How to start a conversation (+ non-awkward examples)

Two people talking, surrounded by speech bubbles representing different conversation topics

A complete guide to how to talk to someone, whether it’s in the real world, at school, work or via text.

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A few years back, I didn’t know how to begin a conversation. I spent thousands of hours learning how to have a conversation from people who are socially adept, reading guides, and talking to them.

Social skills are what I do for a living today. I will share all I know about how to talk to people in this guide.

Conversation starters

You can use these examples to start a conversation in different social situations.

Conversation starters for parties

How well do you know the people in this area?
What brought you to this place?
Do you recognize [the host’s name]?
What is your origin?
Where did you buy [part of your outfit]?
I think we have met before [place you met previously]
My name is [name]. What’s your first name?

Dinner conversation starters

Have you tried [dish] yet?
What is your favorite cuisine?
What kind of restaurant would you open?
What is the most exotic food you have ever eaten?
What is your favorite comfort food?
Are you an avid cook?
What is the worst food you have ever eaten?

Work conversation starters

What department are you in?
What recent projects have you worked on?
What was your previous job before this one?
What is your favorite part about working at this company?
Was your job a relocation?
How do you manage stress when your work becomes busy?
What do you think? What do you think about it?

Group conversation starters

Avoid rehearsed conversations starters when you are joining a group discussion. Listen to what others are saying and add your own thoughts. There are times, however, when a particular topic becomes stale. Here are some suggestions for how to create a new group discussion.

Have you seen the latest news?
What did you think of it? What did you think?
What do you think about the latest episode of [popular television show]?
Anyone heard the new album from [artist]?
Have you ever met anyone before?
What is everyone’s ideal vacation?

Conversation starters to ask a girl/guy/crush or date them

What is your favorite thing to get up and do on a day when you’re not at work?
What is your family like?
Are you a person with hidden talents?
When was the last time you went to the cinema?
Have you made a bucket-list? What’s in it?
What do you enjoy doing with your best friend when you two hang out?
How long has it been since you felt truly proud of yourself?

Starters for conversation with friends

How is [something] going?
What is your favorite memory?
Would you like to be famous someday? What would you want to be known for if you were famous?
Have you ever thought about your retirement plans?
Have you ever felt so embarrassed you wanted to be buried under the earth?
When do you expect to be able take day trips in space?
Ever wanted to own a rare exotic pet like a Tarantula or a scorpion?

You’re better off having a conversation with your friend according to the situation than memorizing a line. This guide will show you how to do it.

How to begin a conversation

1. What do you think about the situation?

Drawing inspiration from the environment is an easy way to start a conversation

Here are some examples of everyday situations in which you may want to start a conversation

You can have lunch with someone from a different class or department.
Waiting in the hall for class to begin.
Sitting next to someone else on a plane or train.

Don’t ask direct questions in day-to-day life

As we have already discussed, it is normal for strangers to introduce themselves at social events. You can’t do this in everyday life.

Ask the other person a simple, straightforward question rather than blaming them for the situation

We can start a conversation by asking a question to ease us into the topic.

It’s a good reason to talk, and not too direct.

Asking something you are already thinking about is helpful. Bu

A typical day-to-day exchange from the past week

Last week, I was seated next to someone in the train.

I was wondering if there were snacks served on board. I was ready to start a conversation because the topic was on my mind.

I asked her , “Excuse you, do know if there are snacks served here?”

She replied with “Hmm.” They should !”

I was compelled to ask the following question: ” Good. I forgot breakfast this morning.” (We both smiled).Me “Does it happen often that you travel by train?

Let’s look at some common concerns about how to start a conversation. Then I will discuss more about the follow-up questions.

2. You don’t need to be clever

What you ask is not important. It’s not important what you ask. Simple questions are often the best conversation starters.

Small talk can be boring, but people don’t mind. Small talk is a way to warm up for a more interesting conversation.

3. You can tell the direction they are walking by looking at their gaze and feet.

You can tell if someone wants to talk to by their body language if you know what you are looking for. For more tips, see this article: How can you tell if a person wants to speak to you.

You’ll usually get a quick “yes” or a “no” to your first query. You don’t have to be rude, but you should give people a few moments to get into “social mode.”

If they don’t answer your questions or give you a short response, it is best to move on and say “Thanks”, “Nice talking to you” or something similar.

If they look away from you a lot or point their feet away from you, it’s often a good sign that they want to end the conversation. If you notice that they are looking away or pointing their feet away, this is a sign they’re trying to end the discussion. Although you may have a lot to say, the other person could not be interested in socializing. Try not to take this personally.