The Best Conversation Starters On A First Date
Going on a first date can be daunting and awkward if neither of you are sure what to talk about. While it can be hard to prepare yourself if you’ve never met the other person before, it is important to remember that first dates are full of possibility and are a chance to get to know the person. If you’re looking for ways to break the ice, here are some of the best conversation starters for a first date…
1. How was your day?
This is a simple but effective opener to any conversation. Asking your date about their day, shows your caring side and reassures them that you are interested in more than just a quick hook up. Giving the other person a chance to talk about their daily activities also gives you an insight into their life, such as what they do for a living and what they do in their spare time.
2. What TV shows are you currently watching?
This question is one of the best conversation starters for a first date, especially if you’re looking for something light-hearted to fill an awkward silence. Asking what they like to watch on TV will help you to discover what you and your date have in common and will give you a feel for their personality, including their likes and dislikes. It’s also useful to know whether you could ‘Netflix and chill’ together, or if you’d just be fighting over the remote!
3. What is your biggest achievement?
Although this may sound like a job-interview question, asking your date about their biggest achievement gives them an opportunity to shine and can help boost their confidence if they seem shy. You’ll also gain an insight into their values and what really matters to them in life, to see whether you are compatible. For instance, they may career-driven, whereas you may be family-orientated.
4. If you could travel anywhere, regardless of cost, where would you go?
Asking this question will give you an insight into how adventurous your date is. If they have no interest in travelling, they are likely a home bird and they are unlikely to be a good match for someone who loves to travel. On the other hand, if they rattle off lots of destinations, you will be able to compare them with your own list, find similarities and discuss the reasons behind their choices. You’ll find out what excites them and what appeals to them and why, making this one of the best conversation starters for a first date!
5. Tell me about the worst date you’ve ever had…
Although you must avoiding ranting about your ex at all costs, this can be a great icebreaker. Telling the other person a funny story about a date that went wrong, is one of the best conversation starters for a first date, as it relieves the tension of an unfamiliar situation and lets the other person know what you are NOT looking for. While this is a controversial topic, we think that talking about the worst date you’ve ever had can inject some much needed humour into an awkward silence and can help both people feel more at ease. If they then ask for your worst date story, you’ll know that neither of you take yourself too seriously.
6. Where are you from?
Everyone loves talking about where they’re from and how they ended up where they are now. You can learn a lot about a person by asking this question, including details about their background and likes and dislikes in terms of lifestyle. If they live somewhere different to where they originate from, this can open up the conversation further, such as asking questions about why they left and if they ever intend to move back. You can also compare similarities and differences in your childhoods and if they were very different, you’ll have a lot to talk about!
7. What is your dream job?
Asking about the other person’s dream job is a great conversation starter, that will give you an insight into their aspirations and any future plans. You’ll learn what motivates and inspires them, and discover whether you have similar character traits or not. How they answer this question can also tell you a lot about their personality. A pessimistic or very realistic person may not pursue their dream career if they think it is unrealistic, whereas a more optimistic dreamer will likely be trying to achieve theirs. If you’re very down to earth, you may not be compatible with someone who has their head in the clouds, so this is key information!
8. Tell me about your family…
How a person answers this question will tell you a lot about them. You’ll learn whether they are family orientated, about their upbringing and close personal relationships and gain an insight into what matters most to them. If your date feels comfortable enough to discuss any difficulties from their past openly, it’s a good sign they trust you and shows they are able to overcome life’s struggles and move on. However, you may discover that your first date holds grudges or is closed off emotionally, so that you can get out of there asap. Either way, this is a great conversation starter for a first date if you want to get to know them better!
9. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
This question will help you gauge the person’s emotional maturity in their response to tough questions and learn more about their past experiences. It gives your date the opportunity to open up to you and share something with you that other people may not know about them, as well as giving you an insight into what they consider to be “hard”. Even if they avoid answering the question seriously and instead give a fun, light-hearted response, you should try to remember that not all people open up immediately and appreciate the fact that they are someone who doesn’t take life too seriously and is able to make the best of a bad situation.
10. What’s on your bucket list?
This open question is one of the best conversation starters for a first date, as it gives the other person lots of freedom in how they want to answer. It is a chance for them to share their dreams, interests and goals in life, including what they want from a career or where they’d like to travel. You’ll find out a lot about a person from this question alone, including what they’re passionate about, what is important to them and whether you’re on a similar wavelength in terms of any shared interests. If you don’t know what to say to break the ice, ask your date this and you’re bound to find something to talk about!
