Everyone loves to talk about themselves, especially their favorite things.
So, I’ve compiled a list of 180 “favorite things” questions that will make your conversations fun and engaging.
Say goodbye to awkward silences and hello to interesting discoveries!
Table of Contents
“What Is Your Favorite” Questions
Kick things off with some good old classics. These are the perfect way to break the ice and uncover some of his preferences and peculiarities:
1. What’s your favorite color?
2. What’s your favorite food?
3. What’s your favorite animal?
4. What’s your favorite movie?
5. What’s your favorite book?
6. What’s your favorite TV show?
7. What’s your favorite season?
8. What’s your favorite sport?
9. What’s your favorite hobby?
10. What’s your favorite song?
11. What’s your favorite place to visit?
12. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
13. What’s your favorite holiday?
14. What’s your favorite drink?
15. What’s your favorite type of weather?
16. What’s your favorite flower?
17. What’s your favorite game?
18. What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
19. What’s your favorite way to relax?
20. What’s your favorite time of day?
If those questions seem straight out of elementary school, that’s the point. They show a basic level of awareness (If the guy doesn’t know his favorite color, how is he supposed to know what he wants?), and I personally prefer a guy who can turn a dull question into a fun, cheeky response.
Asking about someone’s favorites isn’t just for getting to know them — it makes you more likable.
A study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that “people who ask more questions are better liked by their conversation partners.”[1]
But don’t ask questions you don’t care about. Genuine interest is key. Even simple questions like “What’s your favorite season?” can work wonders.
The magic is in the interaction, not the complexity.
Random “Favorite Things” Questions
There’s nothing like tossing out a quirky question to catch someone off guard and see how they roll with it.
For a touch of spontaneity, try these random “favorite things” questions to keep the conversation lively and unexpected, like the trajectory of a tornado (IYKYK, Twisters edition):
1. What’s your favorite non-face emoji?
2. What’s your favorite type of tree?
3. What’s your favorite word?
4. What’s your favorite exercise?
5. What’s your favorite thing about the internet?
6. What’s your favorite mode of transportation?
7. What’s your favorite thing about being an adult?
8. What’s your favorite scent?
9. What’s your favorite conspiracy theory?
10. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re alone?
11. What’s your favorite obsolete tech gadget?
12. What’s your favorite fashion trend from the past?
13. What’s your favorite useless fact?
14. What’s your favorite place to people-watch?
15. What’s your favorite show to binge-watch when you’re sick?
16. What’s your favorite way to procrastinate?
17. What’s your favorite misheard song lyric?
18. What’s your favorite dinosaur?
19. What’s your favorite word in another language?
20. What’s your favorite smell that others find weird?
The more random the question, the better the answer. That’s my theory.
It reminds me of that scene from The Big Bang Theory when Sheldon asks Penny about the inevitability of the singularity while she’s pondering wine pairings for spaghetti.
It’s those unexpected, off-the-wall questions that spark the best discussions and reveal the most about people.
So, channel your inner Sheldon and ask something random. You might just uncover hidden genius — or at least get a good laugh!
Favorite Things to Ask About: Food
Who doesn’t love talking about food?
These questions are perfect for discovering culinary preferences and maybe even planning your next date.
1. What’s your favorite cuisine?
2. What’s your favorite dish to cook at home?
3. What’s your favorite comfort food?
4. What’s your favorite dessert?
5. What’s your favorite food to order at a restaurant?
6. What’s your favorite breakfast?
7. What’s your favorite pizza?
8. What’s your favorite snack?
9. What’s your favorite type of chocolate?
10. What’s your favorite way to eat potatoes?
11. What’s your favorite soup?
12. What’s your favorite salad ingredient?
13. What’s your favorite spice or seasoning?
14. What’s your favorite sandwich?
15. What’s your favorite fruit?
16. What’s your favorite type of cheese?
17. What’s your favorite street food?
18. What’s your favorite comfort food from childhood?
19. What’s your favorite food combination?
20. What’s your favorite type of bread?
Tim Urban, author of What’s Our Problem, put it perfectly on his blog, Wait But Why: “When you choose a life partner, you’re choosing a lot of things, including . . . your eating companion for about 20,000 meals.”[2]
When you think about it that way, those questions about compatibility don’t seem so silly anymore, do they?
Research shows that a partner’s diet can significantly influence your own eating habits. A study in the Nutrition Research Reviews found that couples often share similar meal patterns, which can lead to positive or negative dietary influences based on their habits.[3]
So, if you choose someone with a poor, unvaried, unadventurous diet, it can impact your long-term health and cultural horizons. We all have our food quirks, but if his go-to is always a Dr. Oetker frozen pizza and a beer while you’re a salad aficionado, the incompatibility will eventually grow tedious.
Trust me, I’ve been there — his habits can jeopardize your fitness goals and leave you longing for more variety.
Favorite Things to Ask About: Career and Work
Understanding a guy’s career aspirations and work experience gives valuable insights into his professional life and ambitions.
1. What’s your favorite thing about your current job?
2. What’s your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?
3. What’s your favorite aspect of your industry?
4. What’s your favorite way to stay organized at work?
5. What’s your favorite skill you’ve developed in your career?
6. What’s your favorite work-related accomplishment?
7. What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day at work?
8. What’s your favorite tool or software that helps you in your job?
9. What’s your favorite way to handle work stress?
10. What’s your favorite type of task or project to tackle?
11. What’s your favorite part of working with your team?
12. What’s your favorite professional development resource?
13. What’s your favorite strategy for staying motivated?
14. What’s your favorite piece of career advice you’ve received?
15. What’s your favorite way to celebrate work successes?
16. What’s your favorite work-related goal you’ve achieved?
17. What’s your favorite part of your daily routine at work?
18. What’s your favorite work-related challenge you’ve overcome?
19. What’s your favorite way to brainstorm ideas?
20. What’s your favorite story about a work-related mishap that turned out well?
These questions are great for getting insight into his professional journey, his coping mechanisms, and the tools he relies on to succeed. They also provide a window into his personal victories and standout moments that can be both inspiring and relatable.
It reveals not just his current status but his trajectory — whether he’s on the fast track to success or simply coasting along.
This knowledge can shed light on his priorities and proactiveness, helping you determine if he’s a go-getter with ambition or, well, a scrub hanging out the passenger side, always talkin’ about what he wants, and just sittin’ on his broke . . . No, we definitely don’t want no scrubs.
Favorite Things to Ask About: Childhood
Childhood memories are the treasure troves of our past, filled with the joys, discoveries, and lessons that shaped us.
By exploring these memories, you get a glimpse into the experiences that molded his unique personality.
So, take a stroll down memory lane with these 20 questions and see what made his childhood one of a kind.
1. What’s your favorite school subject?
2. What’s your favorite piece of advice from a teacher?
3. What’s your favorite classroom memory?
4. What’s your favorite cartoon you watched as a kid?
5. What’s your favorite song that brings back childhood memories?
6. What’s your favorite superhero or fictional character from your childhood?
7. What’s your favorite childhood nickname?
8. What’s your favorite hiding spot you used for hide-and-seek?
9. What’s your favorite adventure you had with childhood friends?
10. What’s your favorite memory that always makes you laugh?
11. What’s your favorite gift you received as a child?
12. What’s your favorite epic birthday party memory?
13. What’s your favorite outfit or costume you wore as a kid?
14. What’s your favorite place from your childhood you wish you could visit again?
15. What’s your favorite bedtime story or book you loved?
16. What’s your favorite proud moment from your childhood?
17. What’s your favorite childhood dream you had? Did you achieve it?
18. What’s your favorite family pet you had growing up?
19. What’s your favorite memorable holiday or vacation from your childhood?
20. What’s your favorite day from your childhood you’d want to relive?
Childhood is like the roots of a tree — everything starts there.
According to a study in BMC Public Health, both positive and negative childhood experiences significantly influence adult health and well-being, impacting everything from emotional resilience to social skills.[4]
So, knowing how he views his childhood is pretty important. It says a lot about his self-awareness.
Plus, if he doesn’t get overly excited about Lego, dinosaurs, or blanket forts, is he even human?
Favorite Things to Ask About: Books
For the bookworms among us, these questions are perfect for sparking literary discussions and discovering new reading recommendations.
1. What’s your favorite childhood book?
2. What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation?
3. What’s your favorite mystery novel?
4. What’s your favorite science fiction book?
5. What’s your favorite book cover design?
6. What’s your favorite place to buy books?
7. What’s your favorite book to read on vacation?
8. What’s your favorite book character you’d like to meet?
9. What’s your favorite memoir?
10. What’s your favorite book to read in one sitting?
11. What’s your favorite literary quote?
12. What’s your favorite book-club read?
13. What’s your favorite classic novel?
14. What’s your favorite nonfiction book?
15. What’s your favorite dystopian novel?
16. What’s your favorite book series to binge-read?
17. What’s your favorite book to read before bed?
18. What’s your favorite literary genre?
19. What’s your favorite book you’ve read this year?
20. What’s your favorite underrated book?
When I was a young gal, there was a saying that if a guy invites you over and there are no books in his room, he doesn’t deserve your . . . attention (to keep it PG).
Talking about books can reveal a lot about someone’s interests and values, like whether he reads books at all.
If you’re not a book reader either, happy days — you’ve found each other! But if you are, it’s going to be hard to connect.
I love talking about books and could do it for hours. I need someone who will actively participate in those tirades. Besides, isn’t “I read this and thought about you” a love language?
Favorite Things to Ask About: Hobbies
Discovering someone’s hobbies can give you a glimpse into how they spend their free time and what activities they find fulfilling.
1. What’s your favorite hobby to do alone?
2. What’s your favorite group activity?
3. What’s your favorite DIY project?
4. What’s your favorite thing to collect?
5. What’s your favorite sport to watch?
6. What’s your favorite puzzle game?
7. What’s your favorite way to explore creativity?
8. What’s your favorite weekend activity?
9. What’s your favorite thing to photograph?
10. What’s your favorite place to hike?
11. What’s your favorite card game?
12. What’s your favorite houseplant?
13. What’s your favorite way to keep a journal?
14. What’s your favorite type of dance?
15. What’s your favorite thing to build?
16. What’s your favorite type of event to attend?
17. What’s your favorite fitness class?
18. What’s your favorite manual craft?
19. What’s your favorite musical instrument to play?
20. What’s your favorite cooking utensil?
Hobbies are a window into someone’s passions and interests outside of work and obligations.
It’s a fantastic way to find shared activities or discover new ones together. Think of it as opening the door to endless adventures — whether it’s exploring new hiking trails, attending a pottery class, or training surfboard acrobatics.
Favorite Things to Ask About: Travel and Vacation
Explore his world through these travel-related questions. They’re perfect for dreaming up future trips and sharing past adventures.
1. What’s your favorite travel memory?
2. What’s your favorite thing about traveling?
3. What’s your favorite landmark you’ve visited?
4. What’s your favorite cultural experience abroad?
5. What’s your favorite way to document your travels?
6. What’s your favorite type of accommodation?
7. What’s your favorite thing to do on a road trip?
8. What’s your favorite place to travel for relaxation?
9. What’s your favorite travel planning tip?
10. What’s your favorite travel companion quality?
11. What’s your favorite travel-related book?
12. What’s your favorite travel website or app?
13. What’s your favorite way to immerse yourself in local culture?
14. What’s your favorite travel-related souvenir?
15. What’s your favorite food experience while traveling?
16. What’s your favorite way to meet new people while traveling?
17. What’s your favorite scenic view?
18. What’s your favorite mode of transport on vacation?
19. What’s your favorite travel hack?
20. What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to recently?
Travel questions can unveil a sense of adventure and curiosity about the world. They can also tell you a lot about whether it’s a match or not. If you’re more of a homebody, and so is he, that’s great. But if you love to travel and he’s not a fan, that might be a hiccup down the road.
If you’re both into traveling, that’s fantastic! According to the Journal of Travel Research, traveling together can seriously boost your relationship. Couples who hit the road together report higher satisfaction and are more likely to stay together long-term because shared travel experiences help build stronger bonds and better communication.[5]
So, ask about his travel past. It might spark the idea for your first getaway together or lead to swapping stories from your backpacking escapades through Southeast Asia.
Favorite Things to Ask About: Art and Entertainment
Explore his creative side with these questions about art and entertainment. They’re ideal for discovering his aesthetic tastes and entertainment preferences.
1. What’s your favorite form of art?
2. What’s your favorite live performance you’ve attended?
3. What’s your favorite style of architecture?
4. What’s your favorite period in art history?
5. What’s your favorite gallery or museum?
6. What’s your favorite animated film?
7. What’s your favorite music festival?
8. What’s your favorite fashion designer?
9. What’s your favorite book about art?
10. What’s your favorite way to experience live music?
11. What’s your favorite poetry collection?
12. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
13. What’s your favorite kind of visual art?
14. What’s your favorite play or musical?
15. What’s your favorite piece of public art?
16. What’s your favorite comedy show?
17. What’s your favorite way to discover new music?
18. What’s your favorite dance performance?
19. What’s your favorite place to see a movie?
20. What’s your favorite piece of street art?
Discussing art and entertainment preferences can be like stepping into a gallery of his life, exploring the diverse and colorful exhibitions that make up his personality . . . or laughing together about knowing nothing about art.
Discovering how clueless you both are about art can turn into a fun journey of discovery. Exploring your respective tastes together can be just as enjoyable, if not more so.
Conclusion
When it comes to getting to know someone, asking about his favorite things is a fantastic way to break the ice and spark meaningful conversations.
These questions offer quick snapshots of likes and interests, uncover unexpected facets of personality, inspire delicious date ideas, and reveal cultural insights.
You can learn about his professional life and ambitions, his learning journey and intellectual pursuits, his literary interests and values, his passions outside of work, his past adventures, and his future travel plans.
Remember, the key to a great conversation is to listen as much as you ask. So go ahead, ask these favorite things questions, and watch the magic unfold!
Curious to learn more about getting into a relationship? Check out our guide here!
References
- Huang, K., M. Yeomans, A.W. Brooks, J. Minson, and F. Gino. (2017). It doesn’t hurt to ask: Question-asking increases liking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 430–452.
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:35647952 ↩︎ - Urban, T. (2014, February 9). How to pick your life partner – part 1. Wait But Why.
waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/pick-life-partner.html ↩︎ - Leech, R. M., Worsley, A., Timperio, A., & McNaughton, S. A. (2015). Understanding meal patterns: Definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality. Nutrition Research Reviews, 28(1),1–21.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422414000262 ↩︎ - Daines, C. L., Hansen, D., Novilla, M. L. B., & Crandall, A. (2021). Effects of positive and negative childhood experiences on adult family health. BMC Public Health 21, 651.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10732-w ↩︎ - Chen, T., & Smith, W. W. (2015). The effect of travel together on relationship satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research, 55(3), 307–320.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287515592970 ↩︎
