Small talk is the short, friendly conversation people have with someone they don't know well — at work, at a party, in a queue, or with a new chat partner. It isn't about important topics. It's about being friendly, showing interest and finding something you have in common.
The secret of good small talk is simple: answer a question with a little extra information, then ask a question back. On this page you'll see a natural example, the phrases that keep a conversation moving, common mistakes, and two games. Then try it for real with a learner from another country.
You'll get conversation starters for this topic.
Sample dialogue
💡 Tip: read the dialogue out loud twice — once as each person.
Useful phrases
| Phrase | When to use it |
|---|---|
| How's your day going? | A friendly, easy opener. |
| Where are you from? | Perfect for chat partners from other countries. |
| What do you do? | Asks about someone's job. |
| How about you? / And you? | Return the question — the key to small talk. |
| Oh, really? Tell me more! | Show interest and encourage the other person. |
| That sounds interesting / fun / tough. | React to what someone says. |
| I know what you mean. | Show you agree or understand. |
| By the way, … | Change the topic naturally. |
| What do you like to do in your free time? | Find a common interest. |
| It was nice chatting with you! | End the conversation politely. |
Common mistakes
✗ — Where are you from? — Brazil.
✓ — Where are you from? — I'm from Brazil. I live in São Paulo. How about you?
One-word answers stop the conversation. Add a detail and ask back.
✗ What is your work?
✓ What do you do?
‘What do you do?’ is the natural way to ask about someone's job.
✗ How old are you? How much do you earn?
✓ What do you like to do on weekends?
Age, money and religion are usually too personal for small talk.
✗ I am agree with you.
✓ I agree with you.
‘Agree’ is a verb — no ‘am’.
✗ I'm boring today.
✓ I'm bored today.
‘Bored’ = how you feel. ‘Boring’ = something (or someone!) that makes people bored.
Games: test yourself
Conversation starters
Use these when you chat with your partner:
- Where are you from, and what's it like there?
- What's something you did this week that you enjoyed?
- Why are you learning English?
- If you could visit any country, where would you go?
Frequently asked questions
How can I get better at small talk in English?
Practise the pattern: answer + one extra detail + a question back. Chatting with real learners on learnenglish.chat is a safe way to practise every day.
What topics are good for small talk?
Weather, travel, hobbies, food, films and music, your city, your week, and learning English. Avoid salary, age, politics and religion with people you've just met.
How do I end a conversation politely?
Say something like “It was really nice chatting with you!” or “I have to go now, but it was great talking to you.”