I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been that person who shouts answers at the TV during Jeopardy or gets way too competitive during family game nights. There’s something absolutely thrilling about testing your knowledge and discovering random facts you never knew before.
That’s why I put together this collection of 100+ general knowledge trivia questions that cover everything from history and science to pop culture and literature. Whether you’re hosting a trivia night, looking for fun conversation starters, or just want to challenge yourself during your morning coffee, these questions are perfect for anyone who loves a good mental workout!
Ready to put your brain to the test? Let’s dive in!
History Trivia Questions
History can be way more interesting than your high school textbooks made it seem. These questions cover everything from ancient civilizations to recent events that shaped our world.
- Who was the first President of the United States?
Answer: George Washington - In which year did World War II end?
Answer: 1945 - What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620?
Answer: The Mayflower - Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson - What empire built the Colosseum?
Answer: The Roman Empire - Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
Answer: Amelia Earhart - What year did Christopher Columbus arrive in the Americas?
Answer: 1492 - Who was known as the “Iron Lady”?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher - What ancient wonder of the world still stands today?
Answer: The Great Pyramid of Giza - Who led the Confederate Army during the American Civil War?
Answer: Robert E. Lee - What was the name of the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan?
Answer: Little Boy - In which country was the Magna Carta signed?
Answer: England - Who was the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt?
Answer: Cleopatra VII - What year did the Berlin Wall fall?
Answer: 1989 - Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Answer: Michelangelo - What was the name of the war between England and France that lasted 116 years?
Answer: The Hundred Years’ War - Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
Answer: Neil Armstrong - What empire did Genghis Khan found?
Answer: The Mongol Empire - In which year did the American colonies declare independence?
Answer: 1776 - Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II?
Answer: Joseph Stalin
For more thought-provoking questions, check out our collection of philosophical questions that dive deeper into life’s big mysteries.
Science and Nature Trivia Questions
Science doesn’t have to be boring – these questions prove it! From the human body to outer space, let’s see how much you really know about the world around us.
- What is the chemical symbol for gold?
Answer: Au - How many planets are in our solar system?
Answer: 8 - What is the largest organ in the human body?
Answer: The skin - Who developed the theory of relativity?
Answer: Albert Einstein - What gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere?
Answer: Carbon dioxide - What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
Answer: Approximately 186,000 miles per second - How many bones does the human body have at birth?
Answer: 270 - What is the largest mammal in the world?
Answer: The blue whale - What planet is known as the Red Planet?
Answer: Mars - Who invented the telephone?
Answer: Alexander Graham Bell - What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere?
Answer: Nitrogen - How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun?
Answer: 365.25 days - What is the smallest unit of matter?
Answer: An atom - Who created the periodic table?
Answer: Dmitri Mendeleev - What is the hardest natural material on Earth?
Answer: Diamond - How many hearts does an octopus have?
Answer: Three - What is the process by which plants make their own food?
Answer: Photosynthesis - Who discovered electricity?
Answer: Benjamin Franklin (though electricity existed before; he proved lightning was electrical) - What is the largest planet in our solar system?
Answer: Jupiter - How many species of insects are there approximately?
Answer: Over 1 million
Want to explore more science-related brain teasers? Our video game trivia questions include some neat tech questions too!
Geography Trivia Questions
I’ll admit it – I still confuse some European countries on a map. But that’s what makes geography trivia so fun! Let’s test your knowledge of our world.
- What is the capital of France?
Answer: Paris - Which is the largest ocean on Earth?
Answer: The Pacific Ocean - How many continents are there?
Answer: 7 - What is the longest river in the world?
Answer: The Amazon River - Which country has the most people?
Answer: India (as of 2023) - What is the smallest country in the world?
Answer: Vatican City - Mount Everest is located in which mountain range?
Answer: The Himalayas - What is the capital of Australia?
Answer: Canberra - Which desert is the largest in the world?
Answer: The Antarctic Desert - What is the currency of Japan?
Answer: The Yen - Which country is home to the kangaroo?
Answer: Australia - What is the largest country by land area?
Answer: Russia - The Sahara Desert is located on which continent?
Answer: Africa - What is the capital of Brazil?
Answer: Brasília - Which country is known as the Land of the Rising Sun?
Answer: Japan - What is the deepest point in the ocean?
Answer: The Mariana Trench - Which U.S. state is the largest by area?
Answer: Alaska - What is the capital of Canada?
Answer: Ottawa - Which country has the most time zones?
Answer: France (due to its overseas territories) - What is the official language of Brazil?
Answer: Portuguese
These geography questions remind me of road trips with the kids – nothing beats pointing out landmarks and teaching them about our amazing world!
Literature and Language Trivia Questions
As someone who always has a book in their bag, I love testing people’s literary knowledge. These questions span from classic novels to modern language facts.
- Who wrote “Romeo and Juliet”?
Answer: William Shakespeare - What is the best-selling book of all time?
Answer: The Bible - Who wrote “1984”?
Answer: George Orwell - What language has the most native speakers worldwide?
Answer: Mandarin Chinese - Who is the author of the Harry Potter series?
Answer: J.K. Rowling - What is the longest word in the English language?
Answer: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - Who wrote “The Great Gatsby”?
Answer: F. Scott Fitzgerald - How many letters are in the English alphabet?
Answer: 26 - Who wrote “Pride and Prejudice”?
Answer: Jane Austen - What does “ISBN” stand for?
Answer: International Standard Book Number - Who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
Answer: Harper Lee - What language is spoken in Brazil?
Answer: Portuguese - Who wrote “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy?
Answer: J.R.R. Tolkien - What is the most translated book in the world?
Answer: The Bible - Who wrote “The Catcher in the Rye”?
Answer: J.D. Salinger - What punctuation mark is used to show possession?
Answer: Apostrophe (‘) - Who wrote “Animal Farm”?
Answer: George Orwell - How many vowels are in the English language?
Answer: 5 (A, E, I, O, U) - Who is considered the father of modern English literature?
Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer - What is a group of words that expresses a complete thought called?
Answer: A sentence
For more brain-teasing language fun, check out our math words that start with j article!
Pop Culture and Entertainment Trivia Questions
This is where I really shine! Pop culture trivia is perfect for parties, and trust me, I’ve spent enough Netflix nights to know these answers by heart.
- Who played Jack in “Titanic”?
Answer: Leonardo DiCaprio - What is the name of the coffee shop in “Friends”?
Answer: Central Perk - Who is known as the “King of Pop”?
Answer: Michael Jackson - What is the highest-grossing film of all time?
Answer: Avatar - Who plays Eleven in “Stranger Things”?
Answer: Millie Bobby Brown - What band was Harry Styles in before his solo career?
Answer: One Direction - Who directed “The Godfather”?
Answer: Francis Ford Coppola - What is the name of the fictional country in “Black Panther”?
Answer: Wakanda - Who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films?
Answer: Emma Watson - What streaming service original series features a chess prodigy?
Answer: The Queen’s Gambit - Who won the first season of “American Idol”?
Answer: Kelly Clarkson - What is the name of the fictional town in “The Simpsons”?
Answer: Springfield - Who played the lead role in “Forrest Gump”?
Answer: Tom Hanks - What is the name of the wizarding school in Harry Potter?
Answer: Hogwarts - Who is the lead singer of the Rolling Stones?
Answer: Mick Jagger - What movie features the song “Let It Go”?
Answer: Frozen - Who created “The Simpsons”?
Answer: Matt Groening - What is the name of the game show hosted by Alex Trebek?
Answer: Jeopardy! - Who plays Daenerys Targaryen in “Game of Thrones”?
Answer: Emilia Clarke - What is the name of the talking snowman in “Frozen”?
Answer: Olaf
Want more entertainment-focused questions? Our 90s movie trivia collection will take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane!
Sports Trivia Questions
Even if you’re not a sports fanatic, these questions cover the most iconic moments and figures in athletic history. I learned most of these from watching Sunday football with my family!
- Which sport is known as “America’s Pastime”?
Answer: Baseball - How many players are on a standard soccer team?
Answer: 11 - Who has won the most Olympic gold medals?
Answer: Michael Phelps - In what year were the first modern Olympic Games held?
Answer: 1896 - Which country has won the most FIFA World Cups?
Answer: Brazil - How many points is a touchdown worth in American football?
Answer: 6 - Who is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - What is the official sport of Canada?
Answer: Lacrosse (summer) and Ice Hockey (winter) - How many holes are there in a standard round of golf?
Answer: 18 - Who has won the most Wimbledon titles?
Answer: Serena Williams (women’s singles) - What is the distance of a marathon?
Answer: 26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers - In which sport would you perform a “butterfly stroke”?
Answer: Swimming - How many minutes are in each quarter of an NBA game?
Answer: 12 - Who is considered the greatest boxer of all time?
Answer: Muhammad Ali (widely considered) - What team has won the most Super Bowls?
Answer: New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers (tied with 6) - In tennis, what is the term for a score of zero?
Answer: Love - How many innings are in a regulation baseball game?
Answer: 9 - Who has won the most Tour de France titles?
Answer: Lance Armstrong (though titles were stripped) - What is the national sport of India?
Answer: Field Hockey - In what sport do you use a shuttlecock?
Answer: Badminton
For more sports-related fun, don’t miss our comprehensive sports trivia questions collection!
Food and Drink Trivia Questions
Who doesn’t love talking about food? These trivia questions are perfect for dinner parties or while you’re waiting for your order at a restaurant.
- What is the main ingredient in guacamole?
Answer: Avocado - Which country did pizza originate from?
Answer: Italy - What spice is derived from the crocus flower?
Answer: Saffron - What is the most consumed beverage in the world after water?
Answer: Tea - Which fruit is known as the “king of fruits”?
Answer: Mango - What is the main alcohol in a martini?
Answer: Gin or Vodka - Which country is known for producing champagne?
Answer: France - What is the hottest chili pepper in the world?
Answer: Carolina Reaper (as of 2023) - What type of pasta is shaped like little ears?
Answer: Orecchiette - Which nut is used to make marzipan?
Answer: Almonds - What is the national dish of Spain?
Answer: Paella - Which country produces the most coffee in the world?
Answer: Brazil - What is the main ingredient in hummus?
Answer: Chickpeas - Which fruit has more vitamin C than oranges?
Answer: Strawberries - What is the process of removing bones from fish called?
Answer: Filleting - Which herb is known as “the king of herbs”?
Answer: Basil - What type of wine is made from frozen grapes?
Answer: Ice wine - Which country invented tempura?
Answer: Japan - What is the main ingredient in traditional Greek moussaka?
Answer: Eggplant - Which alcohol is made from agave?
Answer: Tequila
These food questions always get people talking! I remember using them at a potluck dinner last month – suddenly everyone was sharing their favorite recipes.
Art and Music Trivia Questions
From classical masterpieces to modern rock bands, these questions cover the artistic side of human culture. Perfect for those artsy friends we all have!
- Who painted the Mona Lisa?
Answer: Leonardo da Vinci - Which band was Freddie Mercury the lead singer of?
Answer: Queen - Who sculpted David?
Answer: Michelangelo - What instrument has 88 keys?
Answer: Piano - Who painted “Starry Night”?
Answer: Vincent van Gogh - Which classical composer became deaf?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven - What art movement was Pablo Picasso associated with?
Answer: Cubism - Who wrote the musical “Hamilton”?
Answer: Lin-Manuel Miranda - What is the highest male singing voice?
Answer: Tenor - Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Answer: Michelangelo - Which band released the album “Dark Side of the Moon”?
Answer: Pink Floyd - What is the name of Beethoven’s only opera?
Answer: Fidelio - Who painted “Girl with a Pearl Earring”?
Answer: Johannes Vermeer - Which musical features the song “Defying Gravity”?
Answer: Wicked - Who wrote the Four Seasons?
Answer: Antonio Vivaldi - What art movement did Andy Warhol lead?
Answer: Pop Art - Which instrument is Yo-Yo Ma famous for playing?
Answer: Cello - Who painted “The Persistence of Memory” with melting clocks?
Answer: Salvador Dalí - What is the longest-running musical on Broadway?
Answer: The Phantom of the Opera - Who composed the “Ode to Joy”?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Random Fun Facts Trivia Questions
These are my favorite kind – the weird, wonderful, and totally random facts that make great conversation starters at any gathering!
- Are there more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way?
Answer: Yes - Can elephants jump?
Answer: No - Are bananas botanically berries?
Answer: Yes - Do polar bears have black skin?
Answer: Yes - Is honey the only food that never spoils?
Answer: Yes - Do octopuses have three hearts?
Answer: Yes - Can pigs get sunburned?
Answer: Yes - Are cashews technically seeds or nuts?
Answer: Seeds - Do butterflies taste with their feet?
Answer: Yes - Is a day on Venus longer than its year?
Answer: Yes - Can flamingos only eat with their heads upside down?
Answer: Yes - Do sharks have bones?
Answer: No, they have cartilage - Is the Eiffel Tower taller in summer?
Answer: Yes (due to metal expansion) - Can you sneeze while sleeping?
Answer: No - Are strawberries technically not berries?
Answer: Yes, they’re aggregate fruits - Do lobsters communicate through urinating?
Answer: Yes - Is water wet?
Answer: Scientifically debatable, but generally no - Can humans taste water?
Answer: No, we taste what’s dissolved in it - Do sloths only defecate once a week?
Answer: Yes - Is baby roasted if the father is not born?
Answer: The baby shark will feed on their mother’s unfertilized eggs
I love these random facts because they’re perfect ice breakers. Just last week, I dropped the banana berry fact at work and had people Googling all day!
Why General Knowledge Trivia is Perfect for Any Occasion
I’ll be honest – I used to think trivia was just for quiz shows and bar nights. But then I started using it during family dinners, and suddenly everyone was putting their phones away and actually talking to each other! Trivia questions are like little conversation starters that bring people together while sneaking in some education along the way.
Whether you’re killing time on a road trip (my kids’ personal favorite), breaking the ice at a party, or challenging your coworkers during lunch break, these questions work in any setting. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about knowing random facts – like when I casually dropped that bananas are berries into conversation last week and blew everyone’s minds.
Wrapping Up
There you have it – over 100 general knowledge trivia questions that’ll keep you and your friends entertained for hours! I’ve used these questions at family gatherings, virtual game nights, and even during awkward Zoom calls, and they never fail to get people talking and laughing.
The best part about trivia isn’t just showing off what you know – it’s learning something new and sharing those “wow, I didn’t know that!” moments with others. Did you know all the answers? If you’re like me, you probably learned at least a dozen new facts just reading through these!
Want to explore more fun ways to connect with people? Check out our collections of questions for couples or two truths and a lie ideas for your next gathering. And if you’re specifically looking for ways to start meaningful conversations, our deep topics to talk about might be just what you need.
Remember, trivia is meant to be fun, not stressful. So grab some snacks, gather your favorite people, and start testing those brains!