390 Things to Talk About [The Ultimate List]

Ever find yourself stuck on what to say next? Whether you’re trying to make a new friend, bond with a partner, or just pass the time, finding the right words isn’t always easy.

Talking with people doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it can be a lot of fun once you have a few go-to topics in your back pocket. This guide is here to make those “what do I say now?” moments a thing of the past!

Things to Talk About to Break the Ice

1. Have you been on any recent vacations?
2. What’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try?
3. What book are you reading right now?
4. Do you have a favorite local restaurant or coffee shop?
5. What’s the last movie you saw and loved?
6. What kind of music do you enjoy?
7. Have you attended any interesting events recently?
8. Do you prefer cats, dogs, or other types of pet?
9. What’s something on your bucket list?
10. If you could learn any skill instantly, what would it be?
11. Do you have a favorite season? Why?
12. Have you tried any new foods recently?
13. What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend?
14. Do you have a favorite TV show you’re currently watching?
15. Can you recommend any good podcasts?
16. What’s an interesting fact about you?
17. If you could visit any country, where would you go?
18. What was your favorite subject in school?
19. Do you have any hidden talents?
20. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
21. How do you usually relax after a long day?
22. Are you into any sports?
23. Have you been to any concerts or shows recently?
24. What’s your go-to fun fact?
25. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
26. Do you have any siblings? What are they like?
27. What’s something you’re looking forward to?
28. If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?
29. What’s your favorite holiday, and how do you celebrate it?
30. Do you prefer the city or the countryside? Why?

Things to Talk About to Keep the Conversation Going

1. What’s a challenge you’ve recently overcome?
2. How do you like to spend your free time?
3. What’s the best movie you’ve seen this year?
4. What’s an achievement you’re proud of?
5. Have you read any good books lately?
6. What’s your idea of a perfect day?
7. What are some causes you are passionate about?
8. How do you stay motivated?
9. What are some little things that make your day better?
10. Who in your life has influenced you the most?
11. Do you have any travel plans coming up?
12. What was your last big adventure?
13. How do you handle stress?
14. Have you discovered any new hobbies or interests recently?
15. What’s your favorite family tradition?
16. What was the best compliment you’ve received?
17. What’s an important lesson life has taught you?
18. How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
19. What’s something you’ve always wanted to learn?
20. What are some changes you’ve noticed about yourself over the past few years?
21. Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
22. What’s a movie or show that really made you think?
23. How do you make decisions: with your head or your heart?
24. What are you currently looking forward to?
25. If you won the lottery, what would you do?
26. What’s your favorite part about today so far?
27. How do you deal with change?
28. What’s something you miss from your childhood?
29. If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
30. What’s a skill you’d like to master in the next year?

Things to Talk About to Get to Know Someone

1. What’s your story?
2. What’s one of your vivid childhood memories?
3. What makes you feel truly alive?
4. What are some values that are important to you?
5. What’s a recent goal you’ve set for yourself?
6. How do you like to unwind?
7. What’s a place that holds special meaning to you?
8. What book has influenced you the most?
9. Do you have a personal motto?
10. What’s your favorite memory from the past year?
11. What are you passionate about?
12. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
13. How do you prioritize self-care?
14. What’s something you believe everyone should try at least once?
15. What’s a talent you wish you had?
16. What’s something you’d like to be remembered for?
17. What’s a habit you’ve recently tried to change?
18. What does your perfect morning look like?
19. What’s something that challenges you?
20. What’s a fear you’ve conquered?
21. What’s an experience that has made you stronger?
22. How do you define success?
23. What’s something you’ve learned about yourself recently?
24. What’s a tradition you want to start or keep?
25. What’s an obstacle you’re proud of overcoming?
26. What does happiness look like to you?
27. What are some qualities you admire in others?
28. What’s something that’s been on your mind lately?
29. What’s a lesson you’ve learned the hard way?
30. How do you handle disagreements or conflicts?

Things to Talk About with Your Date

1. What are some of your favorite ways to spend a weekend?
2. Have you traveled to any interesting places?
3. What’s your favorite genre of movie or book, and why?
4. Do you have any pets? Tell me about them.
5. What’s one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had?
6. What kind of music do you enjoy?
7. Is there a hobby you’ve always wanted to pick up but haven’t yet?
8. What are your favorite cuisines or dishes?
9. Have you been to any concerts or shows recently?
10. What’s something you’re passionate about?
11. What’s a talent you have that not many people know about?
12. What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
13. Are there any causes or charities you support strongly?
14. What does your ideal vacation look like?
15. Do you have any favorite traditions, whether familial or personal?
16. What’s the best book you’ve read recently, and what did you like about it?
17. What’s one thing on your bucket list?
18. What do you find most rewarding about your work or studies?
19. What’s a movie you could watch over and over and never get tired of?
20. If you could learn anything, what would it be?
21. What are some qualities you value in friends or partners?
22. What’s something you’ve always dreamed of doing but haven’t done yet?
23. How do you like to relax and destress?
24. Do you have any siblings? What’s your relationship with them like?
25. What’s a challenge you’ve recently overcome?
26. What’s something you’re currently learning or want to learn?
27. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
28. If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
29. What’s been the highlight of your week so far?
30. Do you believe in things like horoscopes or astrology? Why or why not?

Things to Talk About With Your Friends

1. What’s the latest series you binge-watched?
2. Which app do you find yourself using the most?
3. Have you tried any new recipes or restaurants lately?
4. Any podcast recommendations?
5. What song do you have on repeat right now?
6. What’s the funniest meme you’ve seen this week?
7. Planning any trips or vacations?
8. What hobby have you always wanted to start?
9. What’s your favorite way to relax after a long day?
10. Got any book recommendations?
11. Which movie do you wish had a sequel?
12. What’s your latest internet rabbit hole?
13. Have you attended any concerts or events recently?
14. What’s a game you’ve recently enjoyed?
15. Any fitness or health goals you’re working towards?
16. What’s something new you’ve learned?
17. Do you follow any sports teams?
18. What’s something you’re looking forward to?
19. What’s a challenge you faced this week?
20. Any plans for the weekend?
21. What’s a good coffee shop or hangout spot you’ve discovered?
22. Got any DIY project ideas?
23. What’s a cause or issue you feel passionate about?
24. What’s a goal you’ve set for yourself this year?
25. Have you made any interesting online purchases recently?
26. What’s something that made you laugh out loud lately?
27. Any interesting family stories or traditions?
28. What’s something you wish you were better at?
29. What’s your most memorable birthday?
30. Have you watched any classic movies for the first time?

Things to Talk About With Your Partner

1. What’s something you’re proud of this month?
2. How can we make our weekends more exciting?
3. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to tell me?
4. How do you feel about our balance of time together vs. time apart?
5. What’s a dream destination you’d love us to visit?
6. What’s a movie you’d love to watch together but haven’t yet?
7. What habit of mine makes you smile?
8. How can we support each other more effectively?
9. What’s something new you’d like to try in the bedroom?
10. What’s your favorite memory of us?
11. Is there anything you’ve been hesitant to ask me?
12. How do you really feel about our future together?
13. What’s a small thing I can do daily to make you feel loved?
14. How do you feel about our financial plans and goals?
15. What’s a fear you’d like us to conquer together?
16. What song reminds you of us?
17. How do you feel about our communication lately?
18. What’s a tradition you’d like us to start?
19. How do you feel about our families’ involvement in our life?
20. What’s something you’ve learned from our relationship?
21. What book would you like us to read together?
22. What’s your idea of a perfect date night with me?
23. How do you feel about our work-life balance?
24. What’s a skill you’d love for us to learn together?
25. What are your thoughts on parenting styles, theoretically or practically?
26. What’s an adventure you want us to embark on?
27. How can we improve our home to make it feel more welcoming?
28. What’s a topic you’d like us to learn more about together?
29. What does happiness look like to you in our relationship?
30. How do you feel about our relationship’s growth and where it’s heading?

Things to Talk About With Your Parents

1. What were your hobbies when you were my age?
2. Can you tell me about the day I was born?
3. What traditions did you enjoy in your family growing up?
4. How did you meet each other (if applicable)?
5. What were your favorite subjects in school?
6. Can you share a memorable travel experience?
7. What challenges did you face when you were younger?
8. How have your dreams and goals changed over the years?
9. What’s one piece of advice you wish you had known earlier?
10. What are some important values you want to pass down?
11. Can you tell me about your first job?
12. What are your proudest moments?
13. How do you like to spend your time now?
14. What’s a funny story from your teenage years?
15. How do you think parenting has changed since you were a parent to young kids?
16. What’s your favorite family recipe, and can you teach me how to make it?
17. What were popular trends or fashions when you were younger?
18. What historical events had the most impact on you?
19. How did you manage stress or difficulties in life?
20. Can you share a story about our ancestors?
21. What music did you love growing up? Can we listen to some together?
22. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted but haven’t done yet?
23. How do you feel about current technologies?
24. What are your retirement plans or dreams?
25. What’s your favorite memory of us as a family?
26. How do you keep your relationship strong (if applicable)?
27. What are your favorite movies or books, and why?
28. Can you share a lesson you learned the hard way?
29. What’s something you’re proud of achieving in your life?
30. How do you see our family’s future?

Easy Things To Talk About

1. What’s your go-to coffee order?
2. What’s the last movie you watched?
3. Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
4. What’s your typical weekend like?
5. Have you read any good books lately?
6. What kind of music do you enjoy?
7. Are you watching any TV shows right now?
8. What’s your favorite way to relax?
9. Have you been to any interesting places recently?
10. Do you cook? What’s your favorite dish to make?
11. What hobbies do you have?
12. Have you picked up any new skills or hobbies recently?
13. What’s something you’re looking forward to?
14. Do you have any pets?
15. What’s your favorite holiday, and how do you celebrate it?
16. What’s an interesting fact about you?
17. Do you prefer summer or winter? Why?
18. Have you seen any good movies or series lately?
19. What’s your favorite sport or physical activity?
20. What was your first job?
21. Do you like to travel? Where’s your next destination?
22. Have you been to any concerts or live shows?
23. What’s your favorite type of food?
24. Do you have any siblings? Tell me about them.
25. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
26. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
27. What’s your favorite app on your phone?
28. What kinds of things make you laugh?
29. Do you have a favorite quote or saying?
30. What’s something small that made you happy recently?

Fun Things To Talk About

1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
2. What’s the most amusing thing you’ve seen or heard recently?
3. If you were an animal, which one would you be?
4. What’s your favorite viral video or meme?
5. If you could live in any fictional world, where would it be?
6. What’s the funniest joke you know by heart?
7. What would be the theme song of your life?
8. If you could invite three celebrities to dinner, who would they be?
9. What’s the most unusual food you’ve ever tried?
10. If you could time travel, where (or when) would you go?
11. What’s your guilty pleasure TV show or movie?
12. If you were going to be a contestant on a game show, which one would it be?
13. What’s the most ridiculous fact you know?
14. What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled off?
15. If you could swap lives with a fictional character for a day, who would it be?
16. What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?
17. If your life was a movie, who would play you?
18. What’s your secret talent?
19. What’s the silliest reason you’ve ever been upset?
20. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
21. What’s the most amusing misunderstanding you’ve been a part of?
22. What’s the funniest word in the English language?
23. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
24. Have you ever been mistaken for someone famous?
25. What’s the most useless talent you have?
26. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
27. What’s the weirdest tradition your family has?
28. If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be?
29. What’s the most pointless invention that exists?
30. If you had to perform in a circus, what would your act be?

Funny Things To Talk About

1. What’s the funniest name you’ve ever heard for a pet?
2. Have you ever had a “Why did I just do that?” moment?
3. What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received?
4. What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve witnessed in public?
5. If animals could talk, which species would be the rudest?
6. What’s the funniest autocorrect fail you’ve experienced?
7. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you went in?
8. What’s a funny misunderstanding you’ve had with someone?
9. If you had a comedian narrate your life, who would it be?
10. What’s the most embarrassing fashion trend you used to rock?
11. What’s the silliest thing you’ve convinced someone of?
12. What’s a ridiculous fact that sounds like a lie but isn’t?
13. Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong person? What happened?
14. What’s the funniest movie you’ve ever seen?
15. What’s the most awkward situation you’ve ever been in?
16. What’s a funny habit you have?
17. Have you ever tried to mimic a recipe you saw online, and it went horribly wrong?
18. What’s the dumbest way you’ve been injured?
19. What’s the most ridiculous rule you’ve had to follow?
20. If you could be a character in any comedy show, who would you be?
21. What’s a song that always makes you laugh?
22. Have you ever had a “this can only happen to me” moment?
23. What’s a word that you always mispronounce?
24. Have you ever laughed at an inappropriate time? What was the situation?
25. What’s the strangest family tradition you have?
26. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen someone do in their sleep?
27. If you could make a conspiracy theory come true, what would it be?
28. What’s something ridiculous that someone has tricked you into doing or believing?
29. Have you ever been caught talking to yourself? What did you do?
30. What would be the worst “buy one get one free” sale of all time?

Personal Things to Talk About

1. What personal achievement are you most proud of?
2. How has your upbringing influenced your views today?
3. What’s a significant challenge you’ve overcome?
4. What’s something you’re currently struggling with?
5. How do you handle stress or anxiety?
6. What are your core personal values?
7. What’s a pivotal moment that significantly changed your life?
8. What personal traits are you working to improve?
9. How do you define success for yourself?
10. What’s something you wish more people knew about you?
11. Who in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
12. What’s a fear you’ve had to face head-on?
13. How do you approach conflicts or disagreements?
14. What’s something you believe in that others might find surprising?
15. What life lessons do you wish you had learned earlier?
16. What does self-care look like for you?
17. How do you stay motivated when things get tough?
18. What personal habits do you think contribute to your happiness?
19. How do you balance your personal and professional life?
20. What are your hopes for the future?
21. What’s an unpopular opinion you hold?
22. How do you deal with change?
23. What are you most grateful for?
24. How do you approach setting personal goals?
25. What aspect of your personality do you think defines you?
26. What are you passionate about outside of work or school?
27. How do you express creativity in your life?
28. What’s something that always brings you joy?
29. What personal experiences have shaped your outlook on life?
30. How do you handle forgiveness, both giving and receiving?

Deep Things to Talk About

1. What do you think is the meaning of life?
2. How do you define happiness?
3. What are your thoughts on fate and free will?
4. Do you believe in life after death?
5. How do you find purpose in your life?
6. What role does love play in your life?
7. What are your thoughts on the nature of reality?
8. How important is personal freedom to you?
9. What does it mean to live a good life?
10. How do you deal with the concept of mortality?
11. What are your beliefs about the universe’s origins?
12. How do you define success in life?
13. What are your views on the importance of truth?
14. How do you approach the concept of forgiveness?
15. What is your perspective on human nature?
16. How do you feel about the idea of destiny?
17. What are your thoughts on the existence of a higher power?
18. How do you navigate ethical dilemmas?
19. What lessons do you think humanity needs to learn?
20. How do you define and seek fulfillment?
21. What are your beliefs regarding the soul?
22. How do you find peace in life’s turmoil?
23. What do you think happens after we die?
24. How do you maintain hope in challenging times?
25. What is the role of compassion in society?
26. What are your views on the concept of ‘knowing oneself’?
27. How do you approach making significant life decisions?
28. What is the importance of empathy in human connections?
29. How do you reconcile personal desires with societal expectations?
30. What are your thoughts on the interconnectedness of all life?

Awkward Things To Talk About

1. Have you ever been caught lying? What was it about?
2. What was your most embarrassing moment?
3. Have you ever accidentally insulted someone? How did you fix it?
4. What’s the biggest misunderstanding you’ve had with someone?
5. Have you ever forgotten someone’s name right after meeting them?
6. What’s an inappropriate question you’ve been asked in public?
7. How do you handle people who invade your personal space?
8. Have you ever had an awkward encounter with an ex?
9. What’s the most awkward date you’ve ever been on?
10. How do you navigate conversations about salaries or personal finances?
11. Do you have any family traditions that others might find strange?
12. How do you respond to unsolicited advice?
13. Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn’t remember why you entered a room?
14. What’s your go-to tactic for exiting an uncomfortable conversation?
15. Have you ever mistakenly thought someone was waving at you?
16. How do you handle running into someone you’ve been avoiding?
17. What do you do when you realize you’ve been walking in the wrong direction?
18. How do you react when someone publicly sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to you?
19. Have you ever waved back at someone who wasn’t waving at you?
20. What’s your most awkward travel experience?
21. How do you deal with receiving a gift you don’t like?
22. Have you ever been part of a conversation where you had no idea what was being discussed?
23. What do you do when you accidentally send a message to the wrong person?
24. How do you handle someone telling you there’s food stuck in your teeth?
25. Have you ever walked into a glass door or window?
26. What’s the most awkward silence you’ve experienced?
27. Have you ever laughed at an inappropriate time? What caused it?
28. How do you approach talking about personal hygiene issues with someone?
29. What’s an awkward childhood memory that still makes you cringe?
30. Have you ever been caught singing or talking to yourself?

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! A whole list of things to talk about that can help turn any conversation from dull to delightful. It’s all about asking the right questions and really listening to the answers.

Talking to people can be fun and easy once you get the hang of it. Just keep these ideas in mind next time you find yourself wondering what to say. Who knows? A simple conversation could lead to some pretty amazing discoveries about the people around you.