Is there anything more bone-chilling than an icebreaker? Whether you’re in a new class, sitting at a wedding table, or attending a conference, it’s not uncommon for the leader of it all to say, “OK, let’s go around the circle and everyone can say their first name and a fun fact about themselves.” Cue the dread.
Even though it’s about you, it feels nearly impossible to come up with an icebreaker on the spot. Do you want to impress everyone and say you play piano? Should you reveal an embarrassing secret talent? You’ll either have 100 ideas or none at all.
The perfect “fun fact” about yourself will be interesting, lighthearted, and funny. Once you’re over the hump of scrambling for something to say, sharing personal info in a group is actually a great way to connect and show them who you are as a person.
When coming up with a fun fact, it helps to read the room — should you be serious or is it OK to joke? — and also to consider what you want people to walk away remembering. To help get your wheels turning and add a bit more life into your group settings, consider these “fun facts about me” ideas so you’ve always got an intriguing anecdote on deck, no matter the situation.
“Fun Fact” Ideas To Share During Icebreakers
1. Your Biggest Fear
Greatest fears can be funny and lighthearted. Think about your most nonsensical phobias like getting lost in the woods even though you live in the city or whales, if you’re Khloé Kardashian. Hopefully, it’ll get a laugh — or someone will perk up and totally relate.
2. A Silly Talent
Can you down a bottle of water in under two seconds? What about playing the latest viral TikTok song on the piano? Hidden talents don’t have to be overly serious, and they’re often better if they aren’t.
When playing an icebreaker game, you don’t want your answer to be too boring or predictable, but you also don’t want it to be too over the top. Something silly like being able to lick your elbow will be just right.
3. Your Go-To Collection Item
Do you have 40 cactus-themed salt shakers? Is your fridge covered in magnets from all 50 states? This is the perfect icebreaker answer because it reveals a little something about yourself — your quirky side or your love of travel — without getting too personal. It’ll also prompt people to ask follow-up questions, which is great if you’re networking or hoping to make friends.
4. What Your Name Means In Another Language
Many names have a meaning that relates to the original language or country they come from. Emma, for example, is of German origin and means “universal,” while Kate has English and Greek roots and means “pure.” Pretty cool, right? Alternatively, your name might have a really funny hidden meaning. Bailey, for example, means “manager.”
5. An Uncommon Superstition You Have
Found yourself at a random wedding guest table? Break the ice by sharing your most unique superstition. While most people have heard of the bad luck that comes with breaking a mirror or black cats crossing your path, you may have a completely new superstition or ritual that’ll shock and awe those around you. Cheers to bonding with someone who always needs to put their left pant leg on first.
6. Most Memorable Place You’ve Traveled
A fun fact about where you’ve been in the world is always interesting, but what’s most amusing is the why. Maybe the place simply had a wacky name, or maybe you have a wild story to tell about your travels. Either way, people will listen and remember it.
7. A Contest You’ve Won
Again, you could go serious or silly with this one. Maybe you won a state-wide softball tournament in sixth grade by scoring the winning run, or maybe you put everyone to shame by eating a three-foot wide pizza at the boardwalk last summer. A win is a win.
8. Your Astrological Big Three
Getting a sense that you’re surrounded by some fellow astrologer lovers? Go ahead and share your big three. Only the cosmically inclined will be able to glean any info from your astrological big three, while everyone else will be baffled in the best way. Who knows? It might segue into a fun chat about birth charts.
9. Languages You Speak
An icebreaker is the perfect opportunity to share how many languages you speak, especially if you’re looking to impress. The fact that you can speak and understand English, Japanese, Arabic, and French? That’ll make anyone say “wow.”
Alternatively, share a fun phrase you know in another language and why you know it. It could be something you learned from a friend, while traveling, or simply because you love fun phrases. Any language flex is a solid fact choice.
10. Your Favorite Podcast
What you’re consistently listening to tells more about you than you might think. Are you into juicy interviews or do you prefer lighthearted comedy? Are you a big fan of celebrity gossip or self-help? Be prepared to explain your favorite show and why you vibe with it.
11. Your Hometown
If it’s not where you’re currently located, sharing where you’re from can be intriguing. Bonus points if you add in any hometown claims to fame. Because seriously, how funny would it be to admit you’re from the peanut butter and jelly capital of the country? Of course, this will be extra interesting if you were born somewhere further away. Get ready to tell everyone how you moved here from France when you were eight.
12. Something You Can’t Do
Taking a 180 from special talents, name something you can’t do, like wink, blow a bubble, or roll your Rs. While it might earn a small chuckle, it might also inspire everyone to teach you — and just like that, you’ve made some friends.
13. Your Childhood Cartoon Crush
Was your little 5-year-old self mesmerized by Nala or Simba from The Lion King? Do you remember being head-over-heels for Kim Possible or Aladdin? This one is guaranteed to spark up a post-game conversation. Even if they don’t want to admit it, everyone had a cartoon crush.
14. Somewhere You’ve Traveled Because Of Fandom
Have you hopped all over the United Kingdom and Europe on a Game of Thrones filming location quest? Did you travel to Forks, Washington, to live out your Twilight fantasies? If so, go ahead and fess up. Not only does this answer give you a funny story to tell, but it also will bond you with the fellow nerds in the group. Just like that, you’ve got yourself the perfect icebreaker.
15. An Unusual Senior Superlative You Won
This isn’t your “Most Likely to Succeed” or “Highest GPA” superlatives — you can leave those in the yearbook. The people want to hear something offbeat, like “Quickest Comebacks” or “Most Likely To Be On Reality TV.” If you won an interesting superlative back in high school, go ahead and share it with the class.
16. What You Wanted To Be When You Grew Up
There’s something so sweet about looking back on childhood dreams of being a marine biologist or a librarian, especially if those dreams actually panned out. What’s even better, though, is if you had a really wild dream job as a kid.
17. Something You Recently DIY’d
Many people have a DIY story gone wrong. Not only is this answer relatable, but it also shows that you’re industrious and willing to try things on your own. Regale the group with tales of hanging drywall by yourself or how you recently spent a weekend attempting to dig your own pool.
18. A TV Show Or Movie You Can Quote Every Line To
Memorizing the entire script, inflections, mannerisms, and comedic timing of every episode of Gilmore Girls is an impressive fun fact, so go ahead and use this as your go-to answer. This is a talent, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
19. Something Common You’ve Never Done
Sometimes experiences evade you until later in life, even though they seem common to everyone else. Maybe it’s flying in a plane, breaking a bone, or getting your ears pierced. For inspo, think of any question that you haven’t done from the “Never Have I Ever” — just make sure you don’t overshare.
20. Something You Just Learned That’s Common Knowledge
Here’s another fun one that gently pokes fun at yourself, which makes it perfect for less-serious situations like birthday parties and the first day of class. It’s totally OK that you didn’t know Emma and Julia Roberts are related or that baby carrots are actually made from big carrots.
21. A Unique Physical Ability
For example, can you touch your thumb to your wrist or turn your tongue into a clover? Demonstrations are welcome if it isn’t too disturbing, like flipping your eyelids inside out.
22. Your Go-To Hobby
When you aren’t at work, sitting in class, or attending a party, what is it that you like to do? This is a good go-to when your mind goes blank and you can’t remember any of your hidden talents. Simply share that you love to read, hike, or hang out with your dog. How you spend your time offers an up-close perspective on who you are and what you’re all about.
23. Your Top Bucket List Destination
Where’s the number one place you’ve dreamt of going if money, time, and obligations were no object? It could be anything from a castle in Scotland to a resort in Bali to the tip of Patagonia. You may just find a kindred spirit among you.
24. Interesting Family Heritage Ties
If you’ve explored a service like Ancestry.com or 23AndMe, you may have uncovered some real heritage gems that could be fun to share in a “fun facts about me” game. Are you distantly related to royalty, perhaps, or maybe a celebrity or historical figure? Do ten generations of women in your family share the middle name Mildred? That information is prime fun-fact material for the sharer and the listeners.
25. Your Last Meal
If you knew you only had one meal left to eat and you could have anything in the world, what would it be? Give all the details: sides, appetizers, main course, beverages — the whole nine. Another spin is to share the one food you’d take to a desert island. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
26. The One Word You Can’t Spell
Everyone has one word they can’t spell, even if they’re autocorrected 500 times. It might be “exercise,” or “embarrassing,” or “restaurant.” Sometimes a word just will not stick in your brain, making this one super relatable.
27. Your Alternate Life Path
For a trippy answer, think about the you who exists in another timeline. What do you think they’re doing right this very moment? Paint the picture as your icebreaker by sharing a path you almost took or the job you think you’d have in another life.
28. Your Proudest Achievement
Are you a self-taught master baker when it comes to making sourdough bread? Do you have a 376-day streak on Wordle or Connections? No matter how small, an accomplishment is an accomplishment.
29. What Your Superpower Would Be
Out of any supernatural ability, which would you choose and why? Of course, there are the classics, like being invisible or being able to fly, but this is your chance to share something uniquely you.
It could be something you wish you could do, like instantly learn every instrument, or something inspired by skills you already have.
30. Your Go-To Comfort Show
Everyone has that TV show they’ve watched a dozen times without it ever getting old. Maybe you restart The Vampire Diaries every fall or put on an episode of The Office to fall asleep every night. Believe it or not, your answer is highly insightful.
31. Your Creative Talent
To show off a little, go ahead and share your creative talent, like how you make your own jewelry or decorate cakes on the weekend. Bonus points if you’re wearing your own earrings or pull up photos of your designs.
32. Your Irrational Childhood Fear
Unlike the phobias that stick with you to this day, what were you afraid of as a kid? It’s possible you were convinced velociraptors lived in your backyard or were on the constant lookout for quicksand. Childhood concerns were not only creative, but also often universal, thanks to the fact that we often watched the same movies and played the same games.
33. Your Funny Nickname
This doesn’t refer to shortening Katherine to Katie or Isabelle to Belle. Only use this as your icebreaker if you have a truly unique nickname, like one given to you by family when you were a kid or college roommates as part of an inside joke. Fair warning: only share if you’re OK with coworkers calling you “Chugs.”
34. Your Best College Story
Here’s another fun one for lighthearted situations, like parties or book clubs. If everyone’s going around the circle and sharing something silly, feel free to share a funny story from your college days. This is your chance to talk about how you got lost on the subway while studying abroad or how you put all your roommate’s furniture on the roof, Parent Trap-style.
35. Your Happy Place
To keep it light and cute, share your happy place, like where you go to relax or where you travel to every summer. It might be the beach, a national park, or a favorite city. Wherever it is, it says a lot about who you are.
The post Fun Facts About Me: 35 Interesting Ideas Anyone Can Use appeared first on Bustle.
