84 easy icebreaker questions that anyone can answer in a minute: “what is a small thing that makes your day better?”, “what would your superhero name be?”, “what is your go-to snack?”. Made for classrooms, team meetings, workshops and parties.
Icebreaker questions cards to print (PDF)
These four pages show the icebreaker cards: 12 on a page in color, 8 big cards, a small 20-card page in black and white, and the matching card backs. Click any picture for the PDF, or use the generator above to choose the number of cards per page.
Print the icebreaker questions cards
- Choose the deck, the level and how many cards fit on a page (8 big cards, 12, or 20 small ones).
- Add your own cards at the bottom: family names, inside jokes, films your group loves.
- Tick Card backs to add a matching back page (print double-sided, flip on the long edge).
- Press Download PDF or Print, cut along the dotted lines, and shuffle.
Play it now on a phone or a TV
No cards to cut? Use the game below. Pick a level, set the timer and let the game keep score for two teams. Put it on full screen on a laptop or TV for the whole room, and press Copy link to send the same shuffled deck to friends on a video call so everyone follows along.
How to run icebreaker questions
- Circle round: one card for the whole group; everyone answers in one sentence.
- Pair and share: hand each pair a card; after two minutes, each person introduces their partner.
- Question swap: everyone gets a card, mingles, asks one person, then swaps cards and moves on.
- Online meetings: show one question on screen at the start; people answer in the chat.
Icebreaker questions list: all 84
- What is one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
- If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?
- What is the best holiday you have ever had?
- What is a skill you would love to learn?
- What was your first job, or your dream job as a child?
- What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday?
- Which three words would your friends use to describe you?
- What is the best advice you have ever received?
- What is a small thing that makes your day better?
- If you could live in any city, which one would you choose?
- What is your go-to snack?
- What is a book or film you recommend to everyone?
- What is something you are looking forward to this month?
- If you had a free afternoon today, how would you spend it?
- What is your favorite season and why?
- What is the most unusual food you have tried?
- If you could master any instrument, which one would it be?
- What was your favorite subject at school?
- What is a hobby you picked up recently?
- Which fictional character would you like as a friend?
- What is your favorite family recipe?
- What is one place on your travel wish list?
- If you could only listen to one album forever, which would it be?
- What is the best gift you have ever given?
- What is one thing on your bucket list?
- What app do you use most on your phone?
- Are you a morning person or a night person?
- What is your favorite festival and how do you celebrate it?
- What would your superhero name be?
- Which historical time would you like to visit?
- What is something you are really good at cooking?
- What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
- What is your favorite sport to watch or play?
- What small habit has improved your life?
- If you could learn any language overnight, which one?
- What is your favorite board game or card game?
- What would you name a boat if you had one?
- Which animal best describes your personality?
- What is the best concert or show you have seen?
- What is your hidden talent?
- What is your favorite childhood memory?
- What would you do with an extra hour every day?
- What is one thing you cannot live without?
- Which three things would you take to a desert island?
- What is your favorite quote or saying?
- What was the first film you saw in a cinema?
- If you opened a shop, what would it sell?
- What is the most interesting place you have lived?
- What makes you feel calm?
- What is the nicest thing a stranger has done for you?
- If you could swap lives with someone for a day, who would it be?
- What is your favorite smell?
- What did you want to be when you were ten?
- What is one thing you would like to get better at this year?
- What is your favorite way to exercise?
- What is the best meal you have ever eaten?
- Do you have a lucky number or charm?
- What is a song that always gets you dancing?
- What is a local place you love that tourists don’t know about?
- What is your favorite game from childhood?
- What is the most useful thing you own?
- What is a tradition you would like to start?
- If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
- Which invention could you not live without?
- What is a movie you can watch again and again?
- What is one goal you achieved that you are proud of?
- Where is your favorite place to relax?
- What is the weirdest thing you believed as a child?
- If you had a theme song, what would it be?
- What is a food you disliked as a child but love now?
- What is the best thing about where you grew up?
- Tea, coffee or something else?
- What is your favorite thing about your job or studies?
- If you could be famous for one thing, what would it be?
- What is one thing that always cheers you up?
- What would be your perfect day?
- What is your favorite type of weather?
- Which celebrity would you like to cook for you?
- What is something you collected as a child?
- If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
- What is the best compliment you have received?
- What is your favorite dessert?
- Who has influenced you the most?
- What is a question you wish people asked you more often?
Icebreaker questions for work: a 10-minute meeting plan
Icebreaker questions for work should be quick, friendly and safe: nobody should have to share anything private. Pick a question from the list, show it on screen and let each person answer in one sentence. This table shows how to match the format to the size of your team:
| Group size | Best format | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 6 people | Go round the table, one question each | 5 minutes |
| 7 to 12 people | Pairs: two minutes to talk, then each person introduces their partner | 8 to 10 minutes |
| 13 to 30 people | Question swap: mingle, ask one person, swap cards and move on | 10 minutes |
| 30 or more | Trios or the chat window: one question on screen, everyone answers in the chat | 5 minutes |
Start the meeting with the icebreaker, not after the agenda, because the first five minutes decide how much people talk for the rest of the hour. Rotate who picks the question, so that every team member gets a turn.
Icebreaker questions for students: the first week of school
Icebreaker questions for students work best when they are repeated, because children are more willing to talk once the routine is familiar. A simple plan for the first week:
- Day 1: pair and share. Each pair gets one card and introduces each other to the class.
- Day 2: circle round. One card for the whole class, and everyone answers in one sentence.
- Day 3: question swap. Students mingle with cards and swap after each answer.
- Day 4: write it. Students choose a card and write three sentences in their notebook.
- Day 5: student host. A student reads the card and calls on classmates.
Fun icebreaker questions and how the 84 are built
Fun icebreaker questions start light and stay light. The list has 84 questions, and the table shows how they start. Most are “What…” questions, which are easy to answer, and a good number are “If you could…” questions, which add humor:
| The question starts with | How many | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
| What | 60 | Facts, favorites and stories |
| “If you could…” | 12 | Imagination and humor |
| Which | 7 | Quick choices |
| Other openings | 5 | Who, where, how and yes-or-no questions |
Get to know you questions: tips for the host
- Answer the first question yourself, to show the length and the tone of a good answer.
- Let people pass: a pass is better than an awkward answer.
- Avoid follow-up questions that put a person on the spot, and ask “What made you choose that?” instead.
- Write the favorite answers on the board, so the group sees what it has in common.
- Keep it short: the icebreaker should open the meeting, not replace it.
Icebreaker cards: print, cut and shuffle
Icebreaker cards are easy to use in a classroom, a workshop or a party. Print them in color or black and white, cut along the dotted lines and shuffle. For the full set of 84 cards:
| Cards per page | Pages for all 84 cards | Pages with card backs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 (big) | 11 | 22 | Reading aloud to a group and classroom displays |
| 12 | 7 | 14 | A good all-round size |
| 20 (small) | 5 | 10 | Saving paper and a pocket deck |
For the research and the history of icebreakers in teaching and workshops, Wikipedia’s icebreaker article is a good start. For younger children, use the conversation starters for kids.
Frequently asked questions
4 quick answers
What makes good icebreaker questions?
Something everyone can answer quickly and nobody feels awkward about: food, travel, hobbies and childhood memories work best.
Are these icebreaker questions suitable for students?
Yes: they work from about age 10 to adults. For younger children, try conversation starters for kids.
What are good icebreaker questions for work?
Light, personal-but-safe questions such as “What is your go-to snack?” or “What is a small thing that makes your day better?” work well. They take a minute to answer and nobody needs to share anything private.
How do I use icebreaker questions for students?
Use a different format each day: pairs, a class circle, mingling and a writing prompt. Repeat the activity through the first week, so students become comfortable talking.