How to Make Small Talk in English
Learn how to make small talk in English. Kiora and Ethan share the easy, friendly phrases for greetings, the weather and the weekend, so you can start any conversation with confidence.
The lesson
What Is Small Talk?
Small talk is light, friendly conversation about easy topics. People use it with coworkers, neighbors, classmates, and strangers in line or in an elevator. It matters because it helps you make a good first impression and build comfortable relationships. You do not need perfect grammar to do it well. The goal is to be friendly and show that you are open to talking.
Greetings and How Are You
Most small talk starts with a simple greeting like "Hi" or "Hey, how's it going?" In American English, "How are you?" is often just a polite hello, not a real question about your health. A short, positive answer works best, such as "Good, thanks. How about you?" You can also say "Pretty good" or "Not bad." Always ask the question back to keep things friendly.
Easy Topics: Weather, Weekend, Work
Safe topics make small talk easy because everyone can join in. The weather is the most common one, so you can say "Nice day, isn't it?" or "It's so cold today." On Mondays, people often ask "How was your weekend?" and on Fridays they ask "Any plans for the weekend?" You can also ask "How's work going?" or "What do you study?" Keep your answers short and then ask a follow-up question to learn more about the other person.
Tip: Keep It Going and End Politely
Tip: To keep a conversation alive, ask short follow-up questions like "Oh really? Where did you go?" or "That sounds fun. How was it?" Stick to safe topics such as hobbies, food, and travel, and avoid private subjects like money, age, religion, and politics. When you want to leave, do not just walk away. End politely with a line like "Well, it was nice talking to you" or "I should get going, but have a great day!"
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Key vocabulary
How's it going?
/haʊz ɪt ˈɡoʊɪŋ/A friendly, casual way to say hello and ask how someone is.
“Hey Sam, how's it going?”
Traduction
Comment ça va ?
Not bad
/nɑt bæd/A simple answer that means you feel okay or pretty good.
“How are you? Not bad, thanks.”
Traduction
Pas mal
weather
/ˈwɛðər/The state of the sky and air, like sun, rain, or cold.
“The weather is really nice today.”
Traduction
le temps (météo)
weekend
/ˈwiːkɛnd/Saturday and Sunday, the days when most people do not work.
“Do you have any plans for the weekend?”
Traduction
le week-end
How was your weekend?
/haʊ wʌz jʊr ˈwiːkɛnd/A common Monday question to start a friendly chat.
“Morning! How was your weekend?”
Traduction
Comment s'est passé ton week-end ?
What do you do?
/wʌt du ju du/A polite question that asks about someone's job.
“So, what do you do for work?”
Traduction
Qu'est-ce que tu fais (comme travail) ?
It was nice talking to you
/ɪt wʌz naɪs ˈtɔːkɪŋ tu ju/A polite phrase to end a conversation in a friendly way.
“I have to go now. It was nice talking to you!”
Traduction
C'était sympa de te parler
Test yourself
1. In American English, when someone says "How are you?" as a greeting, what is the best response?
2. Which topic is the safest and most common for starting small talk?
3. On a Monday morning, which question is a natural way to make small talk with a coworker?
4. What is a good way to keep a conversation going?
5. Which phrase is a polite way to end a conversation?