50 Reunion Conversation Starters: What to Say to Old Classmates, Friends and Family
Yurii Rebryk · Updated October 11, 2026 · 14 min read
Good reunion conversation starters ask about life now before school days: “It’s been ages! Where are you living these days?” works with anyone, even someone whose name you have forgotten. Below are 50 starters for class reunions, family reunions and old friends, each with a natural follow-up and the moment it works, plus catch-up phrases, topics to avoid, two short welcome speeches and practice dialogues.
In this article
- What to say at a reunion: start with now, not then
- Reunion conversation starters for the first hello
- What to say when you don’t remember someone’s name
- Catch-up questions about life now
- Questions to ask at a class reunion about school days
- Conversation starters for reconnecting with old friends
- Talking to an old crush without making it awkward
- Family reunion conversation starters for relatives you barely know
- Questions for teens and kids at a family reunion
- How to end a reunion conversation and stay in touch
- Reunion catch-up phrases and what they mean
- Topics to avoid at a reunion: the comparison traps
- How to answer “So, what are you doing now?” when life went differently
- Nervous about a reunion? What research says and what to do
- Class reunion questionnaire and game questions
- Opening remarks for a reunion: two short welcome speeches
- Reunion dialogues to practice out loud
What to say at a reunion: start with now, not then
At a class or family reunion, say hello with your full name, ask one open question about the person’s life now, follow the first detail they give you, and move on after 10 to 15 minutes with a plan to talk again. Save school memories for a group.
How to use the tables: say the starter, then the follow-up once they answer, with your own names and places. Longer lists by level: English conversation topics.
Reunion conversation starters for the first hello
At the first hello, give your full name and one shared detail so the other person doesn’t have to guess. For natural replies to “How are you?” and “Long time no see!”, see common English greetings.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hi, I’m Priya Nair. We had history with Mr. Owens, right? | What do you remember about that class? | Anyone; nobody has to guess your name |
| 2. It’s been ages! You look really well. | Where are you living these days? | Someone you recognize at once |
| 3. Did you have to travel far to get here? | Was it strange coming back? | At the door or the name-tag table |
| 4. Who’s the first person you looked for tonight? | Have you found them yet? | The first hour, when everyone scans the room |
| 5. Is this your first reunion? | What’s changed since the last one? | A 20th, 25th or 50th reunion |
What to say when you don’t remember someone’s name
If you don’t remember someone’s name at a reunion, ask in the first minute with a smile: after twenty years a forgotten name is easy to forgive, and pretending for half an hour is worse. If they have forgotten you, give a clue and laugh it off.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 6. I’m sorry, remind me your name? I want to get it right. | Are you still in touch with the old crowd? | You half-remember the face |
| 7. Your face is so familiar. Which class were we in together? | What have you been up to since then? | You know the face and nothing else |
| 8. Honestly, school is a blur. How did we know each other? | What do you remember about me? Be kind! | You remember nothing at all |
| 9. No worries, it’s been twenty years! I’m Lena, I sat behind you in math. | What are you up to these days? | They clearly don’t remember you |
Catch-up questions about life now
Catch-up questions work best when people choose what to share: one classmate talks about work, another about grandchildren. When they mention a detail, ask about it (“Tell me more about that”).
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 10. So, what have you been up to? | What’s been the best part? | The classic opener |
| 11. Where are you living these days? | What do you like most about it? | Anyone; easier than asking about work |
| 12. What are you enjoying most at the moment? | How did you get into that? | Anyone; every answer is a good one |
| 13. Last I heard, you’d moved to Cape Town. Still there? | Do you miss home? | You know one detail; check it, don’t assume |
| 14. How do you spend your weekends now? | Did you do that in school too? | Classmates you never knew well |
| 15. What’s the biggest change in your life since school? | Was it a good surprise? | Ten relaxed minutes in |
| 16. Is your life anything like you pictured back then? | What surprised you most? | Close friends; skip it if they seem to be struggling |
| 17. Have you picked up anything new lately? | Will you stick with it? | A 25th or 50th reunion |
Questions to ask at a class reunion about school days
Questions about school days get a whole group talking, because everyone was there. Ask about teachers, places and music, and leave grades and who was popular out of it.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 18. Which teacher do you still think about? | Have you seen them since? | Any class reunion |
| 19. Do you remember where we all used to go after school? | Is it still there? | Classmates from the same town |
| 20. What song takes you straight back to school? | Did you go to concerts back then? | A group near the music |
| 21. What was the first car or scooter in our group? | Did it ever get us anywhere? | Old friends from one crowd |
| 22. Please tell me you still have photos of our school outfits. | Which look would you bring back? | Show your own photo first |
| 23. What’s your favorite school memory? | Who else was there? | A group of four or five |
| 24. Which subject do you wish you’d taken more seriously? | Did you ever use it? | A light question for any table |
| 25. What do you know now that you wish we’d known then? | Would we have listened? | A quiet group, later in the evening |
Conversation starters for reconnecting with old friends
Reconnecting with an old friend starts with one honest sentence. If you drifted apart, say you are glad to see them; after a real falling-out, apologize once for your part, privately, and let them decide what comes next. After a recent argument, see conversation starters after a fight.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 26. I’m really glad you came. I’ve thought about you a lot. | How have you been, honestly? | A close friend you lost touch with |
| 27. We drifted apart after school, and that was partly on me. | Could we get a coffee and catch up properly? | You feel bad about losing touch |
| 28. I’ve never forgotten what happened between us, and I’m sorry for my part. | Could we talk some time, just the two of us? | After a falling-out; say it once, quietly |
| 29. Do you still keep in touch with anyone from our old group? | Should we get everyone together? | Friends from one circle |
| 30. Remember when we got lost on the school trip? I still laugh about it. | What else do you remember? | A shared memory warms things up fast |
| 31. What does a normal week look like for you now? | When’s a good time for a call? | A friend who lives far away |
Talking to an old crush without making it awkward
With an old crush, talk as you would with any classmate: warm, curious and in public. Meet their partner if they brought one and keep crush jokes general. If the person is your ex, see things to talk about with an ex.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 32. It’s really good to see you. Are you still playing guitar? | Do you play with anyone now? | Shows interest without flirting |
| 33. Who did everyone have a crush on in our year? | Did they ever find out? | A laughing group, about nobody at the table |
| 34. Did you come with anyone tonight? I’d love to meet them. | How did you two meet? | Keeps things clear and friendly |
Family reunion conversation starters for relatives you barely know
At a family reunion, first place each other on the family tree: say your name and your parent’s or grandparent’s name. Ask older relatives for family stories; a recipe or an old photo gives you a reason to meet again.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 35. Hi, I’m Maria, Elena’s daughter. I don’t think we’ve met properly. | How are you related to the family? | Big reunions; your parent’s name helps |
| 36. Which side of the family are you from? | Who do you usually see at these? | A relative you can’t place |
| 37. What was this family like when you were growing up? | Who did everyone go to for advice? | Aunts, uncles and grandparents |
| 38. How did Grandma and Grandpa meet? Nobody ever told me the whole story. | Are there old photos of them? | Whoever keeps the family history |
| 39. Which family recipe should my generation learn? | Could you show me some time? | Relatives who cook |
| 40. What do you do for fun when you’re not at family events? | How did you get into that? | Cousins you only see at weddings |
Questions for teens and kids at a family reunion
Teens and kids at a family reunion open up when you ask about what they like, not about grades or future plans. Let them be the expert; doing something together, like a game or the grill, can be easier than questions.
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 41. What are you into these days: games, sports, music? | Can you show me? | Teens |
| 42. What’s the best thing you’ve watched or played lately? | Should I try it, or am I too old? | Teens and older kids |
| 43. If you planned the next family reunion, what would we do? | Can I steal that idea? | Gives kids a say |
| 44. Who’s the funniest person in this family? | What did they do? | Kids aged about 6 to 12 |
| 45. Want to help me set up the games? | Which game should we play first? | Shy kids; side by side is easier |
How to end a reunion conversation and stay in touch
End a reunion conversation with a reason and a next step, then send that message. In preregistered experiments, people underestimated how much others appreciated being reached out to, and the gap was larger between people who were less close (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, online 2022).
| Starter | Natural follow-up | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| 46. I don’t want to keep you from everyone. Let’s swap numbers first. | Are you on WhatsApp? | After 10 to 15 minutes |
| 47. I want to say hi to Ms. Kaur before she leaves. Let’s find each other later. | Are you coming to the brunch tomorrow? | Leaving with a reason |
| 48. This was the best part of my night. Can we do a call next month? | What day works for you? | Someone you want to see again |
| 49. Should we start a group chat for our old crowd? | Who else should we add? | Friends from one group |
| 50. Same time in five years? Or sooner, I hope. | Who’s organizing the next one? | The last goodbye of the night |
Reunion catch-up phrases and what they mean
These catch-up phrases come up at every reunion; meanings follow the Cambridge Dictionary.
| Phrase | Meaning | At a reunion |
|---|---|---|
| Long time no see | Said when you meet someone you haven’t seen for a long time | “Long time no see! How are you?” |
| It’s been ages | “Ages” means a very long time | “It’s been ages! Twenty years?” |
| What have you been up to? | “Be up to something” means to be doing something | “So, what have you been up to since school?” |
| Catch up | To learn or discuss the latest news | “Let’s get a coffee and catch up properly.” |
| Last I heard… | “Last” here means most recent: the newest news you have, which may be old; it invites an update | “Last I heard, you were in Manila. Still there?” |
| Ring a bell | To sound familiar | “Lena Meyer, chemistry? Does that ring a bell?” |
| Keep in touch | To keep communicating by phone or in writing | “Let’s keep in touch this time.” |
Topics to avoid at a reunion: the comparison traps
Topics to avoid at a reunion turn a catch-up into a contest. Each trap has a better question:
| Trap | Why it goes wrong | Ask this instead |
|---|---|---|
| “So, what do you do?” as the first question | It ranks everyone by job; people between jobs dread it | “What are you enjoying most at the moment?” (12) |
| Salaries, houses and cars | One person wins and everyone else goes quiet | “Where are you living these days?” (11) |
| Weight, hair and age | The whole group hears it, and remembers | “It’s really good to see you.” |
| “Are you married? Any kids?” | Divorce, loss or infertility may sit behind the answer | “Did you come with anyone tonight?” (34) |
| Old grudges, gossip and joke awards like “most changed physically” | They put one person on the spot and restart the old cliques | A shared memory (18–25) |
| Politics, religion and one drink too many | Strong views plus alcohol can turn into arguments | Water between drinks and lighter topics |
How to answer “So, what are you doing now?” when life went differently
If your news is not the kind you want to announce, a short, true answer and a question back is enough. Go deeper only if the other person shows real interest.
| Question you may dread | Short, honest answer | Turn it back |
|---|---|---|
| “What are you doing now?” (between jobs) | “I’m between jobs, looking at a few options in logistics.” | “What about you? Still in Pune?” |
| “Are you married?” (divorced or single) | “Not right now, and life’s pretty good.” | “Did you come with anyone tonight?” |
| “Do you have kids?” | “No, but I’m a very proud aunt.” | “Tell me about yours.” |
| “How are your parents?” (after a loss) | “My dad passed away two years ago. Thank you for asking about him.” | “Do you remember him at sports day?” |
Nervous about a reunion? What research says and what to do
Two findings from social psychology help if you feel nervous. In experiments published in 2000, people who wore a potentially embarrassing T-shirt overestimated how many others would remember it, the spotlight effect. And after conversations with strangers, new dorm mates and workshop partners, people underestimated how much the other person liked them, the liking gap (Psychological Science, 2018).
- Arrive early, while the room is quiet: joining two people is easier than joining twenty.
- Prepare three starters, for example 3, 11 and 18, and say them out loud once at home.
- Set a small goal, such as learning how three classmates spend their weekends.
- You never owe a conversation to someone who bullied, harassed or hurt you. Say “Excuse me” and walk away, tell an organizer if they follow you, and call the local emergency number if anyone threatens you.
Class reunion questionnaire and game questions
A class reunion questionnaire collects updates before the event for name tags, a slideshow or a memory book. Starters 11, 15, 18 and 20 work on paper too; add these:
- What name should we print on your name tag, and what name did you use at school?
- Send one photo from school and one from this year.
- Which song should be on the reunion playlist?
- What would classmates be surprised to learn about you?
- Is there a classmate or teacher you would like us to find?
For games and prizes, reward what people chose, not their bodies or bank accounts: traveled the farthest, best throwback photo, oldest piece of school merchandise, newest skill since school.
Opening remarks for a reunion: two short welcome speeches
Opening remarks for a reunion take one to two minutes: welcome, one line about the years, thanks, a moment for absent people, practical details and an invitation to mingle or a toast.
Welcome speech for a 20-year class reunion
B1Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the twenty-year reunion of the class of 2006! I’m Daniel, from the planning team. Twenty years ago, we worried about exams, haircuts and who was driving to the party. Tonight, some of you traveled across the country to be here. Thank you.
Let’s also take a moment for the classmates who can’t be with us. Name tags are on the front table, and dinner starts at eight. Please find someone you haven’t talked to in years and ask what they’ve been up to. Enjoy tonight!
Read it aloud
Listen to a model reading, then record yourself. You get your speaking pace, the share of words that came through clearly, and the words to repeat.
Welcome speech for a family reunion
B1Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Okafor family reunion! I’m Chidi, Grace’s eldest son, and I’m so happy to see four generations together today. Some of you drove six hours, and some walked across the street. We’re glad to see all of you.
Please thank Auntie Ngozi and Uncle Femi, who organized everything. Today has one rule: talk to someone you don’t know well yet. Ask the elders how they met, ask the kids what they’re into, and write your number in the family book by the door. Now, let’s eat!
Read it aloud
Listen to a model reading, then record yourself. You get your speaking pace, the share of words that came through clearly, and the words to repeat.
Reunion dialogues to practice out loud
Each reunion dialogue has a voice trainer: say your lines out loud, then swap roles. More at this level: intermediate English conversation.
At a class reunion: a forgotten name
B1- Lena
Hi! It’s been ages. You look really well.
- Kofi
Thanks, you too! I’m so sorry, remind me your name?
- Lena
Lena Meyer. We sat together in chemistry.
- Kofi
Lena, of course! So, what have you been up to?
- Lena
I teach music now. And you?
- Kofi
I moved to Windhoek. I work in tourism.
- Lena
Last I heard, you were studying in Cape Town!
- Kofi
I was, then I followed a job. Do you remember Mr. Brandt’s choir?
- Lena
How could I forget? He’s the reason I teach.
- Kofi
I have to say hi to him. Let’s swap numbers first.
- Lena
Good idea. Same time in five years? Or sooner, I hope.
Practise this dialogue
Listen to the whole exchange, then take one role: your partner’s lines are read aloud, you say yours into the microphone and see which words came through.
Reconnecting with an old friend
B1–B2- Leila
Joy? I’m really glad you came.
- Joy
Leila! It’s so good to see you. How long has it been?
- Leila
Too long. We drifted apart, and that was partly on me.
- Joy
Partly on me too. Life got busy.
- Leila
How have you been, honestly?
- Joy
Up and down. I moved back here last year.
- Leila
How does it feel to be back?
- Joy
Better than I expected. What about you?
- Leila
Two kids and a small bakery.
- Joy
A bakery! You always brought the best cakes to class.
- Leila
Could we get a coffee next week and catch up properly?
- Joy
I’d love that. Are you on WhatsApp?
Practise this dialogue
Listen to the whole exchange, then take one role: your partner’s lines are read aloud, you say yours into the microphone and see which words came through.
Practice reunion small talk out loud
Reading a starter is easy; saying it while someone you haven’t seen in twenty years waits for your answer is harder. Fluently is an AI speaking coach on iOS and Android: you answer out loud and get feedback on pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary and grammar. The download is free and starts with a free four-minute speaking assessment; full practice is a subscription after a free trial.
Frequently asked questions
What are some good things to say at a class reunion?
Three lines cover most of a class reunion: a hello with your full name, one question about life now (“Where are you living these days?”) and a plan before you move on (“Let’s swap numbers”). Compliment the evening, not anyone’s body.
What are 5 funny questions to ask at a reunion?
“Which of our school predictions came true?”, “What did we think was cool that’s embarrassing now?”, “What was your worst school haircut, and is there proof?”, “Which school rule seems silly now?” and “What would 16-year-old you say about your life today?”. For more random questions, try the conversation question generator.
What do I talk about at my partner’s reunion when I know nobody?
Ask what only an outsider can ask: “What was Sam like in school?”, “How do you two know each other?”, “What was this town like back then?”. Stay near your partner at first, then join a group at the food table.
What should a class reunion message say?
Who you are, a warm line and a next step. Before: “Hi Grace, it’s Priya from the class of 2006! Are you coming to the reunion on 14 March? It would be great to catch up.” After: “It was so good to see you on Saturday. Coffee next month?”
What is “Klassentreffen” in English?
Klassentreffen is German for a class reunion, a party where the former students of one class meet again (Cambridge German–English Dictionary). English speakers also say high school reunion or “our 20th”.
