60 Questions to Ask Strangers: Conversation Starters That Work
Never open with “hi” again. 60 fun, deep and easy questions to ask strangers on random chat, sorted by mood, plus tips to keep the conversation going.
By TalkKiwi TeamPublished 6 min readThe difference between a two-second chat and a twenty-minute conversation is often the first question. Here are 60 questions to ask strangers, sorted by mood, that work on text, voice and video chat. Pick a few you like and keep them ready for your next chat.
Easy openers
These are simple to answer and work with almost anyone.
- Where are you chatting from?
- What time is it where you are?
- What did you do today?
- Is this your first time on random chat?
- What made you come online today?
- What’s the weather like where you are?
- Are you a morning person or a night owl?
- What are you drinking or eating right now?
- What is something good that happened to you this week?
- If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
Fun and silly questions
Great for breaking the ice and getting a laugh.
- Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
- What is the weirdest food you have ever tried?
- If animals could talk, which would be the rudest?
- What is your most useless talent?
- Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?
- What would you name a pet dragon?
- Which fictional world would you live in?
- What is the worst film you secretly love?
- If you had to sing one song in front of everyone, what would it be?
- What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?
Questions about interests
Perfect when you matched on a shared interest.
- What are you watching, reading or playing right now?
- What got you into it in the first place?
- Who is your favourite artist, team or creator?
- What would you recommend to someone completely new to it?
- What is the most overrated thing about it?
- Have you ever met anyone famous from that world?
- What is the best concert, match or event you have been to?
- Do you make or create anything yourself?
- What is a hobby you want to try but haven’t yet?
- What could you talk about for an hour without preparing?
Questions about places and cultures
Random chat connects you with people from everywhere, so use it.
- What is something tourists always get wrong about your country?
- What is a typical breakfast where you live?
- What is one word in your language that has no translation?
- What is the best place to visit near you?
- What is a tradition from your culture you love?
- What do people where you live do for fun at the weekend?
- Which country would you most like to visit?
- What is the most common stereotype about your country, and is it true?
- What is a dish everyone should try at least once?
- What is the best thing about where you grew up?
Deeper questions
For when the conversation is going well and you both want more than small talk.
- What is something you have changed your mind about?
- What are you most proud of?
- What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
- What is the best advice you have ever been given?
- What does a perfect day look like for you?
- What is something you wish more people understood about you?
- If you could talk to your younger self, what would you say?
- What scares you that probably shouldn’t?
- What are you looking forward to this year?
- What makes a stranger feel like a friend to you?
Questions that keep a chat going
Use these when the conversation slows down.
- What is the story behind that?
- How did that make you feel?
- What happened next?
- Would you do it again?
- What is your hot take on that?
- What would you do differently?
- Who in your life would agree with you on that?
- What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
- What is something you are learning at the moment?
- What question do you wish people asked you more?
Tips for using these questions
- Listen to the answer. The best follow-up question comes from what they just said.
- Answer your own question too. Sharing makes it a conversation, not an interview.
- Match the mood. Silly questions for a playful chat, deeper ones once you have built some rapport.
- Keep it respectful. Avoid questions about money, appearance or anything personal that could make someone uncomfortable, and never ask for contact details or location beyond a country.
Want to try them out? Start a random chat, a voice chat or a video chat. For more advice, read how to talk to strangers online.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good question to ask a stranger?
Light, open questions work best at first, such as what they are up to today or what song they have on repeat.
How many questions should I ask?
Mix questions with your own answers so it feels like a conversation, not an interview.
Which questions should I avoid?
Anything personal, like full names, addresses, workplaces or social media, and topics that could make someone uncomfortable.
Ready to try it?
Talk to a stranger now: free, no sign-up, 18+. Pick how you want to chat.
Written by the TalkKiwi Team
We build and moderate TalkKiwi, a free random chat site for adults. Our guides come from running video, voice and text chat every day. Read our Safety Centre and Community Rules.