Classic Funny Conversation Starters
Spark a great conversation with a classic opening line. Using a humorous opener is a great way to start a lighthearted conversation that makes you both feel good chatting with each other. However, certified image consultant Lynda Jean recommends steering clear of sensitive subjects like politics and religion. Try one of these classic funny openers to start things off on the right foot: “What’s the funniest joke you know?” “What is the most unusual thing you’re afraid of?” “What’s the absolute worst name that you could give your child?” “What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?” “What was your most embarrassing fashion phase?” “What’s the funniest text you’ve ever gotten?” “What is it about your teenage self that embarrasses you the most? “What 2 jobs would you combine to make your dream job? Mine’s space-cowboy.” “What would be the title of a book about your life?” “What food describes your personality? “What’s a commonly held belief you think is complete trash?” “What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you?” “What is your most unusual talent?” “What 2 things could you buy at a grocery store that would make the cashier the most uncomfortable?” “What’s your funniest excuse for leaving a party?” “What’s your favorite meme of all time? Why?” “When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?” “What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?”
Funny & Quirky Conversation Starters
Give them a chuckle with a random, quirky question. Sometimes, the best way to start a conversation with a laugh is to take the other person by surprise with a random question. Licensed clinical psychologist Donna Novak says, “In general, I really would urge people to ask a question because people tend to really get engaged with questions.” And if you want to get a laugh, the quirkier, the better. Try, starting your next conversation off with one of these funny openers: “What would be your professional wrestling name?” “What TV or movie character reminds you of yourself? Why?” “What’s your go-to karaoke song?” “Do you believe in ghosts? Why?” “Would rather have no eyebrows or no eyelashes?” “What’s one thing everyone looks silly doing?” “What’s the dumbest thing you’d buy if you won the lottery?” “What celebrity do you irrationally hate?” “If the color blue had a smell, what would it be?” “What’s your most random pet peeve?” “If you could have an extra body part, what would it be?” “What movie would be the worst if you made it into a musical?” “If you were a candy bar, which one would you be?” “If you worked in the circus, what would your job be?” “If animals could talk, which would be the rudest?” “What random song do you know all the lyrics to?” “If you could only eat 3 things for the rest of your life, what would they be?” “What would your quirky celebrity baby name be?”
Deep & Funny Conversation Starters
Kick off a deep conversation with a funny opener. Sometimes, the most in-depth, rewarding conversations start with a funny question. One of the great things about humor is that it can help you deal with heavy subjects or intense emotions by diffusing tension. By starting your conversation with an amusing opener, you set a friendly tone for even the most serious subjects. So, go with one of these funny lines to start a deep conversation that’s free of any tension: “What inanimate object would you want to be reincarnated as?” “What 2 songs are probably playing on a loop in hell?” “What’s the funniest epitaph you would put in your tombstone?” “Is there intelligent life in the universe?” “If you were a character in a children's book, what heartwarming life lesson would you teach?” “Which vegetable do you trust the least?” “How do you feel about clowns?” “How many french fries is it okay for a friend to take before you tell them to order their own?” “What crazy conspiracy theory do you kind of think is true?” “Why does your brain keep playing that same song over and over?” “Who is your nemesis?” “The zombie apocalypse is coming. Who are the three people you want on your team in order to survive?” “What is the ideal proportion of cupcake to icing?” “Would you rather have 5 half-sized clones of yourself or 1 full-sized clone?” “If you were to fall asleep face-first into a soup, which soup would you want it to be?” “What's a better name for potato chips?”
Funny Networking Conversation Starters
Expand your network with a line that shows your sense of humor. Being able to start a conversation is an important networking skill, but it doesn’t have to be stiff and formal. Novak recommends memorizing a few amusing conversation starters, so you have something ready to say once you get to a networking event. She says, “Having some idea of the actual language you’re going to use is really helpful.” Use one or more of these funny questions to help you build your professional network: “What’s the strangest question you’ve been asked in a job interview?” “What’s your best ‘crazy coworker’ story?” “What’s the most creative excuse you’ve ever come up with to call off work?” “What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?” “What weird subject could you give a 30-minute presentation on with no preparation?” “What random weird skill do you wish you could turn into a side hustle? “What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your work commute?” “What’s the worst job interview you’ve ever had?” “What’s the worst Shark Tank business pitch you can think of? “What’s the funniest mishap you’ve had while working from home?” “What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?” “What’s your go-to procrastination tactic?” “What’s the weirdest thing you do to destress?” “What is the best-backhanded compliment you’ve heard at work?” “What’s the most outdated piece of tech you still use regularly at work?” “What’s something everyone thinks is very important but you think is a waste of time?” “What is the funniest use of advertising you’ve seen?” “What percentage of your day do you actually spend on social media?”
Funny Dinner Party Conversation Starters
Keep the dinner conversation light and fun with a hilarious opener. Dinner parties can cause anxiety whether you’re with strangers, friends, or family. But with a funny question to get things going, you’ll always have something to talk about. Novak suggests keeping things light by focusing on fun current events that aren’t too triggering for anyone. Think of holidays, sports, music, or movies to talk about…or use these funny conversation starters as inspiration: “What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?” “What’s your most controversial hot take about a TV show?” “What’s the most underrated fast food restaurant?” “What movie is better than the book it’s based on?” “What movie would you like to live in?” “What’s the strangest fact you know?” “What’s the best form of potato?” “What’s something you love that everyone else thinks is gross?” “What is the weirdest food combination that you swear by?” “What’s your biggest cooking disaster?” “Would you rather live without internet or air conditioning?” “Who’s the funniest person at the table? Why?” “What’s the worst fashion faux pas someone can make?” “What’s the weirdest thing a guest has ever done in your house?” “If you were a character in Clue, which one would you be?” “What celebrity would play you in a movie about your life?” “What do you normally give your pet a pep talk about?” “What’s your favorite funny Youtube Video? EXPERT TIP Lynda Jean Lynda Jean Certified Image Consultant Lynda Jean is an Image Consultant and the Owner of Lynda Jean Image Consulting. With over 15 years of experience, Lynda specializes in color and body/style analysis, wardrobe audits, personal shopping, social and professional etiquette, and personal and business branding. She works with clients to enhance their image, self-esteem, behavior, and communication to facilitate their social and career goals. Lynda holds Bachelor degrees in Sociology and Social Work, a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, and a Certified Image Consultant (CIC) certification. She studied Image Consulting at the International Image Institute and the International Academy of Fashion and Technology in Toronto, Canada. Lynda has taught Image Consulting courses at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada. She is the co-author of the book, “Business Success With Ease,” where she shares her knowledge about, ‘The Power of Professional Etiquette.’ Lynda Jean Lynda Jean Certified Image Consultant Choose topical subjects once you break the ice. Talk about cinema, something on Netflix, or a book you read. A great conversation could be about something that happened recently, like a tsunami or someone famous who passed away recently. Just make sure to pick something that isn't too controversial.
Funny Conversation Starters for Kids
Give your kiddos a case of the giggles with a funny opening line. Keep things simple and fun to have the best conversation with kids. Inject a little humor right from the start and focus on their interest to get their attention and start the conversation. Try one of these cute openers: “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever smelled?” “What’s the worst thing about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?” “Which of the Seven Dwarves is most like you?” “What animal looks the silliest?” “What’s the funniest sound you can make?” “Which Shrek movie is the best? Why?” “Do you think Bigfoot is real?” “If you woke up with magical powers, what’s the first thing you’d do?” “Would you rather have a unicorn horn or a cat tail? Why?” “What would you rather fight: a hundred duck-sized horses or a horse-sized duck?” “What’s your Hogwart’s House?” “If you could only eat 1 food for an entire year, what would it be?” “What food does everyone love but you hate?” “If you could hang out with any cartoon character, who would you choose and why?” “Which are cooler: dinosaurs or dragons? Why do you think so?” “What is the worst superhero power you can imagine?” “What is worse: burping or farting at the dinner table?” “What would be the weirdest flavor for a potato chip?”
Funny Conversation Starters for Teens
Connect with teens by using a humorous line to start the conversation. Humor is an excellent way to break the ice with a teenager. Ask them about their opinions and perspectives so you can learn more about who they are. Use one of these funny starters to show them you’re ready to have a fun, relaxed conversation: “What’s an embarrassing song you secretly love?” “What gives you the ick? “What’s the longest you’ve gone without showering?” “Do you think you would survive the zombie apocalypse? Why or why not?” “What’s your favorite movie monster? Why?” “If you had an intro song that played every time you walked into a room, what would it be?” “What’s the name of your weirdest music playlist?” “Would you rather be able to read people’s thoughts or teleport anywhere?” “What’s your least favorite word?” “What is the dumbest sport on the planet?” “What’s the worst gift you’ve ever gotten?” “What's your weirdest autocorrect fail story?” “If you could trade lives with a celebrity, who would it be?” “Would you rather be trapped in a romantic comedy with your enemies or a horror movie with your friends?” “What current hairstyle do you think people will be embarrassed about in the future?” “If you could have a magical power you only used for pranks, what would it be?” “If you had to wear a costume every day, what would it be?” “If you could erase one song from the world so you never have to hear it again, what would it be?”
Funny Conversation Starters for Friends
Get things started with a question that has your friends in stitches. When you’re chatting with a friend, you can get a little more personal with your questions. But that doesn’t mean they have to be completely serious. Sharing a giggle with your bestie helps you strengthen your bond and feel closer to one another. Use one of these amusing conversation starters the next time you chat with your best buddy: “Have you ever re-gifted a really bad gift? What was it?” “What’s your favorite swear word? Why?” “What would be the absolute worst fragrance for a scented candle?” “What’s the worst joke you’ve ever heard?” “What celebrity do you obsess over on social media?” “What movie scarred you when you were a kid?” “Do you have any secret superstitions?” “What song do you always sing in the shower?” “What’s the silliest reason you got detention in school?” “What’s the most unnecessary lie you’ve ever told?” “What old commercial jingles do you know by heart?” “What’s the most embarrassing question in your Google search history?” “What was your last Google search?” “What’s the funniest movie scene you’ve ever seen?” “What’s the weirdest thing you do when you’re home alone?” “What would be the worst place to take a family vacation?” “If there were a national holiday honoring you, how would you want people to celebrate? “What silly fashion trend do you wish would come back around?”
Funny Conversation Starters for Partners
Ask your partner a funny question to help you bond through laughter. Joking around with your significant other is a great way to build your connection and create a fun, lighthearted atmosphere in your relationship. Need help coming up with something to say? Try one of these funny opening questions: “What reality show would you appear on?” “What’s the silliest nickname you’ve ever had?” “If you could break any crazy world record, what would it be?” “If you could have dinner with any horrible person from history, who would it be?” “What would you name your imaginary band?” “What 3 things from your childhood would you take to a desert island? “Did you have an imaginary friend as a kid? What was it?” “What’s the weirdest place you’ve met someone?” “What was the worst haircut you ever had?” “What’s the worst prank you ever played on someone?” “What’s the best joke you know?” “What’s the silliest problem you have in your life right now?” “Would you rather speak in rhymes or riddles for the rest of your life?” “What’s the most unusual habit you have?” “What are the most useless facts you know?” “What weird thing do you have nostalgia for?” “What’s your favorite funny quote from a movie?” “Do you think horoscopes are accurate? Why or why not?”
Funny & Flirty Conversation Starters for Texts
Spice up your text conversations with a funny question. Getting a conversation started and flirting over text can be trickier than talking to someone in person. You can’t see their reactions or body language, which make up about 58% of how people communicate. Fortunately, laughter is one of the easier emotions to communicate over text, thanks to emojis. Plus, if you send a funny yet flirty conversation starter, it can help you feel less anxiety about the interaction. Type in one of these for a low-stress way to things started: “What 3 emojis would you use to describe yourself?” “What are your thoughts on stinky cheese?”???????????? “If you could keep a mythical creature as your pet, what would it be?”????????♂️ “What food best describes your personality????????????????????????? “What do you think is the funniest porn name?”???? “Can you describe your ideal partner using 3 emojis?” ???????????? “Do you think your pet judges you?”???? “What is the sexiest name you’ve ever heard?” ???????? “If you discovered a new planet????, what’s the weirdest name you would give it????? “If you were a dessert, which one would you be?”???????????????? “What is your snobbiest coffee order?”☕ “Fruits, vegetables, or Belgian chocolate and tears?” ???????? “What’s the most unusual thing you find attractive in a person?”???? “Would you choose immortality or unbridled sexual attraction?”???????? “Using only emojis, how would you describe twerking to my grandpa?” ???????????? “What emoji looks the most like you?”????????
Funny Tinder Conversation Starters
Enter the chat with a hilarious opening line. When you match with someone on Tinder, it can be hard to know what to say to get a good conversation going. The good news is that chatting on Tinder is easy and low-risk because you don’t have to be emotionally vulnerable. So take a deep breath and pick one of these funny conversation starters to charm them from the very first word: “Tacos or burritos?” “What’s the weirdest music genre on your Spotify Wrapped?” “What’s the nerdiest thing you did last week? “What’s the most underrated holiday?” “What’s the worst pick-up line someone’s used on you?” “Are you more afraid of spiders or saying, ‘You too!’ when a server says, ‘Enjoy your meal’?” “So…do you come here often?” “If your mom were a shoe, what kind of shoe would she be?” “Do you also still think about all the embarrassing things you said in middle school, or are you a well-adjusted adult?” “What’s the best type of cheese?” “What’s your definition of the strangest day ever?” “What’s your go-to late-night Grub-Hub order?” “Would you rather always be a little bit damp or a little bit sticky?” “Using only emojis, can you explain to me how to set the clock on my oven?” “What’s the first thing you’d do in a zombie apocalypse?” “Who is your weirdest celebrity crush?” “What’s your least favorite pasta shape?” “What’s something about you that would impress my grandma?”
Funny Conversation Starters for Dates
Make a great impression with a funny conversation starter. Dating coach and matchmaker Judith Gottesman says that laughter is a good way to connect with another person. Plus, it helps you both relax, which makes having a great conversation—and date!—that much easier. Try one of these questions to dazzle that special someone with your sense of humor: “On a scale of 1-10, how competitive are you at Monopoly?” “What’s your guilty pleasure snack?” “What’s your weirdest dealbreaker?” “Do you have a signature dance move?” “Do you sleep in socks? Why or why not?” “What’s the funniest pet name you’ve ever been called by a significant other?” “What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?” “What’s your favorite celebrity scandal?” “If you could be indestructible for one day, what would you do?” “What is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever done when bored?” “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever seen?” “If you were a superhero, who would be your sidekick?” “What’s the worst thing about a first date?” “Can you share the weirdest experience you have had while traveling?” “What’s your favorite cheesy pick-up line?” “What is the silliest lie you have ever told and gotten caught for it?” “What’s the most revolting ice cream flavor you’ve ever tried?” “If you were a cartoon character, which other cartoon character would you like to marry?”
How to Keep a Conversation Going
Use active listening so you can give good responses. The main reason to be an active listener is to show the other person you’re paying attention and interested in what they have to say. Jean says the best way to do this is to smile, make eye contact, and listen more than you talk during the conversation. Another way to let someone know you’re listening is to nod occasionally or say something like, “That’s interesting.” The idea behind active listening is to show you’re really thinking about what the other person is talking about instead of just waiting for your turn to talk. Even when they pause for you to talk, take a few seconds to consider or summarize what they just said.
Ask follow-up questions to encourage them to say more. Follow-up questions are a great way to keep the conversation going. Make sure your follow-up questions are open-ended and cant be answered with 1-2 words, though. For example, questions like, “What makes you feel that way?” or “How did that go?” are great follow-up questions because they allow the other person to share their thoughts. Gottesman says when you let the other person talk about themselves, they’re more likely to think you’re extremely interesting and entertaining. Other open-ended follow-up questions you can ask to keep your conversation going are: “Can you tell me more about that?” “How did you feel about that?” “What did you do next?” “How did that turn out?” “Why did you decide on that?”
End the conversation or introduce a new topic during a lull. The best time to change the topic or end the conversation is when you sense an awkward silence coming. By heading off an awkward pause, you avoid rambling or just uncomfrtably standing there staring at each other. Easy questions like asking if they’ve seen a popular movie or TV show are a great way to get out of awkward silences or steer the conversation in a new direction to keep it going. If you’ve run out of things to talk about, end the conversation gracefully to leave the other person with a good impression. Excuse yourself to get a drink or say something like, “I have to go, but it was nice talking with you.” Another way to end a conversation without being rude is to make a plan to meet in the future. For example, “Hey, I have to head out. Let’s have lunch next week. I’ll text you to set something up.”
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