You meet clients or customers at work. You’re introduced to a potential new friend. Or you start dating someone new who might turn out to be a romantic partner. In all of these situations, you’ll need to ask some getting to know you questions to learn more about the person beyond the superficial chit-chat when you first meet. Asking good questions to get to know someone not only allows you to learn more about him or her, but also it allows the other person to explore themselves and articulate a deeper level of self-awareness. The right questions built trust, intimacy, and understanding between two people.
Here are 51 getting to know you questions to ask:
Questions to Get to Know Someone Deeply
1. What was your upbringing like?
You can learn so much about a person from hearing about their upbringing, their parents and siblings, and how they describe their feelings about childhood. Much of our personality and belief systems are shaped in childhood, and learning about it gives you a window into the person’s true self.
2. If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
This question is hard for some people either because they aren’t self-aware, or they express who they want to be rather than who they really are. Most people have heard enough feedback from friends and family to share an accurate reflection of their personality. But listen for deeper, more introspective answers that reveal a self-examined person.
3. What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
Asking this question is truly a gift for the other person because you’re giving them the opportunity to share something meaningful. Often the “why” part of the question gives you the most information about the inner motivations of the answerer.
4. If you weren’t working in the job you have now, what would you do?
So many people land in their jobs by accident or from outside pressure. Our jobs may not be an accurate reflection of what we are really meant to do. The answer to this question can reveal a lot about the interests and aptitudes of the person.
5. What’s on your bucket list?
This is an enlightening question that reveals the person’s hopes and dreams, longing for adventure and travel, and life priorities. Watch how engaged and excited the answerer gets when sharing their list.
6. What is one of your best memories from childhood?
Everyone has a favorite memory that reveals the simplicity, freedom, and joy of being a child. This question often exposes the tender, vulnerable side of a person.
7. If you could change something in the world, what would it be?
This question gives you a window into the person’s personal values and sense of justice. You learn what makes them frustrated, offended, or impassioned.
8. What makes you wildly happy?
Often you’ll hear about memorable experiences, hobbies, and interactions with people when you ask this question. Most of us feel the happiest when we’re doing something we enjoy with the people we love
9. What would you most like to learn and why?
This question reveals the interests and curiosity of the answerer, as well as where they might see gaps in their own abilities or knowledge.
10. What are your top fears?
I love this question because it’s really a touchy one. We all have fears, and for some, it’s hard to reveal them. But sharing our fears makes us realize we aren’t alone with them.
11. What are your top five favorite books of all time?
What we read says a lot about who we are. It also reveals areas of commonality between the question asker and answerer. When you ask this question, try to draw out from the person what made the books so compelling.
12. What music has most influenced you?
Music is the background theme in various stages of our lives and helps express who we are. For example, the music of our adolescence reflected our struggle for identity and voiced our pains and confusion. The type of music that influences a person reveals the story of their own inner world.
13. Which of your parents are you most like and why?
Most of us identify with some elements of both of our parents, but this question allows the answerer to express more about his or her parents and how they relate to them.
14. How would you describe unconditional love?
It’s fascinating to learn how different people view love, especially unconditional love. The answer will reveal the emotional needs of the answerer, as well as their views on how love should be expressed.
15. What are your top five personal values?
Personal values are the guiding principles for our lives. They reflect where and how we want to spend our time and energy. It’s fascinating to hear someone’s values and to see how they are (or aren’t) expressing them in their lives.
16. What goals do you have for the next five years?
Many people don’t have specific goals for themselves, and this question often invites them to consider what they want to achieve. For those who do have goals, their answers reveal more about their values and motivations.
17. When do you feel the most confidence and why?
The answer to this question tells you where the person feels most self-assured about their abilities and talents. We usually feel the most confident about things we’re good at and that we enjoy.
18. What big life changes have you recently experienced?
It’s interesting to hear what someone considers a big life change. For one person, it could be the loss of a job or a divorce. For another, it might mean buying a new car or getting a dog. Change is inevitable, and some people respond to it better than others.
19. How did those changes impact you?
This is the bigger part of the change question. Hearing how change has changed the person gives you a glimpse into their state of mind. Some people learn and grow from change while others lose their footing.
20. What do you feel passionate about?
It’s one thing to be interested in something or simply enjoy it. It’s another to feel passionate about it. Having a passion means you are “called” to some endeavor — you must engage in it against all odds. Not everyone has found their passion, but for those who have, you’ll sense their inner fire when they discuss it.
21. If you were an animal, what would you be?
This seems like a silly question, but it’s really very revealing. What does it tell you about a person if they answer “a lamb?” What does it say if they answer, “a bull?” We personify animals and they represent certain personality traits — loyalty, pride, stubbornness, agility, etc.
22. What really gets under your skin and makes you mad?
Learning someone’s hot buttons tells you more about their personality type, their inner fears and pain, and their sense of right and wrong.
23. What are some of your limiting beliefs?
Everyone has negative beliefs about themselves or the world that hold them back. These beliefs reflect our fears and shed light on the impact of past experiences that wounded us.
24. What is one of your most memorable dreams?
Dreams are fascinating windows into the subconscious mind. Dreams we remember are usually very powerful messages from the subconscious that invite us to examine our fears and worries. Explore this question further by asking the person to interpret the meaning of their memorable dream.
25. If you could travel back in time, what timeframe would you visit and why?
This is a fun question that shows you a bit more about the person’s interests and personality.
26. What is the most valuable life lesson you’ve ever learned?
This is a very telling question as the answer shows where someone might b6 in their stage of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. It’s also interesting to see how the person has applied the lesson to their lives and how it has helped them.
27. How do you handle anger?
How someone deals with anger also reveals much about their emotional maturity and self-control. Some people repress anger, while others have inappropriate outbursts. Watch how the person answers the question and their body language to give you even more information.
28. What do you think happens when we die?
This question reveals much about the religious or spiritual belief system of the answerer. It is interesting to follow up to find out why they believe what they do and how they came to those beliefs. (Be sure you ask this without judgment if you want an honest answer.)
29. What will be your legacy?
With this question, you’re asking the person how they want to be remembered after they die. What impact do they want to make on their family, community, or the world?
Interesting Get To Know You Questions
30. What do people usually ask when they come to you for help?
Any relationship requires reliability. Whatever happens, we should be there for our friends and partners — and we need to know that they will be there for us as well. This question exposes someone’s strongest characteristics and whether they are seen as dependable and trustworthy. Are they happy to give others a hand?
31. ?
Some people are a bit too shy to talk about their qualities, while others like to boast about their best traits. Regardless of the case, talking about compliments reveals how someone perceives themselves, what traits they care about the most, and how others see them.
32. What encounter changed your life forever?
How many times do we meet people that change us forever? These encounters become part of who we are. It’s a fact that we constantly learn from and influence each other — but some people have the incredible ability to leave an unforgettable imprint on us. Ask for their shared stories, which will certainly give you an insight into their heart.
33. What’s the one piece of advice you should have never followed?
It may be easier to remember the best piece of advice you’ve ever received but it’s surely valid to remember the really awful ones. Lessons learned aside, this question raises several good points: has a bad piece of advice changed the way you rely on others? Or how you receive others’ opinions? Make people think outside the box and measure how much they let themselves be influenced by external suggestions.
34. What keeps you up at night?
Knowing what keeps someone up at night tells you what they worry most about and what aspects of their life they find most important. Their answer will also tell you how they deal with stress and anxiety.
35. What are you afraid people will see when they look at you?
It isn’t easy to be vulnerable. We don’t want others to know our flaws and shortcomings — and that is why this question is so important. It invites people to open their heart to the fact that we are all flawed human beings. It may be hard, but it’s very freeing to let yourself be seen as who you really are without judgment.
36. How do you hope you will change as a person in the future?
Forget career or relationships for a moment. This question is all about one’s personal goals: who are you today and who do you wish to be tomorrow? What you will hear is the picture that person has painted of their present version of self, with the aspects that they like and don’t like about it. It also shows you whether they are dedicated to improving themselves or if they tend to fall in complacency.
37. What’s your biggest regret?
Someone’s regrets tell you millions of things about that person: their biggest pain, their most precious moments, the people they love the most. Besides learning from each other’s regrets, sharing these stories create a connection and a sense of understanding. After all, we all have regrets, right? Opening our hearts is enlightening and reminds us of our shared humanity.
38. If you had a chance to find out the truth about anything — yourself, your life, the future —, what would you want to know?
The way we perceive ourselves and time defines us. We may be scared of the future, and focus only on today. Or we have so many plans for tomorrow that we live in curiosity of what is to come. This is a fun and simple way to find out what that person worries about the most: the present, the future or their personal journey.
39. When did you last cry? Was it in front of another person or by yourself?
Unfortunately, crying is still seen more as a moment of weakness than a natural expression of strong emotion. However, when our feelings overflow, we all cry. It’s a moment when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, especially if we cry in front of someone else. When and with whom we let ourselves express such raw and intense emotions say a lot about who we are.
40. What’s too serious to be joked about?
Some people may believe that we can always take things lightly and joke about anything. Nine out of ten times, that isn’t the case. Everyone has a soft underbelly, a topic that is too important, cherished or even traumatizing to talk humorously about. This question not only reflects one’s personal values but also the experiences that define the way that person sees the world.
41. How would your 10-year-old self react to who you are today?
Our life journey teaches us a lot — and surprises us even more. Sometimes, we walk down challenging and unpredictable paths just to realize that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Or we are led to a place that makes us miserable, forcing us to find the strength and courage to change direction. Talking about our 10-year-old self helps us put our choices into perspective.
42. If you could be anyone else for a day, who would you be? Why?
This question gives the freedom to be whoever you want to be. Would you rather be a celebrity or a dignitary? Would you like to be a friend or family member? Or would you just stay as you? Listen to the reasons attentively because they can reveal that person’s goals, regrets, and values.
43. What are you most grateful for?
A simple question like this shows you whether that person leans towards selfishness or generosity, and if their glass is “half full” or “half empty”. Grateful people are more optimistic and positively receptive to challenges. Appreciation of what we are and have is also related to respect, consideration and also openness to giving back.
44. What’s home to you? A place, a person or a feeling?
The definition of “home” is very personal and close to someone’s heart. “Home” is the place, person or feeling that makes us feel most comfortable, acknowledged and accepted without judgment. Since such a strong idea comes from someone’s true essence, talking about “home” can lead to many stories and values that permeates one’s whole life.
45. Do you believe in second chances?
Someone’s stance in second chances shows their belief in forgiveness and their tendency to assign blame. Remember that follow-up questions will help you paint an even clearer picture of who that person is: Where do you draw the line? What is unforgivable? How important does a person have to be for you to be more forgiving than usual?
46. Is there a current idea, trend or event that you find extremely disconcerting?
The world we live in is diverse and beautiful. However, not all is joy. There is still suffering and pain, hideous events that break our hearts. Each of us is affected by these incidents differently and, by learning how others see the darker side of our surroundings, we will gain a greater understanding of their values and hopes for the future.
47. What’s the activity, place or thing that calms you?
We may be able to find solace and equilibrium on our own, but, when we are hurt, stressed or overwhelmed, it’s difficult to do everything by ourselves. That’s why we all have something that brings us back to solid ground when we are spinning out of control. Take a moment to share your points of balance — you may find out that you’re more similar than you imagine.
48. Do you believe yourself to be truly free? Why or why not?
Our sense of freedom is one of the most crucial elements of our lives. Among the complications that inevitably influence our journeys, we sometimes feel lost and constrained by our work, relationships and even ourselves. This is a question that really makes one think about how they live their life, what drives their actions and what might be holding them back.
49. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Whether that is a soft skill or a specific area of knowledge, their answer will show what they consider to be their weakest point and their most desired professional or personal goal. The best part of it is that, together, you can brainstorm ways to help that person get closer to that objective.
50. What’s the most loving thing you have ever done for somebody?
This is another question that can bring forth many stories and experiences that create connections. What we do for others say a lot about who we are, how we define “consideration” and how we show affection.
51. What’s something that happened or you have been told that changed how you view the world?
Sometimes, we lack perspective. It’s natural. We are so used to seeing life under a certain light or being surrounded by certain ideas that we don’t even stop to think that, maybe, we could see things differently. Fortunately, someone’s words or a moment in our lives can remind us that, in the end, we never know everything. Recognizing and sharing these instances is also an incredible opportunity to learn something new. If you ask these questions, ask them in the spirit of real interest and regard for the other person. You don’t want them to feel like they are in an inquisition or that you’re passing judgment on them or their answers. Recognize that all people are different and have unique and varied perceptions of themselves and the world around them. That’s what makes people so fascinating. Enjoy the process of celebrating and acknowledging these differences as you learn more about the person you’re questioning.
