160+ Tinder Conversation Starters to Get the Best Response

Starting a conversation on Tinder can feel daunting. However, it doesn’t need to be!

With the right conversation starters, you can engage in matches and get conversations flowing.

In this post, I will share over 160 conversation starters you can use on Tinder. Keep reading to find starters for any situation and get tips for choosing the best ones.

160+ Tinder Conversation Starters

Looking for what to say on your first contact with a match, here are some ideas to help you:

Generic Tinder Conversation Starters

These generic starters are a great place to start for a first message on Tinder. They help break the ice without being too direct.

Hey, how’s it going?
How’s your day been so far?
What have you been up to lately?
What are your plans for the weekend?
Any fun weekend plans?
What do you like to do for fun?
What brings you to Tinder?
What kind of music do you like?
Have any hobbies or interests?
Favorite movie or TV show?
Seen any good movies recently?
Plans for New Year’s Eve yet?

Travel & Location Tinder Conversation Starters

If their profile mentions travel or location, use it as a conversation starter:

I see you’ve been to _. What did you think of it?
How long have you lived in this area?
Always wanted to visit __. What should I do there?
Any travel plans coming up?
Favorite place you’ve visited so far?
Least favorite travel memory? Funniest travel story?
Ever been to _[place near you]? We should check it out.
I’m new to the area, any restaurant/bar recommendations?
What do you like best about living here?

Conversation Starters for Animal Lovers

If they have pets or mention animals in their profile:

Aww what a cute dog/cat! What’s its name?
Dogs or cats?
I love _[animal] too. What breed is yours?
Ever thought about getting a pet?
Funniest pet story?
Favorite animal outside of dogs/cats?
Team dog or team cat?

Foodie Tinder Conversation Starters

For someone who seems interested in food:

Favorite local restaurant?
What kind of cuisine do you like?
Ever tried __[food]?
Big foodie? Seen any good food shows?
Cooking or ordering in – what’s your preference?
Best meal you’ve had recently?
Favorite breakfast food?
Sweet or savory tooth?

Conversation Starters for Sporty Fans

If their profile references sports:

Go __[home team]! Big game coming up?
You play any sports?
Ever tried __?[sport]?
Favorite player or team?
Did you watch the last game? Thoughts?
Workout fanatic? What’s your routine?
Ever play any sports in school?

Conversation Starters for Artsy People

For someone interested in art, music, etc:

Favorite artist right now?
Been to any concerts lately?
Ever been to a __ festival? How was it?
Into any art forms like painting, photography, etc?
Been following the latest TV shows or movies? Any recs?
Favorite genre of music?
Hidden talent no one knows about?

Tinder Conversation Starters for Bookworms

For an avid reader:

Currently reading anything good?
Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Prefer e-books or physical books?
Ever been to a book festival?
Favorite childhood book?
Fiction or non-fiction reader?
All caught up on the latest bestsellers?

Best Conversation Starters for Nerds

For someone who seems into gaming, comics etc:

PC or console gamer? Favorite game?
Ever been to any gaming/comic conventions?
Binge any good shows recently?
Team Captain America or Team Iron Man?
Favorite superhero or villain?
How do you feel about the latest Star Wars movies?
Read any comic series? Recommendations?

Funny Conversation Starters?

Here are some funny openers to lighten the mood:

So how much for a picture of your pet rock?
Can you guess my favorite cheese without asking any questions?
I have some really good pickup lines but they only work 1/10 times. Wanna hear them?
Come here often? 😉
Knock knock. Who’s there? Interrupting cow. Interrup- MOO!
Want to hear a construction joke? I’m still working on it.
What’s the deal with airplane food? Am I right?
You hear about the claustrophobic astronaut? He just needed a little space!

FAQs

What if Someone Doesn’t Respond to My Opener?

If they don’t respond to your first opener, don’t take it personally. Try sending another message with a different starter after a day or two.

However, if you don’t get a response after a second message, it’s best to leave it at that rather than continue messaging. Some other tips:

Double-check their profile for recent activity – if they were last active weeks ago, they likely won’t respond.
Make sure your message isn’t too short, bland, or seems like you didn’t read their profile.
Avoid overly sexual or negative messages that could come across as rude or creepy.
Give them space after sending the second message in case they just missed your previous messages.

How Long Should Initial Texting Messages Be?

When starting a conversation, keep your first messages between 4-6 sentences max.

Short messages are more likely to get read than long paragraphs. 4-6 sentences allow you to introduce yourself, mention something in their profile, and ask a question to engage them.

Once you’ve exchanged a few messages, you can send longer replies. But in the beginning, brevity is best.

What Are the Best Ways to Craft Messages for Dating Sites?

Here are some other tips for writing great Tinder messages:

Reference something specific in their photos or bio to show you read their profile.
Ask an open-ended question to get a conversation started rather than just stating facts.
Compliment something they’ve mentioned but avoid overly generic compliments.
Add a touch of humor when possible to show your personality.
Spell-check and proofread messages before sending them to avoid silly mistakes.
Don’t copy and paste the same intro to multiple people. Messages should feel personalized.
Try to get a message exchange going by building off their response rather than dropping new topics.

Final Thought

With the right conversation starters in your back pocket, you’ll be prepared to match with new people on Tinder and get exciting conversations flowing.

Experiment with different openers depending on people’s profiles and don’t get discouraged if some don’t respond right away.

Wishing you the best of luck in connecting with new matches! Let me know if you have any other Tinder questions.