When it comes to the best questions to ask Alexa, the list is full of fun. When you need answers to pressing questions about your home or garden, or just want to solve that random question that’s popping into your head today, language support makes it so convenient. Where we used to have to sift through dusty encyclopedia books or peruse the Yellow Pages (remember those ones?!) to get information, nowadays all we have to do is ask Alexa. Good times.
Amazon recently compiled a list of some of the most popular questions asked so far this year that we thought would be fun to share here with you so you can try it yourself. “It’s been so interesting to see people using their devices for so many different purposes,” says Dennis Stansbury, Alexa UK & Ireland Country Manager. “From helping stay organized, following a favorite football team, and learning about big events like the Queen’s Jubilee, Alexa delivers answers through the power of voice.”
So if you already have Alexa set up (opens in new tab)refined some of the best Alexa skills (opens in new tab), and wondering what to ask your personal voice assistant next, try these best questions to ask Alexa. We also threw a few useful home and garden questions into the mix. Enjoy!
The 10 best questions to ask Alexa
(Image credit: Alexa Echo Show 15)
1. Alexa, how old is the queen?
Asking Alexa how old the Queen is has been a hugely popular question so far this year, which is not surprising given the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations are in full swing. In fact, answering questions about historical facts about kings and queens in general is one of Alexa’s best skills. It’s also very useful for letting you know which days the main calendar dates fall on, including Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, or when the next leap year is.
2. Alexa, what’s the pet of the day?
Kids will love asking Alexa what the pet of the day is. Alexa is ready to provide a snippet of information about the animal in question. And it’s not your standard pigeon or garden fox – the great thing about this feature is that you get to know animals you never knew existed – from vampire squid to tripod fish – who knew?!
3. Alexa, remind me to water the plants every Sunday at 9am
We’ve all been there — buying a gorgeous yukka for the corner of the living room with such good intentions, only to be reminded weeks later that its Sahara-dry floor hadn’t had a drop of water. The solution? Ask Alexa to remind you to water the plants every week. You will sleep better.
4. Alexa, show my Facebook photos
If you’re bored with your blank Alexa Echo Show screen staring at you, customize the screen with your favorite Facebook memories to double as a photo frame.
You need to launch the Alexa app and go to menu settings then photos and sign in to your Facebook account for this feature to work.
(Image credit: Alexa Echo Show 15 Smart Speaker)
5. Alexa, sing a song
Do you feel you need encouragement? Just ask Alexa to sing you a song or entertain you with his cheeky personality. We can’t say the songs will be fun, but they might make you smile. Also try “Alexa, what’s your name?” and “Alexa, how are you?” and see what response you get.
move to the side sport Center, Alexa is on hand to bring you your daily dose of sports news. Asking Alexa for sports game updates has been particularly popular this year, and you can personalize the information you get based on the team or sports hero.
7. Alexa, what’s on my calendar today?
A question like “Alexa, what’s on my calendar today?” is super useful if you woke up on a Friday with tired eyes and thought it was Saturday. This question provides useful information about your day and gives you the gentle nudge you need to get going as you sip your morning brew. Of course, you’ll need to sync your calendar through the Alexa app first.
8. Alexa, play cleaning music
If you’re tasked with tidying up and cleaning your house and aren’t really feeling the mood, try asking Alexa for some pick-me-up music to get you excited. When we asked Alexa to clean music, our Echo Show burst in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Violin Concerto in E major by Nigel Kennedythis was just what we needed to encourage us to polish the bathroom at top speed.
Better still, if you have an Alexa-compatible device like a robot vacuum, you can remotely ask Alexa to start it up and whip your ship into shape in no time.
9. Alexa, let’s go to work
To work from home? Sometimes it can be difficult to feel energized and make the transition from a cup of coffee on the sofa to a Zoom call at the office where Alexa can help.
To make sure you’re properly set up in your home office and ready to start your day, you can set up a work routine in the Alexa app that turns on the lights and smart plugs for your computer. You can simultaneously have your smart speaker play ambient music in the background, creating an inviting space that transports you to the workspace in a snap.
10. Alexa, what should I cook for dinner?
That million-dollar question that the whole household relies on comes at 6 p.m., “Alexa, what should I cook for dinner?” can be an enlightening question. It’s especially useful to ask on those days when you’re out of ideas and just fancy serving a can of baked beans. You can even personalize the question based on your dietary needs.
When we asked Alexa for ideas of what to have for dinner, it brought up a range of BBC Good Food recipes, including mussels in red pesto. Hold us a glass of wine and yes, that’s enough.
(Image credit: Alexa Echo Show 15)
What are Alexa Routines?
You can use Alexa Routines to automate your daily tasks. They really come into their own when you’re busy and want to control everyday tasks a little more easily. With the Alexa app, you can set up specific routines to make your day that little bit easier.
“There’s a wide range of ‘routines’ that you can plan in the Alexa app,” says Laura Comfort of Currys (opens in new tab). “For example, you can create an Alexa routine to set the alarm and turn on the lights, turn on the heating, and play your favorite song — all at the same time or sequentially. Alternatively, you can use Alexa to create a bedtime routine for you or the kids where Alexa dims the lights, plays relaxing music, and even says goodnight!
(Image credit: Alexa Echo Show 15)