Small talk topics: 40 that work

This page has 40 small talk topics that work with almost anyone, and 10 to avoid. The principle behind it is that a good topic has low stakes and many entrances: everyone has something to say about it, and nobody has to be right.

Each topic comes with a short line on how to open it. Pick two or three you like before an event, and let the other person’s answers pick the rest. For the wider skill, see small talk. If you want exact questions, our icebreaker questions for adults and conversation starters lists have plenty.

What are good small talk topics about daily life?

Daily life is the safest ground, because everyone lives it. Start with the ordinary and let the details do the work.

1. Commutes. Ask what the best and worst part of the journey is.
2. Lunch. Ask where the reliable spot is, or what someone brings from home.
3. Weather. Use it as a bridge, not a destination, and move on after one exchange.
4. Sleep and routines. Ask whether they are a morning person or a night person.
5. Coffee and tea. Ask how they take it, and what they would never drink.
6. Local shops and cafes. Ask which one they would recommend to a newcomer.
7. Public transport. Ask about a route with a good view or a strange story.
8. Weekend plans. Ask what they are hoping to fit in.
9. Seasons. Ask which time of year they enjoy most, and why.
10. Home projects. Ask what small fix or upgrade they are proudest of.

Follow-up: ask for one detail, such as the exact route or the exact spot, and share your own in a sentence.

What are good small talk topics about leisure and interests?

Leisure topics show what people love, and people are generous when talking about what they love. Ask about the start of an interest, since the beginning is where the story is.

11. Hobbies. Ask how they got into it.
12. Books. Ask what they would press into a friend’s hands.
13. Films and series. Ask what they have rewatched more than once.
14. Podcasts. Ask which one they never skip.
15. Music. Ask what they play when they clean or cook.
16. Games. Ask about a game they can play for hours, board or digital.
17. Sport. Ask whether they play or watch, and who they support.
18. Cooking. Ask what dish they make when they want to impress.
19. Gardening or plants. Ask what has survived and what has not.
20. Crafts and making. Ask what they have made with their hands.

Follow-up: ask what they would do differently next time. It moves from the topic to the person.

What are good small talk topics about travel and places?

Places give people stories and recommendations. They also let you talk without asking anything personal.

21. Holidays. Ask about a trip they would repeat.
22. Hometowns. Ask what visitors always miss there.
23. Cities they have lived in. Ask what they miss.
24. Dream destinations. Ask what is on the list and what is holding them back.
25. Local hidden spots. Ask for a place a tourist would not find.
26. Food while travelling. Ask about the best meal they have eaten abroad.
27. Long journeys. Ask how they get through a long flight or train ride.
28. Languages. Ask whether they speak any others and how they learned.
29. Nature and walks. Ask where they go to clear their head.
30. Festivals and events. Ask about the last one they enjoyed.

Follow-up: ask for one recommendation and say you will try it. Then mention it the next time you meet.

What are good small talk topics for work and learning?

Work topics are fine when you keep them to what people do, not what they earn or think of their boss. Focus on interests, skills and the shape of a day.

31. Career paths. Ask how they came to do this work.
32. Skills they are learning. Ask what is hardest and what is fun.
33. Tools and apps. Ask what saves them the most time.
34. Working from home or the office. Ask where they focus best.
35. Side projects. Ask what they do outside their job.
36. Best colleagues. Ask what they learned from someone they worked with.
37. Courses and reading. Ask what they read to get better at something.
38. Industry news. Ask what they have found interesting lately, and keep it neutral.
39. Team traditions. Ask what small ritual the team keeps.
40. Future plans. Ask what they would like to try next, in a broad sense.

Follow-up: link their answer to your own week in one line, then ask what they are doing about it.

Which small talk topics should you avoid?

Avoid topics that can hurt, divide or embarrass someone, especially with people you have just met. These are not banned forever. They belong to closer relationships, where trust has been built over time.

1. Politics. Views are strong and quickly become a test of the person.
2. Religion. It is personal, and a wrong step can feel like an attack.
3. Money and salary. Comparison creates discomfort, whatever the numbers are.
4. Health problems. Let people bring them up themselves, and then listen.
5. Relationship status, dating and children. The questions can land on a sore spot.
6. Gossip about absent people. It tells the listener you may do the same to them.
7. Age and weight. Even kind comments can sting.
8. Complaints about the event. Negativity spreads, and someone in the group may love it.
9. Controversial news. It invites heated argument in a short space.
10. Personal appearance. Comments on looks can feel intrusive, so try a compliment on a choice instead, such as a bag or a story.

If a talk drifts into one of these, steer it. Say, “That reminds me of something lighter,” and ask about a neighbouring subject such as food or weekends.

How can you practise this before it counts?

You can practise by picking one topic a day and trying it with a friend, a colleague or a shop assistant, then noting what got a warm answer. Recording yourself opening a topic out loud also helps you hear how it sounds. For guided practice, Volo is a mobile app with an AI roleplay called “Introducing yourself at a party”, and a What To Say category called Breaking the Ice with scripts in warm, playful or direct tones. The coach grades three goals and quotes your own lines. More scripts sit under Breaking the Ice.