Okay, so you landed a match. Great!
But now comes the hard bit – actually getting your match to respond to you.
See, people on Tinder are funny things. Sure, they’ll match with you. But they’ll often wait for YOU to start a conversation.
And if your Tinder icebreaker is weak, they won’t reply to you.
Eventually, they might even un-match you.
And that truly looks because all that excitement you had when you first matched with this sexy single vanishes.
Then, you have to start all over again with new matches.
Wouldn’t it be amazing, then, if you had an arsenal of the best tinder icebreakers at your disposal that are almost guaranteed to work?
I’ve been using Tinder myself for 4 years. I know what works and what doesn’t work.
When it comes to ice breakers, I’ve found that it’s a good idea to mix things up. Sometimes, a compliment works, sometimes being funny works, and sometimes you should ask a question.
In this article, I’m going to share a bunch of Tinder icebreaker examples with you, and I’ll explain why they work.
Ready? Let’s make a start.
The 9 Best Tinder Icebreakers:
#1: Quote Something From Their Profile
If you truly want to stand out from all the other guys who are sending messages to your match, you need to try an original and creative icebreaker.
An original and creative Tinder opener is the one your match has never seen before, and which she didn’t see coming. It’s entirely the result of your quick wit and amazing seduction skills! It’s unique, original – and it’s going to catch her eye.
Whether she replies to it or not is, of course, a different story. But with an original and creative icebreaker, you’re at least giving yourself a huge chance.
Why?
Because it shows you’ve taken the time and effort to write something that’s meant for her specifically and no one else. It shows you care, and this is a quality that’s very attractive to some girls.
For example, you could send a GIF that’s related to something in her profile, or you could even send her a pun. Again, it needs to be relevant to her profile and interests.
Here are some more ideas:
“Hey, I matched with you because you seem interesting. And hey, I’m also really into {inset here}. When was the last time you did something truly spontaneous?”
“Wow! You look VERY cute. And your human doesn’t look too bad either!” (for when she has a pet in her picture)
“Oh gosh, with a name like that, I need to know how many pickup lines you get!” (for if she has an unusual name)
“That’s an ace name you’ve got! It’d be the best name in the world if it wasn’t for mine ;)” (for if she has a really cool name)
“I see that your Tinder bio is empty! I’ve been told I’m very good at writing Tinder bios. Want me to write yours for you? I promise not to say that you’ve got the hots for me” (for if you match with a girl who has an empty Tinder bio, then send her a one from our best Tinder bios article).
#2: Give Them Some Compliments
I’ll level with you straight off the bat: Compliment ice breakers aren’t easy to get right.
Why?
Because you’re immediately validating the other person.
See, some people use online dating purely for validation. They love to get matches and they love to hear guys tell them how great they look.
Plus, it doesn’t always open up room for a conversation. You might say, “hey! Great eyes” and they might respond with “haha thanks for noticing!”
Where do you go from there?
But, hey, sometimes compliment ice breakers really work. They make the other person feel good, they let them know you’re interested and if you’re lucky, they can actually kick-start a conversation.
Before you use a compliment icebreaker, here are some things to consider:
- Make sure the compliment is specific to them. For example, pick something out from their online dating profile and show that you’ve actually taken the time to read it
- Be sincere! Don’t say anything unless it comes from the heart. If you don’t mean it, it will trip you up eventually
- Don’t just compliment their physical appearance (unless you’re both using Tinder for hookups)
- Don’t make your compliment long-winded. Get straight to the point and keep things short and sweet
Here are 5 examples of compliment icebreakers:
“Hey, you like Coldplay? I love them too, they’re one of the best bands around! You clearly have good taste in music.”
“Gosh, you’ve got the mind of Einstein!”
“Just noticed how your shirt really brings out the blue in your eyes, amazing.”
“Damn, your bio is so witty! I’ve gotta up my own game.”
“Sounds like you have an ace personality. Ever thought of starting up your own YouTube channel?”
I especially like number 3 because you’re not just complimenting their physical appearance – you’re also complementing their sense of style and fashion. Plus, you’re showing that you’ve really paid attention to their pics.
#3: Tell Them Something Funny
Let’s be honest: Nothing grabs someone’s attention as much as you telling something funny.
If your icebreaker makes someone laugh, there’s EVERY chance they’ll reply to you.
Now, the problem with funny icebreakers is that, if you use a ‘stock phrase’ she’s probably heard it before. As such, she won’t reply.
And if you go with a funny pickup line, there’s again every chance she’s already heard it before.
This is why funny Tinder icebreakers are so hard to get right. You must be funny – but you must also be original. Otherwise, the girl will think you’ve copied and pasted it, which immediately says you can’t think for yourself. Not cool.
It also helps a LOT if you use a funny icebreaker only if you’re naturally funny. See, the key to a good funny icebreaker is being able to keep the joke going. If your icebreaker is funny but the rest of your replies are lame, she’ll stop replying
Here are some examples of a few funny ice breakers:
“Titanic. Well, that’s the icebreaker outta the way. How are you doing?”
“Damn you’re so hot I totally forgot my icebreaker.”
“Thanks for being my 100th match! You win a prize. Wanna find out what it is?”
“I’d message you but my mom always taught me never to talk to strangers.”
“I’ve spent the last week trying to come up with an icebreaker and so far all I’ve got is ‘hey’”
#4: As Them a Question
I like question icebreakers because you’re putting the ball in the other person's court straight away and encouraging some proper engagement and interaction.
One thing you can guarantee with a question icebreaker is that you won’t get a boring “hahaha cute” reply that kills the conversation instantly.
However, the trick is to ask a question that will arouse the other person's interest so much that they reply to you. It should also be as original as possible (asking them “if you could live anywhere else in the world right now, where would it be?” is nice and all but it’s been asked so many times that it’s just not original.
Also, it helps if your question is a little out-there, a bit random – and funny.
Here are some examples of questions to ask on Tinder
“Okay, I’m REALLY hungry right now but have only chocolate, jam, butter, mayo, and bacon in the fridge. If you were here right now what would you make me out of all that?”
“What would be your idea of a perfect first tinder date?”
“How’s Tinder working out for you so far?”
“If you had the chance to go to space, would you take it?”
“Come on, be honest – you don’t really want to be on Tinder, do you?”
#5: Send Them GIFs
Some girls love it when you start the conversation with a GIF on a dating app.
In fact, sending a GIF can boost your response rate by a whopping 30%.
How come GIFs are so popular?
Well, GIFs are funny and they’re just a really laidback way of breaking the ice. Plus, you don’t need to work too hard because you don’t even need to say anything. You just need to find a GIF that your match will relate to.
For instance, if they love to dance, you could find a dancing GIF. If they love cocktails, find a cocktail GIF.
Don’t just find any GIF though – try to find one that’s going to make them laugh or smile. Be a bit creative.
Also, it’s always better if you can find something to say about the GIF (basically, a caption). ONLY do this, though, if you’re naturally witty.
#6: Send Them a Cheesy Opener
Do cheesy icebreakers work?
It’s hard to believe it but – yes, they do!
We’ve all heard the classic cheesy icebreakers, including “did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”
They’re a bit dumb, they’re a cliche – but they’re a whole lot of fun!
And they come in dead handy when the girl hasn’t written anything in her dating profile and you’re unsure what to say.
See, cheesy icebreakers won’t always work. Some girls are receptive to them, others aren’t.
If, for example, the girl has a detailed bio where she’s listed her interests, I’d definitely suggest you go with a question icebreaker. But if her bio is empty or very sparse, a cheesy icebreaker is your best friend to break the ice.
The reason cheesy icebreakers work is that they a) showcase your fun personality while demonstrating that you don’t take things too seriously. And b) they’re non-threatening or invasive. They’re also not offensive.
Oh, and some girls absolutely LOVE them. Cheesy icebreakers make them smile a lot!
Here are 5 examples of cheesy icebreakers that you can use on Tinder:
“Are you a magician? Because when I look at you, everyone else disappears! Damn.”
“Are you religious? Because you’re the answer to all my prayers!”
“Was your dad a boxer? Because damn, you’re a knockout!”
“Hi, how was heaven when you left it?”
“Is your dad a terrorist? Cause you’re the BOMB.”
Naturally, with this last one you’ve gotta read the room. If the girl sounds as though she might be sensitive to a joke like this, swerve it.
#7: Send Them Something Flirty
In this section, I want to take a quick look at things you should never say in your Tinder opener.
In other words, these are inappropriate icebreakers that you should avoid at all costs.
See, some people view Tinder as a hookup app where girls are up for literally anything. As such, they get a bit too cocky and fall into the trap of saying something dumb straight off the bat. They thought they were being funny, but the end result is that the girl didn’t respond to their message – and maybe she even blocked and reported his ass.
The thing with inappropriate icebreakers, though, is that there’s a bit of a blurred line between what’s acceptable and what isn’t acceptable. I know some girls would totally respond to a “You’re so hot” line.
But I also know many girls who wouldn’t.
So what should you do?
It’s best to avoid any kind of icebreaker that you’re not sure about. If you have to ask yourself, “will she be offended by this?” I suggest you try a different icebreaker.
Here are some examples of inappropriate icebreakers that you should avoid:
“You’re hot.”
“Are your brains as attractive as your face?!”
“You free this evening to do something?”
“Do you put out on a first date?”
“What are the chances of me getting a kiss tonight?”
These types of messages (and others like them) are not only inappropriate as an icebreaker, they’ll get you un-matched.
Saying to someone “you’re hot” might seem like a good way of grabbing their attention, but A) if they’re hot, they already know it. B) Other people tell them they’re hot all the time. And C) it’s inappropriate as an icebreaker. You can tell someone they’re hot after you’ve been chatting a while but not straight away. Avoid.
#8: The Copy + Paste Icebreakers
I know a lot of people who are highly skeptical about the copy & paste icebreaker.
Why?
Well, for obvious reasons: They know girls see through your BS.
After all, they can clearly tell that all you’ve done is copy and pasted an icebreaker you’ve already sent to someone else.
Way to make a girl feel special!
The thing is that, while copy & paste icebreakers are definitely less effective than a truly original icebreaker, the beauty of them is that a) they require a lot less effort and b) you’re gonna win in the long run.
Why will you win in the long run?
Precisely because you’re putting in a lot less effort.
When do I recommend you use the copy & paste icebreaker?
I’d use them if you’re the type of guy who’s getting LOTS of Tinder matches – but who doesn’t have enough time to keep churning unique, original messages out.
See, Tinder is a numbers game. You could try to compose a unique message for every girl you match with, or you can just copy and paste a bunch of times and hope that one or two hit the jackpot.
And personally, whenever I copy and paste an icebreaker to, say, 10 girls, at least 2 of them respond. Because I’ve literally wasted zero time, I consider that a pretty good result. Girls reply to them often on the strength of your pictures and sometimes your bio (which is why you need to nail both of these aspects of your profile).
Moreover, some girls hate it when a guy is clearly putting in too much effort. A copy-and-paste icebreaker suggests zero effort which, in a kinda weird way, actually appeals to some girls.
What kind of copy and paste icebreakers work? Here are some examples:
“Hey, how’s it going?”
I mean, this one is totally boring but you’ll be surprised how many people actually reply to it.
“Who’s your dream dinner guest?”
“My profile is gonna self-destruct in 60 minutes unless someone replies to save me. Will it be you?”
“Doing anything fun this weekend?”
“Truth or dare?”
9. Be Direct and Honest
Sometimes, the best approach is to be direct and honest with your icebreaker. This can be a refreshing change from all the cheesy pick-up lines and generic messages that people often receive on Tinder.
If you're not sure what to say, try something simple and straightforward like: “Hey, I noticed we matched and I wanted to say hi. How's your day going?” This shows that you're interested in starting a conversation, but you're not trying too hard to impress them.
Of course, being direct and honest can be risky, especially if the other person isn't interested in talking to you. But if you're confident and you're not afraid of rejection, it can be a great way to break the ice and start a conversation.
Read Related Scoops 👇
Aaargh.
It’s “WHET the appetite”. Whet, as in sharpening or honing a knife.