Conversation Starters for Gatherings, Family, and Good Times

At events, when meeting new people, or around the dining room table, great conversation doesn’t always come easy.

Use one or more of our conversation starters to get things going. We have a selection of ideas you can use for various social gatherings, and some ideas for young families, too.

You can also try these icebreakers for work events or meeting new people. If you’re with people you know, you can ask some of these questions for friends, these open-ended questions for interesting conversation, or some deep topics if you want to chat long into the night.

Some of these question and conversation games could also work, too. if you’d like to get these conversation starters as a printable, find it at the foot of the article. We hope you have some great conversation with them!

Conversation Starter Ideas

Here you can read through and take a closer look at all of the topics in the printable.

Simple Topics

Keep things simple with these topics. Use them to find common ground and shared interests.

• Memorable vacations.
• Pets and lovable pet stories.
• DIY projects you have worked or are working on.
• Movies or TV shows you’re looking forward to.
• Cities you loved so much you’d consider living there.
• Best live concert you’ve been to.
• Everyday items you can’t live without.
• Theme songs that often get stuck in your head.
• Movie scenes that make you teary-eyed.
• Favorite sit-down family meal.

General Ideas

These topics can be used in a variety of different scenarios. Again, use them to find common ground.

• Languages you know or would like to learn.
• Musical instruments you play.
• The last good book you read.
• Favorite road trips, staycations, and trips abroad.
• Memorable acts of kindness you’ve seen.
• Underrated and overrated TV shows.
• What your public speaking topic would be.
• Dream home features and destinations.
• Hidden talents you have.
• World records you’d attempt.

Interesting Conversation

These topics delve a little deeper and encourage you to discuss favorites, memories, and more.

• Travel bucket list destinations.
• Dinner party guests.
• Desert island items.
• Music that defined a decade.
• Influential inventions in your lifetime.
• Your first phone and what it could do.
• Fashion trends that should make a comeback.
• What you’d learn or study at college/university today.
• Something you’re proud of.
• Most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done.

Ideas for Young Families

For young families, try some of these topics around the dinner table or in the evening.

• Favorite hobbies.
• Places you want to visit in the world.
• The perfect pizza toppings.
• What you enjoyed today at school.
• What you’d like to be when you’re older.
• What things you’d like to learn more about.
• Where your secret hideout would be and what would be in it.
• What you’d talk about with your favorite animals.
• Favorite things to do with friends.
• Favorite sounds.

Get the Conversation Starters Printable here.

In a world of digital exchanges, the art of conversation can be tricky, no matter who you’re talking to.

With one or more of these conversation starters, you’ll always be able to initiate conversation that is not only right for the moment, but interesting enough for the two (or more) of you to discuss.

Finally, don’t forget to keep these conversation starters in your back pocket, by saving this article to one of your boards.