Starting a conversation on a dating app can be tricky. You don’t have the benefit of being face-to-face, so you want to make sure your tone is friendly, fun and inviting without coming across as too excited. That’s why Hinge—the dating app more oriented towards relationships than hookups—gives you a hand with their fun their prompts. Hinge prompts allow you to showcase your personality outside of your standard bio. If you’re the type that always frets about how to have a conversation, fear not. That’s exactly what these questions can help you accomplish. (Not to mention give you an opportunity to hardball—aka say exactly what you’re looking for.) Below are 20 of the best Hinge prompts with tips from Amie Leadingham, Master Certified Relationship Coach and Logan Ury, Hinge’s Director of Relationship Science, about why these are some of the most efficient.
The 20 Best Hinge Prompts That Will Break the Ice in the Least Awkward Way Possible
Match, made
Meet the Experts
- Amie Leadingham is a Master Certified Relationship Coach who works with singles to help them gain clarity about what a good relationship looks like for them.
- Logan Ury is a behavioral scientist turned dating coach and the author of the bestselling dating book, How to Not Die Alone. She is also Director of Relationship Science at Hinge.
So, What Are Hinge Prompts?
Hinge prompts are basically interview-type questions that serve as conversation starters. Instead of having a generic bio with your name, age, career and all that basic stuff, Hinge prompts allow you to be witty and clever so that when people swipe through your profile, they’re inclined to message you.
How Do Hinge Prompts Work?
Hinge prompts are part of setting up your profile. After you’ve entered your name, narrowed down your location and set your preferences, the app gives you a chance to answer three prompts of your choice under the, “Write Your Profile Answers” banner. All Hinge prompts have a 150-character limit, so the idea is to have short, pithy answers that you can elaborate on later.
So, What Are Voice Prompts?
Voice prompts are the platform’s 30-second audio clips, which people can use to answer a question. Hinge has found that daters prefer voice prompts as a way to get to know a person better before meeting up in real life.
To add a voice prompt, go to your profile and find it underneath the photo lineup. You can choose from the general prompt bank of over 100 questions, including “believe it or not, I…” and “I’m convinced that...”. You have 30 seconds to make your case, and other daters can play the clip as they peruse your profile.
The 20 Best Hinge Prompts to Use
1. "Dating Me Is Like..."
The best way to truly succeed on a dating app is by being transparent. This prompt 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.
2. "Fact About Me That Surprises People…"
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.
3. "This Year, I Really Want to..."
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'
4. "Green Flags I Look for…”
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.
5. "I Want Someone Who…"
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.
6. "I Spend Most of My Money on..."
Sharing what you spend your money on speaks to your priorities and what makes you happy. It also gives potential partners a pretty good idea of what dating you would look like, so if you spend most of your money on Broadway shows and they *hate* musical theater, they'll know it might not work out between you.
What you can say:
- My yellow lab, Max.
- Whatever restaurants Grub Street recommends.
- My ever-growing shoe collection.
7. "A Shower Thought I Recently Had…"
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.
8. "The Most Spontaneous Thing I've Done…"
“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.
9. "Typical Sunday"
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.
10. "My Most Irrational Fear…"
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.
11. "All I Ask Is That You…"
“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.
12. “I’m a Regular at…”
No matter how comfortable you are talking to each other online when it comes to planning the actual date, things can be uncertain. Help your crush out by listing some of your favorite haunts with this prompt. 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.
13. "We're the Same Type of Weird if…"
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.
14. “Give Me Travel Tips for…”
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.
15. “Two Truths and a Lie…”
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.
16. “I Geek Out on…”
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.
17. “A Life Goal of Mine...”
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.
18. “My Simple Pleasures...”
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.
19. “I’m Looking for...”
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.
20. “I’ll Pick the Topic If You Start the Conversation...”
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?
