The 25 Best Hinge Prompts That Will Break the Ice in the Least Awkward Way, According to Relationship Experts

The best way to truly succeed on a dating app is by being transparent. This is one of the best Hinge prompts because it allows you to give your potential suitor a little glimpse of what it’s like to be with you. If you’re more of the spontaneous type, then maybe dating you is like a day at the amusement park. If you’re more laid-back, then perhaps it’s like a being at the beach at sunset. You can also always make the answer super sarcastic so that people are forced to dig deeper.

What you can say:

• A hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter day.
• Finding a pair of jeans that fit perfectly on the first try, and they’re on sale!
• Waking up and discovering you have another two hours of sleep before you have to get up.

Were you homeschooled throughout elementary school? Did you dislocate your clavicle at your best friend’s bat mitzvah? This is the chance to share that. “Answering this prompt is excellent because it helps create some vulnerability and is a simple conversation starter,” says Leadingham. But don’t feel like you’re beholden to the serious topics. If your one surprising fact is that you once snuck in to watch Justin Bieber: Never Say Never in theaters back in 2011, by all means, let people know that. Remember, your person is going to love you no matter how questionable your past decisions are.

What you can say:

• I can parallel park in three moves.
• I can’t whistle.
• That I’m still single, duh.

Whether it’s running the New York City Marathon or visiting your college roommate in London, sharing what you want to do in the next year can be an excellent conversation starter. Maybe they ran the marathon in 2018 and want to go on a training run with you. Maybe their mom was born in London and they can recommend the best neighborhood to stay in. Sharing your goals for the upcoming year says a lot about who you are as a person and what kinds of things matter to you.

What you can say:

• Get back into playing tennis.
• Rewatch New Girl for the twentieth time.
• Go to the Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’

When dating, we’re always urged to look for red flags. But when it comes to answering Hinge prompts you don’t want to possibly intimidate a match by listing all the things you hate. That’s why this is a helpful prompt. It shows that you’re open and are looking for ways to let people in as opposed to reasons to shut them out.

What you can say:

• A great relationship with your dog.
• Dedication to self-awareness.
• When you treat service workers with respect.

The best Hinge prompts were made so people get an idea of who you are. For the most part, they’re lighthearted and fun and will get a casual conversation going. This particular prompt can be all that, but it also gives you an opportunity to genuinely think about what you’re actually looking for. It’s easy to go with the motions without really taking the time to evaluate your own needs and this prompt gives you some time to stop and think. Granted, your answer still doesn’t have to be super deep, but if you want to be with someone who is of the same faith or believes in saving the environment, this would be the prompt for you to express that.

What you can say:

• Looks at me the way I look at pizza.
• Doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
• Would be open to an open relationship.

Here’s a chance to show off your domain of expertise. Maybe you spent a gap year backpacking through Europe, and now your friends are mining you for tips. Or perhaps you’re the go-to person when someone feels frustrated at work and needs a measured head for advice. Whatever it is, this can be a potential commonality for you and your date to bond over.

What you can say:

• The best way to backpack through Europe.
• How to make their next career move.
• Navigating tricky family dynamics.

Ahh the shower, the sacred place where most philosophizing happens. Answers for this prompt range anywhere from, “We’ve all been in the presence of a serial killer before” to “I’ve never actually heard a baby say ‘Goo goo gaa gaa.’” The best part about this prompt is that it often brings up little tidbits that people never really stop to analyze, so you can expect a lot of enthusiastic messages stemming from this one.

What you can say:

• Aliens invaded the moon on July 20th, 1969.
• The skin on your elbow is called your weenus.
• One day your parents put you down and never picked you up again.

“The response to this statement can show a person’s level of adventure and can create a great connection,” explains Leadingham. So, if you’re the type to live life without a schedule—unplanned trips, wedding crashing, random street performances—you should probably answer it. Your partner in crime would be thrilled for a chance to embark on those excursions with you.

What you can say:

• Streaked down a hotel hallway.
• Went skydiving for my best friend’s bachelorette.
• Asked my high school crush to prom.

Are you a Sunday morning go-getter or do you prefer to sleep until mid-afternoon? Revealing what your typical weekend looks like is a quick way to see how compatible your schedules are right off the bat. Because let’s face it: If you like sleeping in late before a leisurely brunch and their idea of happiness is waking up at the crack of dawn for a long bike ride, you might be on different pages in other aspects of your lives, too.

What you can say:

• Sleeping until noon and then Uber Eats-ing a bagel with cream cheese.
• Sunrise hike, baby.
• Brunch and then finding somewhere to watch the Giants play.

This one’s for all the anxious folks out there. Maybe you don’t truly believe that an AC unit is going to fall and hit you on the head, but as your match laughs, you can bring up the fact that you have anxiety in a light-hearted manner. If they’re willing to listen and perhaps share that they too have dealth with mental health issues, then you know they have some serious potential. “This statement helps [a match] understand [your] mindset,” states Leadingham. “Depending on the answer, this can be really hilarious or actually create some vulnerability with a person’s truth.”

What you can say:

• Falling down a manhole in Manhattan.
• A room full of people singing happy birthday to me.
• Swallowing watermelon seeds because I was told watermelons will sprout in my belly.

“I’ve seen people answer this in two ways: Some people can get pretty bitter, or they can be honest,” says Leadingham. “Sticking to the positive is always a good thing for answering any online dating questions.” That means instead of answering with something as bleak as “cheat on me like my ex did” you can respond with “be honest” or “be transparent,” which allows people to gauge your boundaries without oversharing or giving a negative connotation about your dating history. Not all information is for everyone after all.

What you can say:

• Agree to tell my grandma we met at the supermarket.
• Feel free to be yourself always.
• Are not afraid to tell me the truth, no matter how much it may hurt my feelings.

No matter how comfortable you are talking to each other online when it comes to planning the actual date, things can be uncertain. This is one of the best Hinge prompts that will help your crush out by listing some of your favorite haunts. It gives them the opportunity to look those places up and see if they’d be down to go on a first date. If you’re a regular at museums, animal shelters or the gym, there’s an opportunity to introduce them to a new activity—and that’s always intriguing.

What you can say:

• Pure Barre because nothing beats an early morning workout.
• Comedy clubs around the city.
• The artisan donut shop by my house.

Do you put mustard on Oreos like Lizzo? Are you quick to tear up like Kristen Bell? Well, your very own Chris Evans (fingers crossed) or Dax Shepard are out there and would totally love that about you. “This prompt is really cute because it helps you focus on your unique qualities,” says Leadingham. “That commonality will help create a deeper connection online.” Picture yourself finally talking to someone who understands that you’ll always cry whenever you hear Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” playing. How sublime.

What you can say:

• Treat your pet like your actual child.
• You pour your milk before the cereal.
• You don’t take down your Christmas tree until the end of January.

Travel is at an all-time high right now and baecations have never been hotter. If you are a travel buff, how someone answers this question will let you know whether or not you’d want to be on a trip with them. Do they know when to buy tickets in order to get the best discounts? Are they an activity planner or do they just wing it? Do they act like a real tourist or do they like hanging with the locals? These are all questions that can make or break a trip so it’s best to know early on.

What you can say:

• Exploring your neighborhood.
• A trip to Belgium.
• A trip to your country of origin.

You can never go wrong with a classic, and this is a sure way to engage a person in a fun way. To make things interesting, try not to put answers that are so outrageous they’re unbelievable. Instead, go for responses that still have that shock value, but can totally be true. Something like, “I went to Europe on a class trip in high school. I’m petrified of clowns. I read my horoscope religiously.” All three are plausible, but perhaps you’re one of the few brave souls who aren’t freaked out by Bozo’s inordinately large feet.

What you can say:

• I grew up on a farm. I won a tennis city championship in high school. I wear a tiara when I clean.
• I’ve never watched When Harry Met Sally. My parents didn’t let me date until I was 18. I was vegan for two years.
• My dad has my name tattooed on his chest. I have a twin. I was once stung by a jellyfish.

We all have that one topic that we completely lose our minds over and are ready and willing to debate about. Be it Harry Potter movies, ‘90s boy bands (98 Degrees was underrated and that’s that!) or going all out for Halloween or Christmas, it’s worth letting potential suitors know what excites you because odds are, they geek out on something too.

What you can say:

• Mariah Carey songs at any karaoke bar.
• The Kardashians (sorry, not sorry).
• The Lord of the Rings trilogy and its spinoffs.

As Ury has previously advised, it’s best to skip the small talk. “Your profile should be an extension of your personality, so lean in to both your silly side and your more serious one,” she tells PureWow. “You’re not just one thing. Regularly refreshing your profile with new information about yourself will help you get more matches and likes.” So, what better way to lean into both the serious and the silly than with a question like this? Whether your life goal is to live in Portugal for a year or have a pint at every single brewery in NYC, answering this Hinge prompt is a great way to get personal without getting too personal.  

What you can say:

• To live abroad.
• Own a business.
• Eat every chocolate chip cookie in NYC.

Not every Hinge prompt you answer has to be mind-blowingly profound. In fact, simple pleasures are incredibly important, because they can reveal the things that you value, like time alone, activities and personality. You want someone who would, bare minimum, give you time and space to pursue these things, or, at best, want to do them with you.

What you can say:

• Lady Grey tea with cream and three sugar packets.
• Walking outside after it rains.
• Aimless drives through the countryside.

Hardballing is in. While you shouldn’t make a habit of talking about what you don’t want in a relationship on a dating profile, you most definitely should communicate what you do want. While this Hinge prompt can also be answered humorously, it doesn’t hurt to assess what you need and want and then lay it (politely) on the table. “It’s not a demand,” Ury says. “[Ask] yourself, what’s going on for me right now? Do I want to be in a relationship? Am I looking for something fun? Do I have the time and energy to invest in a long-term partnership?” Once you have that figured out, go forth.

What you can say:

• A French-fry eating buddy.
• Someone compassionate and charmingly funny.
• A person who is just as obsessed with Jane Austen as I am.

One of Ury’s rules for a successful online dating experience? Make it easy to have a conversation. “Think of your profile as your opening line—something your match can respond to or ask a follow-up question about,” she says. A Hinge prompt like this can also reveal how great of a conversationalist someone is—or that they’re willing to make the attempt.

What you can say:

• Which is better: East Coast or West Coast?
• Best rom-com of all time?
• What is one pressing global issue you’d like to solve?

If you’re a naysayer when it comes to love languages and personality types, think again. I think that this is one of the best Hinge prompts because it can completely transform a relationship. Take this platonic example: After I learned that my mother received love in the form of quality time, I started focusing on spending time with her instead of trying to do things for her (acts of service), which she didn’t like. I stopped feeling under-appreciated and our relationship went from tense to now close and happy. Knowing how someone receives and gives love allows you to meet them where they are—and also provide insight as to why you might by butting heads.

What you can say:

• Words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, gifts or physical touch.
• You can also name your top love language as you give love and receive it.

Yes, the pros advise steering away from negative responses, but here’s an opportunity to be lighthearted and humorous. Don’t take this Hinge prompt too seriously. Use it to highlight some of your interests. It’s not like I wouldn’t go out with someone who didn’t care for the above...but the chances that I would if they did skyrocket 1,000 percent.

What you can say:

• You’re allergic to dogs.
• You don’t enjoy reading.
• You don’t believe in Taco Tuesday.

Here’s your chance to hardball it. Lay it on the table. What are you looking for? Just remember to keep it positive and list qualities you’d like someone to have, as opposed to things you don’t like. However, you can also keep it lighter with a pithy one-liner about being texted lines of Lord Byron’s poetry or them being an excellent cuddler.

What you can say:

• You make a mean tequila sunrise.
• You love The Eagles as much as I do.
• You’re a pseudo-intellectual social activist who loves being outdoors.

This Hinge prompt is the perfect opportunity to dive into a quirky or random interest. AKA, what’s your Roman Empire?

What you can say:

• Hockey pucks are frozen before games.
• The Eiffel Tower grows 15 centimeters in the summer.
• It’s illegal to own a solitary guinea pig in Switzerland.

Conversations go two ways, so don’t be afraid to ask someone about themselves. It’s admittedly the subject we’re all the most well-versed in. I love asking people this question because the conversation often turns introspective, and I learn about their dreams. But sometimes, it’s also just funny. And humor always breaks the ice.

What you can say:

• Your favorite book.
• One regret.
• The last time you felt truly happy.