{"id":19542,"date":"2022-11-04T05:41:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T12:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datemixstaging.wpengine.com\/?p=19542"},"modified":"2022-11-09T02:48:41","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T10:48:41","slug":"things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Coming up with things to talk about on a first date isn\u2019t always straightforward. When you\u2019re put on the spot \u2014 i.e. sitting across from your date in a restaurant<\/a> or bar \u2014 thinking up some quickfire first date conversation starters can feel a bit overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t have to be this much of a struggle though. Knowing what to talk about on a first date can be simple if you do a little prep in advance. There are tons of great things to talk about on a first date, so simply memorize a few from our list below, and you\u2019ll be good to go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Talk About on a First Date: 12 Top Tips and Ideas to Try<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, what do you talk about on a first date? From funny stories to flirty questions<\/a>, there are plenty of great ways to approach this. Below, we\u2019ve outlined some conversation topics for a first date to help get you started! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ask about their day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Start the date in a relaxed, friendly, and conversational manner<\/a> by asking about their day. This can nicely bridge the gap from first meeting them to getting sat down somewhere. A bit of conversational foreplay before jumping into the juicy stuff is good for setting the tone and showing off a little of your personality. Always try to be yourself though \u2013 you want them to like you for you, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Ask about something from their dating profile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the simplest topics to talk about on a first date. If you met on a dating app, you\u2019ve likely already chatted a little. You may even have talked for days \u2013 in which case you should already have a reasonable rapport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t already discussed their dating profile<\/a> in detail, break the ice by asking about the different things that are on their profile. Maybe they have an interesting bio, quirky photos, or even a weird video you can laugh about together. Take a glance at their profile before meeting up to remind yourself of what they’ve got on there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Give them a compliment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Their outfit, the jewelry they\u2019re wearing, their perfume\/aftershave, their hairstyle. Whatever it might be, pick something you like and give a sincere, simple compliment. It might not seem like much, but genuine, super sweet compliments<\/a> can immediately put your date on more flirtatious and comfortable grounds. Everybody loves hearing that the effort they put in hasn’t gone unnoticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing to avoid, of course, is making any sexual references. Later in the date, if the mood is right and you\u2019re getting along, you can always turn up the heat a bit. In the beginning, however, help them to feel comfortable by keeping things light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now \u2013 Getting Onto the Juicier Conversation Topics for a First Date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that the pleasantries are out of the way and you\u2019re feeling pretty at ease with one another, it\u2019s time to get a little deeper with your conversation, and really get to know one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Ask what they do for a living<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to things to talk about on a first date, this topic has the potential to be quite dry, especially if their job doesn\u2019t immediately sound all that interesting. But, rather than quizzing them about the intricacies of their work, ask how they got into their profession, and whether it\u2019s something they enjoy doing. Do they want a change, or do they adore what they do? Getting your date to open up can help the conversation to flow pleasantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on in the date, you can always show how well you\u2019ve listened by bringing up details they\u2019ve mentioned previously, whether it\u2019s about their career or their future ambitions. This shows you care about what they\u2019re saying, which is always flattering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Ask about where they grew up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Does anyone remember that classic moment in Friends<\/em><\/a> when Rachel reveals her killer first date move of asking the simple question, \u201cSo where\u2019d you grow up?\u201d This straightforward opener then leads to deeper questions about growing up, childhood, and Joey\u2019s relationship with his parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before anyone says it. Yes, we know Friends is a fictional show. But, this is a good example of how asking a simple question about where they grew up can be a first date topic. It gives you opportunities to think up more conversation starters based on the things you ended up talking about. In fact, you could even\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Ask about high school<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What were they like in high school? Were they a bookworm, captain of the football team, or both? What was their favorite subject, and which one were they hopeless at? If you can get onto the subject of funny high school stories, it\u2019s a potential gold mine of fun anecdotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Ask about their travel experiences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Have they ever taken a vacation in another country, or do they prefer to stay closer to home? From this jumping-off point, you can ask a ton of other fun questions, while dropping a few anecdotes of your own in there for good measure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do they love to stay in a high-end hotel, or do they prefer a cheap and cheerful hostel? Do they try local cuisine, or are they shy when it comes to new flavors? Have they ever had any funny travel mishaps?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to share your mishaps as well, by the way. They make you seem more approachable and human, and imperfections can often be very endearing and attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Ask if they have any hobbies or passions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everybody has at least one<\/em> hobby, even if it\u2019s just binging Netflix\u2019s best romance movies<\/a>. Some people have many hobbies, so using these as a first date conversation starter can open up a real treasure trove. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe they love playing guitar, painting murals, or learning new languages. You\u2019ll never know if you don\u2019t ask \u2013 so ask!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Ask about their ambitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ambition and drive can be very attractive traits. So, when it comes to things to talk about on a first date, allow them to show this off by asking about their hopes and goals for the future \u2013 in an organic way, of course. Simply asking, \u201cDo you have any ambitions?\u201d is too broad and might cause them to clam up when put on the spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, ask if they\u2019ve ever thought about where they\u2019d like to be in a decade and if they can picture this already. We\u2019ve all imagined our future lives at some point and finding out what theirs looks like can help you both to genuinely connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Ask about their family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Try approaching this topic gently by asking something like \u201cDo you have any siblings?\u201d From there you can ask about whether they get along with their parents or if they\u2019re close with their grandparents and other relatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How your date talks about their family will give you a good indication of whether you\u2019ll be a strong match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Ask about their taste in books, TV shows, and movies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rather than outright asking \u201cWhat\u2019s your favorite show?\u201d, ease them into the topic by talking about something you\u2019ve just finished watching yourself. This gives them the chance to jump in with romance books<\/a> or <\/a>horror movies<\/a> they enjoy. If you have similar tastes and interests, this one topic alone can make up a whole evening of chatting and flirting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Ask if they have any dealbreakers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of all the possible things to talk about on a first date, this one may not seem like the most flirtatious. But, it’s worth knowing early on whether they have any real lines in the sand when it comes to dating. If you\u2019re incompatible, it\u2019s better to find out on the first date than the tenth! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can casually introduce this question. A simple \u201cDo you have any online dating red flags<\/a>?\u201d can be a light-hearted way to make sure that you\u2019re compatible and have the potential to form a real, meaningful connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above All \u2013 Be Real!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to knowing what to talk about on a first date, it\u2019s important to be yourself. If there\u2019s no chemistry, there\u2019s no chemistry. Meaningful connections can\u2019t be forced. Try to always stay true to yourself and enjoy the date for what it is. You want the person sitting opposite to like you for who you really<\/em> are, imperfections and all. This is what will help to lead to genuinely special moments like that unforgettable first date kiss<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re asking yourself, \u201cWhat are the best things to talk about on a first date?\u201d try out these top options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Ask about their day<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Ask about something on their dating profile<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Give them a compliment<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Ask about what they do for a living<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Ask about where they grew up<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Ask about high school<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Ask about their travel experiences <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Ask if they have any hobbies or passions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Ask about their ambitions <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Ask them about their family<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Ask about their taste in books, TV shows, and movies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Ask if they have any dealbreakers<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you\u2019re stocked up on things to talk about on a first date, all that\u2019s left to say is good luck out there! You\u2019ve got this!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Up your first date game with 11 actually interesting things to talk about. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":29732,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[892],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-date-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dates can be stressful as it is. Up your game with 11 actually interesting things to talk about on a first date, and be sure to keep convo flowing.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dates can be stressful as it is. Up your game with 11 actually interesting things to talk about on a first date, and be sure to keep convo flowing.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Date Mix\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Zoosk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-04T12:41:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-11-09T10:48:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/engaged-couple-have-breakfast-at-the-bar_t20_GJr1go-800x600-things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dan Hackett\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Zoosk\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Zoosk\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dan Hackett\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection","description":"Dates can be stressful as it is. Up your game with 11 actually interesting things to talk about on a first date, and be sure to keep convo flowing.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection","og_description":"Dates can be stressful as it is. Up your game with 11 actually interesting things to talk about on a first date, and be sure to keep convo flowing.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/","og_site_name":"The Date Mix","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Zoosk\/","article_published_time":"2022-11-04T12:41:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-11-09T10:48:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/engaged-couple-have-breakfast-at-the-bar_t20_GJr1go-800x600-things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dan Hackett","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Zoosk","twitter_site":"@Zoosk","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dan Hackett","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/"},"author":{"name":"Dan Hackett","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#\/schema\/person\/aab47cd31eaefd6c54d3143561520560"},"headline":"12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection","datePublished":"2022-11-04T12:41:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-11-09T10:48:41+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/"},"wordCount":1585,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/GettyImages-1391836119things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date.jpeg","articleSection":["First Date Tips"],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/","name":"12 Things To Talk About On A First Date To Spark A Real Connection","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/GettyImages-1391836119things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date.jpeg","datePublished":"2022-11-04T12:41:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-11-09T10:48:41+00:00","description":"Dates can be stressful as it is. Up your game with 11 actually interesting things to talk about on a first date, and be sure to keep convo flowing.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/GettyImages-1391836119things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/GettyImages-1391836119things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date.jpeg","width":8148,"height":5432,"caption":"Happy, young couple sitting at a table and looking deeply into each others eyes while thinking of things to talk about on a first date."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/things-to-talk-about-on-a-first-date\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Dating Tips","item":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"First Date Tips","item":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-tips\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"11 Things to Talk About on a First Date"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/","name":"The Date Mix","description":"Dating and Relationship Advice for Today's Daters","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#organization","name":"The Date Mix","url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TDM-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TDM-logo.jpg","width":400,"height":400,"caption":"The Date Mix"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Zoosk\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Zoosk"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#\/schema\/person\/aab47cd31eaefd6c54d3143561520560","name":"Dan Hackett","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/avatar_user_220_1605090984-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/avatar_user_220_1605090984-96x96.jpg","caption":"Dan Hackett"},"description":"Dan Hackett is a dating and relationships writer. Originally from England, he's been writing about all things romance for several years now and has contributed to online dating sites such as EliteSingles and SilverSingles. Elsewhere, he recently wrote his first novel - though he's not tried to get it published yet. Instead, he's currently sitting on it like a goose on an egg, mortified at the prospect of releasing it into the world. Dan has been working with Zoosk to create unique and insightful content around all aspects of online dating, love, and relationships.","sameAs":["https:\/\/worldhangover.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/author\/dan-hackett\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/220"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19542\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}