35 Ice-Breaking Questions to Ask on a First Date

The flow of conversation on a first date can often determine if there’s a second one. Tired of those awkward ‘what in the world could I possibly say next’ moments?

The good news is that there’s an abundance of things to talk about with someone new – it might just take some creativity to get there! From basic queries you might have forgotten about to conversation starters that’ll have you cracking up, we’ve got you covered.  

Keep reading for the ultimate list of best questions to ask on a first date!

The Best Questions to Ask on a First Date

The Basic Questions

When you settle in for a first date, you’ll want to warm up with basic questions you can ask anyone. Think of these as appetisers – they won’t make you feel nourished, but they’ll help you prepare for the main course:

• What do you do outside of work?
• Have you travelled anywhere recently?
• What’s your family like?
• Do you have any pets?
• How do you like living here?

These don’t have to get too basic, though. You can also dive into more interesting ones like:

• What are your top music genres?
• What does your work-life balance look like?
• Are you more of an introvert or extrovert?

The Relationship Questions

Some people use first dates as an opportunity to scan for green and red flags ASAP. If you’re feeling bold and want to explore relationship questions, try:

• What made you want to go out with me?
• What are you looking for in dating?
• How has dating been for you recently?
• How long was your longest relationship?
• What are some non-negotiables you need in a partner?

The Fun Questions

Prefer to keep things lighthearted? For surface-level conversation that can still lead to flirting, drop any of these:

• If you could time travel, when would you travel to and why?
• If you had to perform a stand-up comedy set right now, what would you talk about?
• If you could choose one superpower to have, what would it be?
• Who is your celebrity crush?
• What’s your karaoke song?
• If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world right now with no budget, where would you go?

The Deep Questions

If you’re lucky, you’ll come across someone you feel comfortable going deeper with on a first date. For a more intimate conversation, try:

• What matters most to you?
• Who do you talk to the most?
• What’s something people wouldn’t guess about you?
• What do you think makes you unique?
• What’s something you’re super proud of?
• What is a goal of yours for the next 10 years?
• How do you think your friends would describe you?
• If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

The Wild Card Questions

Want to stir the pot? You can tell a lot about a person by asking them some wild card questions. The goal here isn’t to bring up controversial topics or judge their responses too harshly; the goal is to banter, laugh, and keep things interesting:

• Do you believe in ghosts?
• Do you make your bed in the morning?
• What’s a topic you can rant about forever?
• Would you rather explore the deep sea or outer space?
• What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
• What’s the strangest song on your playlist?
• What’s the worst or weirdest first date you’ve ever been on?
• What’s a childhood secret you never told your parents?

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