30 Great Conversation Starters [Topics, Questions Openers]

30 Great Conversation Starters [Topics, Questions Openers] Whew, that was close.You almost had to start a conversation.Sounds familiar?Of course it does.Otherwise, you wouldnt be reading this article.ButYouve had enough.No more hiding in the corner. No more saying awkward things, and pondering them for a week afterward.Our selection of best conversation starters will help you strike up a conversation on any subject, and boost your self-confidence.This guide will show you:How to successfully start a conversation and keep it going.What are the most interesting conversation topics you can choose.Why you should also use funny conversation starters.Looking for other ideas? Read our guides on:How to Introduce YourselfInterpersonal Skills: 20+ Examples Definition20+ Ice Breaker Games Ideas1How to Start a ConversationYou might have heard it beforeContext is key.Being aware of your immediate surroundings works wonders.Just think about it.The conversation topics at your disposat could range from the place youre at, to the food youre eating, to the t raining session youve been in, to the clothes someone is wearing.Look at the below examples:Convo StartersGood Conversation QuestionsHow did you get to know the host?Have you attended a similar event ever before?The food looks great. Is there anything youd recommend?This place is cool/ugly/strange. Have you been here before?Love your costume! Did you make it yourself? [at a Halloween party]How do you celebrate Christmas? Going anywhere for Christmas? [at a Christmas party]How did you like the workshop?Love your shoes/cufflinks/shirt! Whered you get it/them?Pro Tip: Did you know your clothes could actually attract people to start a convo with you? How? Try wearing a funny tie. Or earrings. Or put on clothes that break out of the convention. See what happens!The subjects to spark a conversation about are plentiful.Its crucial to stay on the safe side, though. Avoid taboos, or being too forward.Not really sure you'll be able to make a random conversation based off of your immediate sur roundings?Prepare before the actual event. Here's a couple of conversation ideas for you to use:If youre about to attend a conference, read a couple of articles on the subject. Go through the list of speakers, and read their bios.Youll know exactly what to say to start a conversation during your coffee breaks.Similarly, when attending a company event you can always discuss new QR procedures, OKRs, or your new office.Remember:Good conversation starters are the ones your conversation partners can easily relate to.Go that extra mile, and learn about the people youre be mingling with. Tap into what they care about.How?Read your companys newsletters or about page. Look at your colleagues social media profiles.This way, your list of conversation starters might be close to perfect.Pro Tip: If you google someone or check out their social media profiles, be careful not to creep them out. Be subtle, or you may come across as a stalker.Your clever conversation starters could look something lik e this:Great Conversation StartersIdeas for ConversationsHey! Your profile popped up in my Instagram suggestions. I love the pictures you take.I saw your LinkedIn profile. Its impressive. Could you tell me something about?Jenny, your Facebook profile appeared among my friend suggestions. I didnt know youre a singer! Its awesome. Can you tell me?As you see, a person's social media presence can generate numerous topics of conversation.2How to Keep a Conversation GoingHeres the secret:Once the conversation starts, just keep stoking the coals. You dont need to spark the flame over again.How to do it?Become an active listener.Its not complicated, and once you get the hang of itYoull be able to keep a conversation going indefinitely.Just follow these proven tips:How to Be an Active Listener to Keep a Conversation GoingFocus on the speaker and what theyre telling you.Stay right here, in this moment. Dont let yourself drift miles away.Be genuinely interested in what your conversation partne rs have to say. Think of any conversation topic as an opportunity to learn something new.Show them youre listening. Nodding and saying things like really, ok, cool, or mhm does help.Summarize what youve just heard. Are you telling me youve been in a movie? Seriously? You ran two half-marathons in a week?Ask follow-up questions.Pro Tip: Your questions to keep a conversation going dont have to be fully formed questions. Its enough to repeat the last word or sentence your conversation partner said with rising intonation. Try it. Its called parroting.3Interesting Conversation TopicsTheres one thing all great conversations have in common.Whats this?A good question.Literally.All interesting conversations start with good conversation questions.What are they?Conversation TipsGood Conversation QuestionsQuestions to start a conversation must be relevant to your conversation partner, either professionally or personally. Even though this may seem obvious, always keep this at the back of your mi nd.Interesting conversation questions must be relatable. Youre more likely to resonate with your conversation partner if you ask them about movies, books, or newspaper headlines, rather than the quantum nature of consciousness. Obviously, as the conversation topics go deeper, more specific questions will start to crop up.A question hailed as possibly the best conversation question ever is What do you like most about what you do? and its permutations. The danger is you may come across people who genuinely hate their jobs. If you do, be compassionate and listen to what have to say.Treat the list of conversation topics below as a source of inspiration.Interesting Conversation TopicsListmoviesTV seriesbooksmusicappsclothestravelsseasonssportscuisineA simple Whats your favorite? does the trick most of the time. But youre free to play around with these conversational topics:Have you seen any good movie recently?Im looking for a good book. Anything youd recommend?Have you discovered any co ol music on Spotify recently?What photo editing app would you recommend?Need to get myself a pair of sneakers. Where did you get yours?Whats your favorite holiday destination?I just love winter. Do you?Do you know any Mexican restaurant worth recommending?As the conversation unfolds, you can become more specific and ask fun conversation questions, such as:What character from Harry Potter would you like to be?Whats the TV series you binge-watched in an embarrassingly short time?How many endings of Detroit: Become Human have you seen?What do you think about the concept of ergodicity in The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch?What places would you recommend for flying a drone in Iceland?The more you get to know your conversation partner, the easier it will be for you to hold a meaningful and interesting conversation.4Funny Conversation StartersAwkward silence.Thats the least you can expect if your funny conversation starters fall on deaf ears.In the worst case scenarioYou may end up offe nding somebody.The sense of humor is not universal, unlike the blue IKEA Frakta bag.A good rule of thumb isDont try to be funny from the very start, because you may end up trying to be funny. I dont mean the conversation needs to be dry, though. Not at all.If youre mingling with people you dont know much about, get to know them a little first. Introduce yourself, smile, be mindful of their reactionsthis will prove sufficient.Just make sure what you believe makes a conversation funny doesnt offend anybody. In general, avoid joking about taboo subjects such as religion, politics, or sex.PlusHave a light-hearted attitude towards yourself. A self-deprecating joke might be ok.But stay on the safe side.Now, if you find any of the weird conversation starters below funny, go ahead and use them in your conversations.And rememberYouve been warned.Funny Conversation StartersExamplesEstablish eye contact with the person you want to talk to, and say Me? Just like its you they want to talk to, no t the other way round.What is the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?If you could do something silly right here right now, what would you do?Is it just me, or can you also smell fried sausage in here?Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who? Who?Isn't this wonderful? Look at this room. What a beautiful room! Have you seen this room?What is love? Baby, dont hurt me. No more.Is this a TV show?The list could go on and on, but its not the point. The point isYou never know what will or wont work unless youre familiar with your interlocutors.Pro Tip: If the conversation is going nowhere, or its become too awkward to continue, go ahead and finish it quickly. A simple Right, I need to go now. See you around. will do the job most of the time.Key TakeawaysStarting a conversation doesnt have to be painful when you know how to approach it. Heres how to start a conversation and keep it going:Be mindful of the context.Learn as much as possible beforehand.Choose good conversation t opics.Listen actively.Ask good questions.Be careful with humor.How do you go about striking a casual conversation with people? Do you have your own strategies? Want to share advice or ask a question? Wed love to hear from you. Give us a shout out in the comments below!