Would you like to have conversations in English but don’t know what to talk about?
Don’t panic.
In this post, I’ll share some of the best conversational English topics that you can discuss with native speakers, teachers, or other learners.
Asking and answering questions is key to having an enjoyable conversation in English. So you’ll find some example questions that you can use for each of these conversational English topics.
These will help you practise your conversational skills and connect with others, so you can improve your speaking and learn from other people too.
Let’s check out these 40 conversational English topics!
1. Travel And Tourism
Discussing travel experiences is a great way to practice English. It involves describing places, activities, and cultures in detail. You can talk about holidays, places that you’ve visited and would like to visit.
Questions:
- What's your favourite place that you've travelled to?
- Have you ever had a bad experience while travelling?
- I’d like to go to___________. Have you ever been there?
- What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?
- What are your top 3 countries that you’d like to visit?
2. Food And Cuisine
We all love food, don’t we? Talking about food is a universal topic and can lead to discussions about cultures and traditions.
Questions:
- Can you cook well?
- What do you think of Thai food? Chinese food? English food?
- What’s your favourite restaurant?
- What’s a typical dish from your country that I should I try?
- In my country, we have a typical dish called________. Have you ever tried it?
3. Music
Discussing music can be a fun and engaging topic. It can reveal a lot about someone's personality and interests, and you might even discover some new artists that you’ll love.
Questions:
- Who is your favourite musician?
- What was the last concert you went to?
- Who are some of the most famous singers in your country?
- Do you prefer rock music or blues?
- What music do you not like?
4. Movies And TV Shows
Talking about movies, TV shows and TV series is a great way to connect with others, especially if they have similar tastes to you.
Questions:
- What's your favourite movie/TV show and why?
- Do you prefer to watch movies or TV shows? Why?
- Have you ever watched ________?
- Can you recommend some great TV series?
- Who’s your favourite movie star?
5. Education
Discussing education can lead to thought-provoking conversations about the role of schooling and the importance of learning. Not only that. You can also learn about the school system in another country!
Questions:
- What was your favourite subject in school?
- How does the school system work in your country?
- What subjects do you study in school?
- How many hours of English do students have?
- Did you / do you like going to school?
6. Hobbies
Everyone has a hobby. Talking about hobbies and passions is a great way to connect with others and learn about their interests.
Questions:
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- Have you ever tried a new hobby?
- Do you have any hobbies that are unique to your culture?
- If you had more free time, what would you do with it?
- Which hobbies are the most popular in your country?
7. Family
Discussing family can lead to interesting conversations about traditions, relationships, and values.
Questions:
- Would you like to start a family one day?
- How big is your family?
- How do you spend time with your family members?
- How attached are you to your family?
- Do you get along well with your family members?
8. Sports
You don’t have to be a sports fan to talk about sports. Sports are part of the culture of many countries so this topic can lead to engaging discussions about national sports events and competitions.
Questions:
- What is your favourite sport to watch/play and why?
- Have you ever won a race or a sports competition?
- What sports are people crazy about in your country?
- Do you prefer watching sports or doing sports?
- What sports do you find boring?
9. Technology
Technology is everywhere and we all have our own opinions about it. This is why technology is a topic that can make anyone talk
Questions:
- What’s your relationship with technology?
- What new technology are you most excited about?
- What do you think robots should be used for?
- Do you think robots will cause unemployment in the future or create more work?
- What are the disadvantages of technology?
10. Books
We’ve all read at least one book in our life and you don’t need to be an avid reader to discuss books. If you don’t like reading, no worries, you can still say why you don’t like it.
Questions:
- What is your favourite book?
- What books would you recommend reading?
- Do you ever read books in English?
- What is the funniest book you have ever read?
- How do you choose the next book you want to read?
11. Fashion
Fashion is always changing. Talking about it gives you an opportunity to practise using descriptive language to talk about clothing and accessories.
Questions:
- What are some of your favourite fashion trends, and why?
- Do you prefer to dress casually or formally?
- What’s the latest fashion item you bought?
- Do you follow any fashion influencers?
- Who’s your favourite fashion designer?
12. Environment
The environment is a hot topic these days. We should all talk about how to protect the planet in any language, not just in English!
Questions:
- Do you think you live in a “green” area?
- How environmentally friendly are you?
- What changes would you like to make to your lifestyle so you can protect the environment?
- What are some environmental problems in your country?
- Does your local government make it easy or hard for citizens to recycle?
13. Culture And Customs
Traditions, celebrations, national events, religion, special days. You can talk about culture and customs for hours.
Questions:
- What are some of the most important traditions or celebrations in your culture?
- What do you like/dislike about your culture?
- Have you ever experienced culture shock?
- What’s your favourite national holiday?
- How is your culture unique?
14. Career And Work
This is one of those conversational English topics that's relevant to most adult learners of English. You can talk about jobs you’ve done, jobs you wouldn’t like to do, and weird jobs unique to your country.
Questions
- What are some of your career aspirations?
- What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career?
- Do you think it is more important to have a high-paying job or a job that you enjoy?
- Is there a job you wouldn’t like to do?
- Is it easy to find a job where you live?
15. Health And Fitness
Health and fitness is an important topic that affects everyone and it’s great to practice vocabulary around nutrition and self-care.
Questions:
- What do you do to stay healthy?
- Do you think mental health is as important as physical health?
- Do you think diets are useful or not?
- What do you usually eat?
- How much do you exercise?
16. Personal Growth And Development
Personal growth and development is another one of those motivational and inspiring conversational English topics. You might discover something new by talking about it and this alone can help you grow as a person.
Questions:
- What are some personal goals that you have set for yourself?
- How do you stay motivated and focused on achieving your goals?
- What do you do to grow as a person?
- Do you ever read self-help articles?
- Do you think helping others makes us grow?
17. Teachers
I'm sure you disliked some of the teachers you had but you also have a teacher that has a special place in your heart. Discussing teachers can bring back lovely memories.
Questions:
- Who's the best/worst teacher you've ever had?
- Would you rather learn from a young teacher or an older teacher?
- Do you think we could learn without teachers?
18. Weekends
People spend their weekends in different ways and weekends are always good conversational English topics, especially at the beginning and end of the working week!
Questions:
- What do you like to do at the weekend?
- What did you do last weekend?
- What's your ideal weekend like?
- What was the best moment of your weekend?
- How do people spend weekends in your country?
19. News And Current Events
Talking about current events, such as news stories or social issues, can help you improve your language skills while staying informed about what's happening in the world.
Questions:
- Have you heard the news about ________? What do you think about that?
- How do you keep up to date with current events?
- What's an interesting news story you've recently heard?
- What topics are often discussed in the news in your country?
- Do you think it’s essential to watch the news every day?
20. Life Experiences
Some conversational English topics will help you with grammar and this is a great topic to practice the present perfect in English!
Questions:
- Have you ever seen__________?
- Have you ever been to ___________?
- Have you ever visited _________?
- Have you ever eaten______________?
- Have you ever played ______________?
21. Favourite People
This topic can include any people (celebrities, writers, athletes, singers, etc.).
Questions:
- Who’s your favourite writer?
- Who’s your favourite footballer?
- Who’s your favourite movie director?
- Who’s your least favourite artist?
- Who’s your least favourite chef?
22. Home
A great topic to practise vocabulary for furniture and objects around the house.
Questions:
- Which room is the most important for you in your home?
- What would your ideal house be like?
- Do you prefer to live in a big or a small house?
- What do you dislike about your house?
23. English
Speak in English about English so you can improve your English. It sounds like a slogan, but it’s true!
Questions:
- What do you like about studying English?
- What are you doing to improve your English?
- What’s your favourite English word and why?
- Do you have any English learning strategies?
- What’s your favourite website to learn English?
24. Future
Nobody knows what will happen in the future, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t talk about it. It’s also a great topic to practise future forms.
Questions:
- What life plans do you have for the future?
- Do you think humans will still be around in 1000 years?
- How do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Are you excited about the future?
- What are you most worried about for the future?
25. Would You Rather…?
This is a question that can get anyone to talk. You can make it fun or serious, up to you. Here are some possibilities.
Questions:
- Would you rather travel to the past or the future?
- Would you rather have a dog or a cat?
- Would you rather have more money or more free time?
- Would you rather live in a world with no books or no movies?
- Would you rather live in a house made of ice or a house made of glass?
25. If You Could…?
This is another great conversation question that can be adapted to any topic and it’s especially useful if you want to practise using the English conditional tense.
Questions:
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
- If you could travel back in time, what era would you visit?
- If you could learn any new skill overnight, what would it be?
- If you could eliminate one thing from the world, what would it be and why?
- If you could solve one world problem, which one would it be and why?
26. Friends
A light topic that is useful to practise vocabulary around personality, relationships and activities. You can use it to make new friends too!
Questions:
- Can you describe one of your closest friends?
- Do you make friends easily?
- What is the longest friendship that you have had?
- What do you like doing with your friends?
- What things should friends never do?
27. Apps
Most people own a smartphone today and we all have apps we use every day. You could ask and answer questions about these so you can discover new ones.
Questions:
- What is your favourite app on your phone and why?
- What is an app that you use frequently, but you feel like not many people know about?
- Have you ever developed your own app? If yes, what was it and if not, what kind of app would you like to develop?
- Do you think that apps are making our lives easier or more complicated?
- Are there any apps that you think are unnecessary or overrated?
28. Social Media
Everyone has an opinion about social media. Some people hate it, some people love it. This is a great conversational English topic.
Questions:
- How do you use social media in your daily life and which platforms do you use the most?
- What do you think are the positive and negative effects of social media on our society?
- How has social media impacted your personal relationships and connections with others?
- What are some strategies you use to maintain a healthy relationship with social media?
- What do you think the future of social media will look like?
29. Personality
This might be a little hard because we don’t normally do it, but talking about your own personality can help us discover new things about ourselves. It’s a great topic to practise advanced English vocabulary to describe characters and personality traits.
Questions:
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
- How do you think your personality has changed or evolved over time?
- Are there any aspects of your personality that you would like to change?
- How do you think personality affects our relationships with others?
30. Emotions
Speaking about emotions helps us understand and express how we feel. When we talk about our emotions, it can also help us connect with others and build stronger relationships. This is an awesome topic for conversation.
Questions:
- How do you typically express your emotions when you're feeling happy or excited?
- Have you ever had a time when you were feeling down or upset but didn't feel comfortable talking about it?
- What is one thing that always makes you feel better when you're feeling sad or stressed?
- How do you deal with difficult emotions like anger or frustration?
- What makes you feel bored / annoyed / angry / happy / sad?
31. Cities
Cities are places where many people live, work, and play. By discussing cities, we can learn about their unique characteristics to create better and more liveable communities. And you can practice vocabulary for facilities and services.
Questions:
- Do you like living in the city?
- What’s your favourite city and why?
- What are some of the disadvantages of living in a city?
- Is your city safe?
- What cities have you visited in the past year?
32. Fears
This is a personal topic that can help you make a deeper connection with the person you’re discussing it with.
Questions:
- What is something that scares you, and why do you think you feel that way?
- Have you ever faced a fear and overcome it? How did you do it?
- How do you typically react when you're feeling afraid or anxious?
- Do you think that fear can ever be a positive thing, or is it always a negative emotion?
- How do you help someone who is feeling afraid or anxious?
33. Weather
This is one of the most popular conversational English topics. The weather affects everyone. Talking about it is a way to connect with others and can be an easy and non-threatening way to start a conversation.
Questions:
- What's your favourite season and why?
- What's your favourite type of weather, and why do you like it?
- Do you prefer sunny or rainy weather, and why?
- Have you ever experienced extreme weather conditions, like a hurricane or blizzard?
- How does the weather impact your daily routine or plans?
34. Aliens
This is a controversial topic. You might not believe in aliens but maybe, if you talk about it with someone who believes in them, you will change your mind!
Questions:
- Do you believe in the existence of aliens or extraterrestrial life?
- If you were to encounter an alien, what do you think your first reaction would be?
- What do you think aliens might look like?
- Have you ever had a strange or unexplained experience that you think might have been related to aliens or UFOs?
- If aliens came to Earth, what do you think their intentions would be?
35. Jokes
Telling jokes is an art and you might know some jokes in your first language. Can you tell them in English? It’s a great way to make the conversation fun and light-hearted.
Questions:
- What's your favourite type of joke, and why do you find it funny?
- Do you have a joke that you always tell people? Can you share it with me?
- Have you ever heard a joke that you didn't find funny, but others around you did?
- How important do you think humour is in our daily lives, and why?
- What's the funniest joke you've heard recently?
36. Stereotypes
Stereotypes are often based on false assumptions about certain groups of people and can lead to prejudice and discrimination. But by discussing stereotypes, we can challenge them!
Questions:
- What is a stereotype that you have heard about your country?
- Have you ever been a victim of a stereotype?
- Why do you think people rely on stereotypes?
- How can we challenge and break down harmful stereotypes in society?
37. Animals And Pets
This is a topic that anyone who has a pet would love talking about!
Questions:
- Do you have any pets? If not, would you like to have one?
- What's your favourite type of pet?
- Have you ever had a funny or interesting experience with a pet?
- Do you think that having a pet can have a positive impact on mental health?
38. Art
We often associate art with paintings, but there are many forms of art that you can talk about: music, sculptures, literature, theatre, and many others.
Questions:
- What is your favourite type of art?
- Have you ever created any art yourself?
- What do you think makes art valuable or important in our society?
- Have you ever been to an art museum or gallery? What did you see there?
39. Cars
Not everyone is into cars, but if you meet someone who likes them, you might have a never-ending conversation with them!
Questions:
- What car do you own?
- What do you like or dislike about your car?
- What do you think are the most important factors to consider when buying a car?
- What’s your favourite type of car?
- Do you like to watch car racing?
- What's your favourite car brand, and why do you prefer it over others?
40. Childhood
We all have some amazing memories about our childhood and this is an excellent topic to practice using past tenses in English.
Questions:
- What is your earliest childhood memory?
- Did you have any favourite childhood toys or games?
- Did you have any childhood heroes?
- What did you enjoy most about being a child, and what do you miss about that time in your life?
Conversational English Topics To Kick-Start Discussions
What do you think of these conversational English topics? Do they make you feel like you want to go out there and have conversations?
I hope so!
Having conversations in English can open a whole new world of opportunities.
So, don't be afraid to put yourself out there and start talking.
The more you talk, the more you will learn, and the more doors will open up for you!
If you need a little bit more help to start speaking, check out these common English phrases to sound more natural when you speak.
