What are the best small talk topics?

The setting you're both in, weekend plans, food, travel, hobbies and what someone's watching or reading. They're easy to answer and can lead to more personal topics if both people want that.

What topics should you never bring up in small talk?

With people you don't know well, avoid politics, religion, money, health, weight, looks and gossip. They're not banned forever, just risky early on.

Is talking about work okay in small talk?

Yes, in general terms: what someone does and what a normal day is like. Avoid salaries, office politics and complaints about colleagues.

How do I make small talk more interesting?

Ask questions that invite a story or an opinion instead of a fact. "What was the best part of the trip?" gives you more than "Where did you go?"

Is it bad to talk about the weather?

No. It's a fine opener. Just connect it to something about the person, such as their plans, within the first minute.

Good Small Talk Topics: What to Talk About (and Avoid)

Topics that work almost anywhere

A good small talk topic has three things: anyone can answer it, there's no wrong answer, and it can lead somewhere more personal if both people want it to.

Where you are: the venue, the event, the food, how you got there.
Plans: the weekend, a holiday, something coming up this month.
Food and drink: favourite places nearby, something they cooked, what's good on the menu.
Travel: recent trips, places they want to go, where they grew up.
Work, in general: what they do and what a normal day looks like, not salaries or office politics.
Hobbies and interests: sport, music, games, things they're learning.
Films, shows, books, podcasts: what they're watching or reading now.
Pets: almost always a safe and happy topic.
The local area: new openings, the best walk, road works everyone's annoyed about.

A simple memory aid many people use is FORD: family, occupation, recreation, dreams. It covers most of the list above. Keep "family" light with people you've just met (siblings, where family lives) rather than personal (marriage, kids plans).

Good topics by setting

The best topic is usually the one the setting hands you.

Setting	Topics that fit	Example question
Office kitchen	The week, lunch, weekend, a shared project	"Any plans for the long weekend?"
Networking event	Their work, the event, what brought them	"What made you come to this one?"
Party	The host, food, music, how people know each other	"How do you know Leila?"
Wedding table	The couple, the venue, travel to get there	"Are you from the bride's side or the groom's?"
School pickup	The class, events, after-school activities	"Is yours in Mr Patel's class too?"
Gym or class	The class, routines, the instructor	"Have you done this class before? Is it brutal?"
Video call	Where they are, the week, the meeting	"What's the weather doing where you are?"
Hairdresser or taxi	Your day, plans, the area	"Has it been busy today?"

Topics to avoid (and safer swaps)

These aren't forbidden in every relationship. They're risky with people you don't know, because opinions run deep and you can't tell how they'll react.

Topic	Why it's risky	Safer swap
Politics and elections	Strong feelings; one sentence can end the chat	Local news that's neutral: a new park, a festival
Religion	Personal and easy to offend	Holidays and traditions, if they bring them up
Money, salary, house prices	Can feel like judging or comparing	What they enjoy spending time on
Health, illness, weight	Private; may be painful	How they like to stay active, if relevant
Looks and body	Can feel intrusive from someone new	Compliment a choice: "Great jacket, where's it from?"
Gossip about people present	Can get back to them, and it makes you look unkind	Talk about the event, not the people
Relationship status, kids plans	Can touch on something painful	Let them share if they want to
Complaints about the host or event	Puts the other person in a bind	Something you're enjoying

If someone else brings up a risky topic, you don't have to follow. A neutral reply and a turn works: "I haven't followed it closely, honestly. Did you get to see the band last night?" More ways in how to change the subject.

How to move past the weather

The weather is a good opener because everyone can reply. It's a poor topic, because there's nowhere for it to go. Use it as a doorway, not a room.

The trick is to connect the weather to something about the person: plans, a habit or a story.

Weather to plans: "Finally some sun. Are you doing anything outside this weekend?"
Weather to habits: "This rain is relentless. Are you a stay-in-with-a-film person or do you go out anyway?"
Weather to a story: "This heat reminds me of a trip to Seville where I nearly melted. Have you ever been somewhere this hot?"
Weather to the place: "Is it always this windy here? I've only lived here a year."

Each version takes the weather and turns it into a question about their life. Within a minute you're talking about something real.

How to tell if a topic is working

You'll know a topic has legs when:

Their answers get longer, not shorter.
They ask you a question back.
They add details you didn't ask for.

If you're getting short replies, don't push the topic. Switch to another from the list, or follow up on something they mentioned earlier. The how to keep a conversation going page has the full method.

Topics depend on the culture and the person

What's safe varies. In some places, asking what someone does for a living is a normal first question; in others it feels too direct. In some workplaces, weekend plans are fine; in others people keep personal life private. A good rule: follow the other person's lead. If they mention their kids, you can ask about them. If they don't, don't.

If English isn't your first language and small talk feels like an extra exam, see small talk in English for non-native speakers.

Practice the turn, not just the topic

Knowing good topics is easy. Moving from one to the next in real time is the hard part. Practise the move from weather to plans out loud a few times, so it comes out naturally. The small talk drill gives you openers to answer out loud. Speaking Coach's Chat at the coffee machine scene lets you try it with an AI partner who answers like a coworker would.