Talk to strangers online: a guide to great conversations

Talking to a stranger gets you out of your bubble: practise a language, discover another country, or just chat with no strings attached. Here's how to turn a random video call into a genuinely good conversation.

Updated 1 November 2026

Why talk to strangers?

• Practise a language with a native speaker, without the pressure of a class.
• Discover other cultures: daily life, music or food in another country, from someone who lives there.
• Build confidence speaking: every chat is a small rehearsal, and you can always skip.
• Clear your head: a conversation outside your usual circle, with no judgement and no follow-up unless you want one.

Breaking the ice: the first 10 seconds

On random video chat, most people decide very quickly whether to stay. A few habits make all the difference:

• Show your face, well lit. A black screen or a ceiling makes almost everyone skip.
• Smile and say hi first, out loud or in the text chat.
• Ask an open question instead of "how are you?": "Where in the world are you?", "What are you up to tonight?".
• Pick up on what you see: a guitar, a poster, a flag behind them.

Conversation topics that work

• The last film, show or album that stuck with them.
• What people actually eat day to day where they live.
• The best place to visit in their city — and the one to avoid.
• A word or expression in their language that has no translation.
• A quick game: "two truths and a lie", or guess each other's country.

Find people who speak your language

By default, iStrangr matches you with anyone. To prioritise English speakers — or people from a specific country — open Filters on the home page. Filters give priority to matching people: if nobody matches at that moment, you still get connected rather than waiting forever.

Video chat etiquette

• Stay respectful, even if you skip after three seconds.
• Don't ask for personal details (full name, address, social media) and don't give yours.
• Never record anyone without their consent — it breaks the rules and often the law.
• If someone crosses the line, don't argue: hit Report, then Next.

For more, read our 10 video chat safety rules.

Frequently asked questions