50 Conversation Starters for Online Chat

Ask → Listen → Follow up → Share. One question, one follow-up on their answer, then something of your own. Repeat. That loop is most of good conversation.

1. What's the best part of your day so far?
2. What are you listening to right now?
3. What time is it where you are?
4. What's something you're looking forward to?
5. What did you do today that you enjoyed?
6. What are you watching lately?
7. What's a hobby you got into recently?
8. What's the best thing you've eaten this week?
9. Where in the world would you rather be right now?
10. What brought you here tonight?

1. What are you grinding at the moment?
2. PC, console or mobile?
3. Most hours you've ever put into one game?
4. Hot take: most overrated game?
5. Which game soundtrack lives in your head?
6. Solo or squad?
7. Which game would you erase from memory to play again?
8. What's your main and why?

1. What song is on repeat?
2. Best concert you've been to?
3. One artist everyone should know?
4. What do you listen to when you can't sleep?
5. Which album would you save in a fire?
6. Do you play anything?
7. What's your guilty-pleasure song?

1. What did you watch last?
2. Best ending ever?
3. Sub or dub?
4. Which show would you erase from memory to rewatch?
5. Movie you can quote by heart?
6. Most underrated film?
7. What should I watch tonight?

1. Why are you up right now?
2. Night owl by choice or not?
3. Best late-night snack?
4. What's on your mind tonight?
5. What's your 2 am song?
6. Do you have a night routine?
7. What's the best thing about nights?
8. Coffee or sleep tomorrow?

1. Which language are you learning?
2. What's the hardest word you've learned?
3. Can you teach me a phrase in your language?
4. What's a word with no English translation?
5. How do people greet each other where you are?
6. What slang should I know?
7. What's a local saying you like?
8. What's school like where you are?
9. Which accent do you find hardest?
10. Want to swap: 10 minutes each language?

"hi", "asl", "m or f?", anything about appearance, anything sexual, and anything asking for location or socials.

Text: a question with a hint of personality. Voice: a warm greeting and an easy question: "Hey! How's your day going?" Video: a smile, a wave and a comment on something neutral: "Nice lighting, where are you calling from?"

A specific question tells the other person you're interested in them, gives them something easy to answer, and suggests a topic for the next few messages. A vague "hi" asks them to do all the work, which is why so many chats die after the first line.

Find more in each country chat.

• "What do you like most about it?"
• "How did you get into that?"
• "What would you recommend to a beginner?"
• "What's the best part of your week so far?"
• "Have you always been into that?"

Stories make conversations memorable. After a couple of answers, share a short story of your own related to the topic: "That reminds me of the time I got lost in Tokyo looking for a ramen shop." Stories invite stories back.

On voice, open warmly: "Hey! How's your day going?" On video, smile, wave and comment on something neutral like the time of day where they are. Keep the first minute light before going deeper.

In group rooms, ask the whole room something easy and specific: "What's everyone listening to tonight?" or "Best thing that happened to you today?" Open questions to a group get more replies than statements.

Use what's happening in the world to start conversations: "Are you watching the World Cup?", "Doing anything for Diwali?", "What's the weather like there this week?", "Seen any good films this summer?" Timely questions feel natural and give the other person something easy to answer.

1. "What's something you're looking forward to this week?"
2. "What are you listening to right now?"
3. "What time is it where you are?"
4. "What's the best thing you've watched lately?"
5. "What brought you here tonight?"

Paste one in when your mind goes blank.

Asking too many questions without sharing, giving one-word answers, switching topics too fast, talking only about yourself, and asking for personal details too early. Avoid these and almost any opener will turn into a good chat.

100 questions to ask a stranger · Deep questions to ask · Would you rather questions

When it's time to go, here's how to end a conversation online politely.