Your guide to small talk topics, phrases and openers in English
In any situation – professional or personal – small talk in English is useful. Whether you’re speaking to a colleague, waiting for a meeting to start, chatting during a coffee break or simply speaking to your hairdresser, small talk plays an important role in building trust and connection. It helps you communicate across cultures, reduces the chance of an ‘awkward atmosphere’ and signals your openness to talk.
English small talk is more than just ‘filler conversation’ – it’s a useful social skill that can build your confidence when speaking and listening in English. It can support you in everyday spoken-English situations, and can help you make friends whilst abroad.
Here are some handy openers, topics and phrases to practise small talk in English.
Starting conversations
In most English-speaking settings, conversations don’t begin with personal or direct questions right away. Instead, people often use soft openers, which are comments or questions about the situation, yourself or the environment. These types of questions help to create a comfortable and friendly tone before moving on to discussing the real reason you’re talking to someone.
To start conversations, try using phrases like:
In the workplace
- How was your weekend?
- How’s your day / week going so far?
- How’re things with you?
At social or networking events
- What brings you here today?
- Have you been here / to one of these events before?
- How do you know …(name of person/client)?
Casual encounters
- Lovely weather today, isn’t it?
- Have you had a busy day / morning so far?
- I love your jacket / coat / hat – where did you get it?
The goal of English small talk phrases like these isn’t to exchange deep information, but to establish warmth and mutual interest. It can help people feel at ease, and set the tone for more meaningful interactions later.
Safe small talk topics
It’s important that when you start small talk, you choose topics that are positive and not controversial – for example politics, religion or something that someone may not feel comfortable sharing. Choosing the right topic can help the conversation flow naturally. However, you don’t need to think too hard about it. Once you get used to making small talk, you’ll be able to recognise appropriate small talk topics.
Some topic examples are:
- The weather: An easy, straightforward topic to engage with your environment. It’s especially popular in the UK where most people’s small talk refers to the weather.
Example: It’s quite chilly today, isn’t it? - Weekend plans: A great way to start a Monday or a Friday conversation, especially with colleagues at work.
Example: What did you get up to at the weekend? Any nice plans for the weekend? - Travel plans: A good option if you’re speaking to someone you don’t know very well.
Example: Have you been anywhere interesting recently? Do you have any holiday plans this year? - Hobbies or interests: Try introducing your own hobbies and interests to see if you have anything in common with the person you’re speaking to.
Example: I’ve just started running again and it’s harder than I remember! Do you do any sports? - Entertainment: A nice option to speak about topical things.
Example: Have you seen the new series of [name] on Netflix?
Another way to help you remember small talk topics is to follow the FORD framework:
- Family (general, not too personal)
- Occupation (work, studies, projects)
- Recreation (sports, hobbies, interests, free time)
- Dreams (travel goals, future plans)
Generally, the best approach is to keep the conversation light and positive, while actively listening and allowing time for turn-taking.
Topics to avoid
As well as safe topics, there are also certain small talk topics that are best left out of conversations, especially with people you don’t know. We’ve mentioned a couple (politics, religion), but you should also aim to stay away from talking about money, personal beliefs, controversial current events, health or other medical issues.
You should also consider cultural norms. For example, in the UK, talking about the weather is one of the most common ways to start a chat, but in other cultures it might seem superficial. If you’re unsure, do some research beforehand around small talk customs in other countries and cultures.
Useful phrases and techniques to keep the conversation flowing
It’s one thing to start a conversation, but another to keep it going. One of the top things to remember is to show that you’re actively listening, and to show genuine interest in what the speaker is saying. You can do this by responding appropriately using some of the following phrases:
- That sounds interesting / fun.
- Really? How was that / How did that go?
- Tell me more about (that).
- I can imagine that it was great / challenging / interesting.
- What happened after that?
These English small talk phrases invite the other person to expand on what they’re saying, and to make the conversation feel natural and engaging.
Follow-up techniques
Asking follow-up questions keeps the conversation moving and shows that you’re interested in what the person has to say. For example:
Person 1: How was your weekend?
Person 2: Great thanks. I went hiking.
Person 1: That sounds fun. Where did you go? OR Do you go hiking often?
Ending a conversation
Just as important as starting a conversation is knowing how to end a conversation well. This can also help you feel less awkward about initiating a conversation in the first place.
To wrap up an exchange, you could say:
- Well, it’s been lovely chatting with you.
- I should let you get back to it / work.
- I hope you enjoy the rest of your day / week.
- Let’s catch up again soon.
By ending a conversation in one of these ways you don’t suddenly disrupt the flow of the talk and you leave a more polite impression.
Small talk leads to big steps in English proficiency
Like any skill, small talk takes practice. As you practice, take care to watch how people interact in everyday situations, like on video calls, at work or in the supermarket. Remember to keep a notebook of useful phrases and expressions that are often used, and when the time comes, you’ll feel confident and calm initiating your own version of small talk!
The more small talk you do, the more natural it will be and the more likely you are to develop longer, more in-depth conversations.
Ready to do more to advance your English skills for the workplace and beyond?
