you like your neighborhood?
  • What was it like growing up in where you did?
  • Is there anything interesting about where you grew up?
  • What part of town would you live in if you had the choice?
  • Where’s your dream home?

MORE: 215 Questions To Get To Know Someone: Everything You Need To Know!

Television Conversation Starters:

  • What kind of shows do you like watching?
  • Have you ever binge watched an entire series before?
  • What’s your favorite tv show on the air right now?
  • What’s your favorite show of all time?
  • What character do you most relate to on television?
  • Is there any tv show you’d recommend me watching?
  • What’s the worst tv show of all time to you?

Food Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite comfort meal?
  • What your favorite type of cuisine?
  • If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
  • What’s one type of food you couldn’t get paid to eat?
  • What the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten?
  • Have you ever gotten food poisoning?
  • What’s your favorite meal to cook for yourself?

Movie Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite film?
  • Who is your favorite actor and actress?
  • What is the greatest role of all time?
  • What is the best acting performance you have ever seen?
  • Do you like any cult movies?
  • How many movies have you gone to see on opening day?

Travel Conversation Starters:

  • If you could move anywhere in the world where would that be?
  • What’s the craziest vacation you’ve ever been on?
  • What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever been?
  • How many times have you left the country?
  • What’s one place you need to see before you die?
  • Is there somewhere you will never go back to?
  • What’s your idea of the worst vacation ever?

Sports Conversation Starters:

  • Do you watch any professional sports?
  • Who is your favorite team?
  • Did you ever play on any sports teams in school?
  • Is there any sport you’d say you’re especially good at?
  • Have you ever been to a game?
  • Have you ever won or lost money betting on a game?

MORE: Deep Questions To Ask A Guy (To Reach His Heart)

Philosophical/Deep Conversation Starters:

  • If you had a year left to live what would you try to accomplish?
  • Do you believe in any sort of life after death?
  • If we have a heaven and hell, what do animals have?
  • Is the afterlife a concept formed by our consciousness or a reality?
  • How do you think your death will affect those around you?
  • Do you believe people will be punished for their sins?
  • Do you think we will be rewarded for our charity?
  • What is the most honorable thing you’ll be remembered by?
  • How important is the struggle between good and evil?
  • How long do you think you’ll be remembered?
  • Whose life would your death have the greatest impact on?
  • Who do you think would show up at your funeral?
  • What would you have inscribed on your tombstone?
  • What would be your last words?
  • Who would receive benefits from your will?
  • What is the most preferable way to die?
  • Would you rather die in glory or peacefully in your sleep?
  • What will people say about you in your obituary?
  • Have you ever had a close experience with death?
  • Would you like to know the time and place of your death?
  • Have you ever had someone close to you die?
  • Are you afraid of death?
  • What is the worst death possible to you?
  • Who would you feel justified in killing?
  • If you were in a war for good against evil how willingly would you lay down your life?
  • Would you die for a cause?
  • How important do you think religion is in respects to the after-life?
  • Would you break the law to save someone you love?
  • When you think of home what is the first thing that comes to mind?
  • How many people in your life have you truly been in love with?
  • Do you think that love is fate or chance?
  • Do you ever think about how the person you may spend your life with forever is walking around on this planet right now?
  • What would you do to have the perfect relationship?
  • Do you value health or wealth?
  • Do you care more about who a person is or who they are?
  • Would you rather date someone rich and ugly, or poor and handsome?
  • Would you rather date someone ugly with a great personality or someone gorgeous with a horrible one?
  • What would you do to know everything about the person you love?
  • Do you believe in the stereotypical “fairy tale” love story?
  • Is it possible to ever fully get over someone or is there some mark indelibly left on our psyche by unrequited love?

MORE: 300 Amazing Conversation Starters (Rejection Proof)

Social Media Conversation Starters:

  • Are you obsessed with any type of social media?
  • Do you agree with the collection and selling of information perpetrated by Facebook?
  • Is there any type of social media you find stupid?
  • What’s the dumbest thing someone can do on social media?
  • What’s your view on Instagram “flexing”?
  • How important is your web personality and profile compared to the real you?
  • Do you think social media has been helpful or damaging to society?

App Conversation Starters:

  • What is your favorite game app?
  • What is the most useful application to you?
  • Have you ever had any ingenious app ideas?
  • Is there any app you wish existed?
  • How many apps do you have?
  • What is the most expensive app you have?

Friendship Conversation Starters:

  • Who was your best friend growing up?
  • What do some of your friends do for work?
  • Do you have any friends who have ever gotten into major trouble?
  • What’s an important quality you look for in a friend?
  • Are you highly social or do you like to keep to yourself?
  • Do you have a lot of loose friends or a few close friends?
  • Who is your best friend now?
  • How did you guy get to know each other?

Accomplishments & Success Conversation Starters:

  • Have you ever won any awards?
  • What’s the most important thing you have accomplished in your life?
  • Is there anything you are proud of?
  • Is there anything you are currently working on to accomplish?
  • What do you view as the definition of success?

Bar Hopping & Clubbing Conversation Starters:

  • Have you ever gone on a pub crawl?
  • How many times have you been to a club?
  • Are you the type that hates clubs?
  • What kind of people do you think go to clubs?
  • What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you on a night out?
  • Have you ever been in the VIP?
  • What’s the worst place to go out to in your mind?

MORE: How to Never Run Out of Things to Say On a Date So The Conversation Keeps Flowing Easily

Conspiracy Conversation Starters:

  • Do you believe life exists outside of our solar system?
  • Do you think the government has been running a cover up for aliens existing?
  • If we ever contact extraterrestrial life how do you think it will affect humanity?
  • What do you think the most believable conspiracy is?
  • What’s your view on the jfk assassination or the moon landings?
  • Do you think 9/11 truthers are crazy?
  • Do you know of any conspiracies that have proven to be true?
  • Do you think we already live in an Orwellian universe?
  • Has anyone ever thought you were crazy for believing something?
  • Do you think the cia is in control of everything?

School Conversation Starters:

  • What is the most trouble you ever got into at school?
  • What kind of school did you go to?
  • Were you required to wear uniforms?
  • Were you a good student or a bad student?
  • What’s the worst grade you ever received?
  • What group would you say you were in during high school?
  • What’s your favorite subject?
  • What did you major in?
  • If you had to teach any subject what would it be?

Car Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite model of car?
  • Who is your favorite car manufacturer?
  • If you could drive any car what would that be?
  • What the ugliest car to you?
  • What’s do you think about self-driving cars?
  • How many people who own expensive cars are do you think are actually wealthy?
  • If you could drive anywhere where would that be?
  • How fast would you go if you were driving on the autobahn?

Talent Conversation Starters:

  • Do you play any instruments?
  • Are you naturally good at anything?
  • Are you good at drawing?
  • Is there anything you wish you were a pro at?
  • Do you find any talents to be attractive?

MORE: 31 Conversation Starters for Work and Networking

Stressful Situation Conversation Starters:

  • Have you ever been caught red handed?
  • What’s the most anxiety filled situation you’ve been in?
  • Is there anything that gives you an immediate panic attack?
  • What’s your favorite way to relieve stress?
  • Do you have any phobias?
  • What’s the closest you’ve ever came to serious injury or death?
  • Have you ever been seriously injured?
  • Is there anything that makes you nervous that people make fun of you for?

Love Conversation Starters:

  • Have you ever been in love?
  • Have you ever had your heart broken?
  • Do you believe in love at first sight?
  • Do you believe love can truly be unconditional?
  • What’s one thing you truly love in this world?
  • How important do you think love is?

Hopes and Dreams Conversation Starters:

  • If you had a billion dollars what would you do?
  • What’s one thing you wish would happen to you?
  • Is there anything you dream of being?
  • Has anyone ever made fun of you for following your dreams?
  • What is your greatest hope in life?
  • What do you desire to attain in life?
  • Would you rather have success and stress or mediocrity with peace of mind?
  • What’s one thing you wish didn’t exist in this world?
  • If you could change anything in the world right now what would that be?

Volunteering, Charitable Work Conversation Starters:

  • Have you ever volunteered before?
  • Have you ever worked in a soup kitchen?
  • Or there anything you think needs more volunteers?
  • Have you ever donated money to something?
  • How important do you think charity is?
  • Do you think we will be rewarded for our charity?
  • Do you think people volunteer to make themselves feel better or to actually help other people?

Trends Conversation Starters:

  • What’s the most popular trend right now?
  • Have you ever been obsessed with a fad?
  • Are there any trends you think are completely stupid?
  • What is the longest lasting trend in your mind?
  • Are there any fads you wish never went away?
  • Would you rather be trendy or unique?

MORE: The 7 Best Conversation Starters

Clothing and Apparel Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite article of clothing?
  • Is there any clothing trend you hate?
  • Are there any you are obsessed with?
  • What would you describe your style as?
  • Is there any type of style that drives you crazy?
  • Do you think high fashion is insane or art?
  • What’s the most you would spend on clothes?
  • What’s your favorite jean company?
  • What’s your favorite clothing company?
  • What’s your favorite clothing store?
  • What’s your favorite type of shoe?
  • Do you like to dress up or dress down?
  • What’s you go to comfort outfit?
  • If you had to wear one designer for the rest of your life who would it be?

Online Dating Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your view on tinder?
  • Have you ever gone on an online date?
  • Do you think people who meet random people off the internet are crazy?
  • What’s the funniest dating profile you have ever seen?
  • Do you think catfishing is an epidemic?
  • Have you ever been catfished?
  • What’s your view on filters?

Book Conversation Starters:

  • Do you enjoy reading?
  • What’s your favorite book?
  • Have you ever read a book series?
  • What’s was your favorite book growing up?
  • Have any film versions of a book ruined the book for you?
  • What’s the most boring book you had to read for school?
  • Do you think reading books will become a thing of the past with so many new forms of media?
  • Has a book ever made you cry?

Phone Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite type of phone?
  • Do you hate the new iPhone?
  • What would you do if you weren’t allowed to ever own a cellphone again?
  • What kind of phone was your first phone?

The Outdoors Conversation Starters:

  • Have you ever been hunting?
  • Have you ever been out fishing?
  • Do you think fishing is fun or boring?
  • Where was the last place you went fishing?
  • What would be your ideal place to go out fishing?
  • What would be your ideal place to go hiking?
  • What the most beautiful place you have ever seen?
  • Are you an indoor person or an outdoor person?
  • Have you ever been camping?
  • Have you ever caught and cooked your own meal?
  • Have you ever learned any constellations?
  • Have you ever seen a shooting star?
  • What’s the longest hike you’ve been on?
  • Would you prefer the mountains or the desert?

Weather Conversation Starters:

  • What’s your favorite type of weather?
  • What’s the worst type of climate in the world to you?
  • Does rain relax you or make you feel depressed?
  • Where’s the coldest place you’ve ever been?
  • Where’s the hottest?

Animal Conversation Starters:

  • Are you a cat person or a dog person?
  • What is the most annoying animal in the world to you?
  • Would you compare yourself to any type of animal?
  • If you could own any animal what type would it be?
  • What was your favorite pet?
  • Are you afraid of any type of animals?
  • Have you ever been to the zoo?
  • What’s the ugliest animal in the world?
  • What’s the cutest?

Art and Culture Conversation Starters:

  • Is there any type of art you are obsessed with?
  • If you could live in and become part of any culture which would that be?
  • Which culture do you think has had the most profound impact on humanity?
  • Do you have a favorite artist?
  • What’s your favorite style of art?
  • Do you think modern art makes sense?
  • How much would you spend on a piece of art?
  • What’s the worst culture in the world to you?
  • Is there any piece of art that you find is undeserving of the attention it gets?
  • What’s your favorite museum?
  • How important do you think culture is to art?

So, there you go! There’s a list of 300 questions all categorized into specific topics for you to use. There is a good question here for just about anything you might be talking about.

Let the conversation flow and don’t be locked in to asking questions robotically as if you’re reading from a list. And don’t be judgmental. If the conversations spins off topic that’s fine! In fact, this is natural and normal in any conversation.

30 comments… add one
  • cora December 3, 2018, 2:56 pm

    love all your tips and these conversation topics and questions! with these, we’ll have enjoyable and memorable conversations for sure!

  • bianca November 30, 2018, 1:35 pm

    i think the strategy is to learn more about the person and talk about your common interests. this will open a great flow of conversation and will sure to give you a lot of fun together.

  • connie November 29, 2018, 1:22 pm

    wow, these are just so great and awesome! i will save these and use these so i can have ideas to open up. sometimes it’s just really so hard to talk about something because they might not like it.

  • connie November 29, 2018, 1:19 pm

    i will definitely ask about outdoor activities because this are my favorite. im hoping to meet someone whom i can share my hobbies with. i hope to find the right one for me soon.

  • adriana November 28, 2018, 4:50 pm

    these topics are all awesome. i will try to find out which ones interest him the most and focus on those. of course, i will also focus on my interests so i would know if we’re even compatible.

  • sofia November 27, 2018, 4:57 pm

    these are really good! well, there are actually no bad questions when you are trying to start a conversation, only poor framed ones.

  • roxy November 23, 2018, 6:30 pm

    these are indeed the very best! will ask these questions to start a good conversation instead of “how was your day? or “how was your weekend?”.

  • therese November 22, 2018, 12:27 pm

    this is the perfect guide! i love topics about music, sports, travel and deep conversations. i hope i could meet someone whom i can share the same interests and have fun doing them too.

  • selma November 21, 2018, 6:07 pm

    when we meet other people, it can be very difficult to begin conversing with them. it is good to know these good conversation starters. i could really use some of these.

  • sarah November 20, 2018, 2:25 pm

    for me, there’s no better way than to go with deep conversations. i like knowing what a guy really thinks and if we ever have a future together.

  • makayla November 19, 2018, 5:35 pm

    i am dating a guy right now who loves history so much. honestly, i ran out of questions to ask him. good thing i saw this post. i am writing down the questions now. thanks.

  • ryleigh November 14, 2018, 5:20 pm

    i really love this website! i am learning so many things! i make sure this visit this site every day! please write more articles.

  • katy November 13, 2018, 5:12 pm

    social media conversation starters are very interesting! the question that i am looking forward to asking my date is Do you think social media has been helpful or damaging to society? i am interested to learn more about his opinion regarding this.

  • tanya November 12, 2018, 6:12 pm

    this is awesome! will list down all these well thought out questions and topics.

  • debra November 8, 2018, 5:49 pm

    thanks for categorizing these questions into different sections. i will always take this list with me so i will be ready for whatever situation i am in.

  • chloe November 7, 2018, 4:31 pm

    i am badly in need of good conversations starters and this article showed up! it has everything i need. i want to thank you so much for sharing this. to be honest, this is one of the amazing articles i’ve read.

  • cathleen October 31, 2018, 6:15 pm

    the Stressful Situation Conversation Starters looks interesting. will bookmark this page. thanks a lot.

  • kelly October 31, 2018, 2:58 pm

    these are just spot on! i love topics like hobbies, sports and music. i will use these questions for sure.

  • tori October 29, 2018, 4:34 pm

    wow! i can also use these conversation starters to pass the time with my friends or loved ones! appreciate you sharing this!

  • katrina October 26, 2018, 1:34 pm

    i always love talking about hopes and dreams and future plans. specially when im with a guy, this gives me more information if we are even compatible. if we don’t want the same direction in life, i wouldn’t even bother wasting my time with that person.

  • chloe October 24, 2018, 8:04 pm

    i am very much interested in technology and i am very happy and excited to see that there are technology conversation starters i could ask my friends about.

  • lucia October 23, 2018, 1:27 pm

    these book conversations are what i love the most in this list. i hope i could meet a guy who has the same love and passion for reading as i do. we will have the best time together!

  • dorothy October 22, 2018, 4:43 pm

    i often wonder what do i say to start a good conversation with my crush. this article got everything! will list down all the topics i think my crush would be interested in.

  • lizette October 19, 2018, 12:49 pm

    i love the outdoors and i hope i could find someone whom i can share common interests with. a guy who will be there for me and with me through all the adventures.

  • myles October 18, 2018, 5:32 pm

    these are killer conversation starters! i am more confident now to have a dazzling conversation with everyone i meet!

  • ash October 17, 2018, 1:01 pm

    this list is awesome, i love it! ill try to check out his interests first so i’ll know which topics to focus on. thanks a lot!

  • mariel October 16, 2018, 5:57 pm

    i love this post! this is my one-stop guide for good conversation starters. i am excited to share this to my friends!

  • eugenia October 15, 2018, 1:34 pm

    try to really know about his interests and you will surely know what to talk about. if you know that he likes the outdoors or that he’s an animal lover, you can definitely start your conversations talking about them and you’ll have a great time talking.

  • marigold October 12, 2018, 7:28 pm

    where you grew up or live conversation starters are the best questions and topics for me. i really found this very interesting.

  • gabriella October 10, 2018, 7:04 pm

    these are indeed good conversations starters! i love cooking so i think i would go first with Food Conversation Starters.

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