30 Excellent Questions to Ask On the First Date

Last Updated on February 25, 2024

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The thought of going on a maiden date conjures up feelings of excitement and anxiety in equal measure. No matter how prepared you are, you never know how it’s going to pan out. Your first date isn’t just a perfect opportunity to finally meet and connect with the other person. It’s also a great chance to leave a lasting impression.

Having a list of the right questions to ask goes a long way in eliminating the awkward moments of silence that are characteristic of most first dates.

First-date questions should be objective, engaging, and open-minded. The questions shouldn’t come across as though you’re cross-examining your partner. Instead, they should speak to your sincere desire to know the other person better.

The following is a rundown of the top 30 questions to ask on your first date.

1. What makes you unique?

Everyone has something that defines their character and personality. Asking this question might help you determine whether you have any shared hobbies and interests.

2. What do you do (and how long have you been doing it)?

This is a typical first-date question that’s intended to get to know what the other person does for a living. It’s a question almost all men have to handle on their first dates.

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

Some people find the question “what do you do for a living?” a bit uncomfortable. Maybe they’re not employed yet. Or they just lost their job and don’t want to talk about it. So, you can try asking them a less subjective question like what a typical day looks like for them. They’ll likely talk about how they spend their free time and might also touch on their job, depending on how comfortable they feel talking about it.

4. Where are you originally from?

It’s important to know where they hail from, including their country, state, ethnicity, and home town. While you’re at it, also inquire them where they presently live.

5. Where did you go to school?

This is an excellent way to find out how educated they are. Pay keen attention to the college or university they went to, and what their major was.

6. Do you have any nicknames?

Nicknames speak volumes about a person’s character. Very few ladies would agree to a second date with a guy nicknamed Hitler or Pablo.

7. What are you best known for among your friends?

The answer to this question is most likely embarrassing. However, it shouldn’t shape your opinion about your partner, as friends have a way of remembering only the silliest things we did.

8. Is there anything you don’t eat?

You better ask this question before ordering a meal; it may save you a huge disappointment. Of course, coffee and tea are likely exceptions.

9. Does your family practice any special traditions?

Cross-cultural conflicts aren’t unheard of in many relationships today. So, if the first date works out, familiarize yourself with the other person’s cultures and traditions before moving to the next steps.

10. What do you like to do in your free time?

This is purely about their hobbies and interests. Pay attention to unusual pastime activities.

11. Who is the most fascinating person you’ve met?

It can be anyone, ranging from their mom, dad, siblings, politicians, corporate moguls, etc. But it can’t be their ex.

12. Who is your role model?

Knowing who your partner looks up to for inspiration will help you to establish whether you have any shared ambitions.

13. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from someone?

Asking this question may enable you to find out what their weaknesses are. People give advice to counsel, not to compliment.

14. What made you ask me out?

Often directed at men, this is a perfect question to get to know what his motives are. Watch out for answers that border on lust.

15. What made you accept my invitation?

This first-date question is the direct opposite of the one above. Was she blown away by your impressive personality or your social media profile bio? Or maybe she’s simply on the rebound and looking for a shoulder to cry on!

16. How long have you been single?

There’s no hard and fast rule here. But they must have been single for at least six months. You don’t want to get in with a serial dater.

17. What was the longest relationship you’ve ever had?

If the answer is anything upwards of three years, proceed to ask how it ended. It’s difficult to get over an ex you’ve dated for that long.

18. What do you expect the most out of a relationship?

The answer is likely something that they missed in their past relationships.

19. What amazing adventures (do you crave/have you been on)?

This is another question that suggests the first date is coming along nicely, and you want to treat her to a charming experience on the second date.

20. What do you dislike the most in a man/woman?

Pay a keener attention to the answer here, because it might be the main reason their past relationships didn’t work out. Worse yet, it could be something they’ve already spotted in you for the few minutes you’ve been talking.

21. If you were to open a business today, what kind of business would it be?

Asking this question means that you’ve already picked up a few cues that things might work out for the both of you. It’s a great way to let them know that you care about financial success.

22. What have you always wanted to learn or wish you were better at?

Here’s another smart way to inquire about their dreams and ambitions.

23. What do you love but are often embarrassed to admit?

Everyone has their guilty pleasures, and the answer to this question might surprise you.

24. Do you have children?

It’s convenient to presume that they don’t have children, based on their looks or age. But never miss a chance to ask this question. Remember that children change the entire dating equation.

25. What’s your pet peeve?

We all have that one thing that we find particularly irritating. It could be certain kinds of people, certain pets or pets in general, the television, watching soccer, or the social media.

26. What do you consider very expensive but worth every penny?

The answer to this question might be what they’ve always wanted but cannot already afford. It’s also a great way to get to learn about their money sense.

27. What was the last time you walked for fun and how long was it?

This first-date question will help you to determine how physically active your partner is.

28. What’s your favorite saying or quote?

Words are highly inspirational, and it’s great to know what quotes motivate your partner. Don’t expect something cute or cool. Instead, look beneath the surface of it.

29. Are you a morning guy/gal or a night owl?

A very important question right there. You wouldn’t want a partner who wakes up three hours before you, or one who goes to bed three hours after you. Unless of course, there are valid reasons behind their routines.

30. Do you have any phobias?

We all have phobias, and most people aren’t afraid of admitting it. Darkness, spiders, heights, crowded places, flying on a plane, you name it. But you’ll never know what their phobias are until they say it.

Conclusion

Most of the first-date questions we’ve highlighted here apply to both genders. So, there’s no excuse for having a boring first-date experience even if the other person is the quiet type. Happy dating!

Posted by:Igor Ovsyannnykov

Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams. When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.

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