Questions · Questions to ask strangers

Questions to ask strangers that don’t feel strange

Most conversations with strangers last five minutes and happen in a line, a waiting room or a seat on a train. These questions are for exactly that: friendly, easy to answer and easy to walk away from.

  • 16 questions
  • EN + TL on every card
  • Free in the app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.

Getting to know№ 04

When you try a place to eat, what makes it feel worth visiting again?

Kapag may tinry kang kainan, ano yung nagpapaisip sa'yo na worth balikan ito?

Tap to flipkumustahan
A note

It could be taste, comfort, price, people, or memory. Places become favorites for different reasons.

Puwedeng lasa, comfort, presyo, tao, o memory. Iba-iba yung dahilan kung bakit may places tayong binabalikan.

Tap to returnkumustahan

The questions

16 questions to ask strangers

Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.

In a line or a waiting room

5 questions

Questions about the moment you’re both stuck in.

  1. While waiting for food, a ride, or someone late, how do you pass the time?

    Habang naghihintay ng pagkain, sasakyan, o late na tao, paano mo pinapalipas yung oras?

    Back of the card

    Waiting brings out our tiny survival styles. Some people scroll, some observe, and some start making stories in their head.

    Lumilitaw yung tiny survival style natin kapag naghihintay. May nag-scroll, may nag-oobserve, may gumagawa na ng kwento sa isip.

  2. When your brain is tired, what is your go-to order?

    Kapag pagod na utak mo, ano yung go-to order mo?

    Back of the card

    The reliable order deserves respect. It shows up when decisions are too much and hunger is already making a case.

    Respect sa reliable order. Lumalabas siya kapag ayaw mo nang mag-decide at gutom na rin ang nagsasalita.

  3. Pick your ideal weather: a warm rainy afternoon or a cool sunny morning.

    Pumili ng gusto mong panahon: maulan pero mainit na hapon o maaraw pero malamig na umaga.

    Back of the card

    Choose a sound to go with your weather.

    Pumili ng tunog na bagay sa pinili mong panahon.

  4. When you enter a classroom, meeting room, or café, where do you usually choose to sit?

    Pagpasok mo sa classroom, meeting room, o café, saan ka usually pumipili umupo?

    Back of the card

    Seat choices can reveal comfort, strategy, or pure habit. Somehow we all have a spot our body chooses first.

    May sinasabi rin yung seat choice: comfort, strategy, o habit lang talaga. Minsan katawan na ang pumipili.

  5. When you try a place to eat, what makes it feel worth visiting again?

    Kapag may tinry kang kainan, ano yung nagpapaisip sa'yo na worth balikan ito?

    Back of the card

    It could be taste, comfort, price, people, or memory. Places become favorites for different reasons.

    Puwedeng lasa, comfort, presyo, tao, o memory. Iba-iba yung dahilan kung bakit may places tayong binabalikan.

On a plane, train or bus

5 questions

Travel questions for a seatmate who seems up for a chat.

  1. On a plane, would you choose a window seat or more room for your legs?

    Sa eroplano, mas gusto mo ba ng upuan sa tabi ng bintana o mas maluwag para sa mga paa mo?

    Back of the card

    For this flight, would you rather chat, nap, or watch the view?

    Sa biyaheng ito, mas gusto mo bang makipagkuwentuhan, umidlip, o tumingin sa tanawin?

  2. You receive one free round-trip ticket. Where are you going first?

    May libre kang round-trip ticket. Saan ka pupunta?

    Back of the card

    Choose one thing you would want to do before flying home.

    Pumili ng isang gusto mong gawin bago bumiyahe pauwi.

  3. Which language would you learn instantly if you woke up fluent tomorrow?

    Kung paggising mo bukas ay marunong ka na ng isang bagong language, ano ang pipiliin mo?

    Back of the card

    Choose the first person you would like to talk to in that language.

    Piliin ang unang taong gusto mong makausap gamit ang wikang iyon.

  4. When you enter a new place, what’s one small thing you notice right away?

    Kapag nasa bagong lugar ka, ano yung isang maliit na bagay na una mong napapansin?

    Back of the card

    What you notice first can hint at what makes a place feel interesting, calm, or welcoming to you.

    Minsan clue yung una mong napapansin kung ano ang nakaka-curious, nakakapagpakalma, o nagpapagaan ng pakiramdam mo.

  5. Choose a nearby place you would like to explore with a friend.

    Pumili ng malapit na lugar na gusto mong puntahan kasama ang friend.

    Back of the card

    Imagine finding an unexpected favorite corner there.

    Isipin na may makikita kang sulok doon na magiging paborito mo.

At a meetup or event

6 questions

For when talking to strangers is the whole point.

  1. What event would you choose if the ticket were free?

    Kung may libre kang ticket sa isang event, ano ang pipiliin mo?

    Back of the card

    Imagine the event is about to begin. What are you most excited to see?

    Magsisimula na ang event. Ano ang pinaka-gusto mong makita?

  2. Name one small, specific thing you enjoy more than people expect.

    Magbanggit ng isang maliit at specific na bagay na mas enjoy mo kaysa ina-expect ng iba.

    Back of the card

    Specific joys can be tiny clues about a person. They do not need to make sense to everyone to be real.

    Yung specific joys, maliit na clue tungkol sa tao. Hindi kailangan gets ng lahat para maging real.

  3. What small things make a room feel welcoming to you?

    Anong maliliit na bagay ang nagpaparamdam sa'yo na welcome ka sa isang room?

    Back of the card

    Welcome can come from tone, space, food, faces, or small signals that say you do not have to prove yourself.

    Puwedeng galing sa tono, space, pagkain, mukha ng tao, o maliliit na sign na hindi mo kailangang patunayan ang sarili mo.

  4. What helped you feel welcome in a new place?

    Ano ang nakatulong para maramdaman mong welcome ka sa isang bagong lugar?

    Back of the card

    Would you do something similar for someone new? You can also leave it as a good memory.

    Gagawin mo rin ba iyon para sa bagong dating? Puwede ring magandang alaala na lang muna ito.

  5. Recall the last time you tried something new just because you were curious.

    Ikuwento ang huling beses na sumubok ka ng bago dahil curious ka lang.

    Back of the card

    Would you try it again, or was once enough?

    Susubukan mo ba ulit, o sapat na ang minsan?

  6. Which kind of task makes you lose track of time?

    Anong klaseng task yung nakakalimutan mong oras kapag ginagawa mo?

    Back of the card

    The tasks that make time move fast can reveal what absorbs you, energizes you, or quietly fits how your mind works.

    Yung tasks na nagpapabilis ng oras pwedeng clue kung ano ang kumukuha ng focus mo, nagpapagana sa'yo, o bagay sa utak mo.

How to use them

Before you ask

A good question for a stranger is about the shared moment, not the person. You’re both waiting for the same delayed train, both in line at the same food truck, both at a meetup where you know nobody. A question about that, like how they pass the time while waiting or what they always order, is friendly without being nosy.

Strangers also need an easy exit. These questions can be answered in a sentence and left there, which takes the pressure off both of you. If the answer comes back long and they ask you something in return, the conversation has started on its own. If not, you’ve had a nice moment and that’s enough.

Read the signals first: headphones in, eyes on a book, or a short answer means not today. For the skill itself, see how to start a conversation; for someone you’ll see again, questions for someone you just met.

Good for

  • Lines, waiting rooms and delayed flights
  • Seatmates on trains and planes
  • Meetups, conferences and networking events
  • Solo travelers in hostels
  • People practicing being more social

Tips

  1. Ask about the shared moment, not about them.
  2. Lead with an observation, then the question.
  3. Keep it one or two questions unless they ask you back.
  4. Skip work, age, relationships and where exactly they live.
  5. Headphones in or a one-word answer means let it go.

Decks for this

Questions to ask strangers

Frequently asked questions

What are good questions to ask a stranger?

Questions about the moment you’re sharing: how they pass the time while waiting, what they always order here, whether they prefer the window seat. They’re easy to answer and easy to leave.

How do you start a conversation with a stranger?

Comment on something you’re both experiencing, then ask a light question about it. If they answer at length or ask you something back, keep going; if not, smile and leave it.

What should you not ask a stranger?

Avoid questions about their job, salary, age, relationships, health or exactly where they live. Keep it to the place, the moment and small preferences.

Bring a better question to the table.

Free on iPhone and Android. 420 cards free, no account, works offline.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play