225 Super Hard Trivia Questions With Answers

Ready to test your brainpower? This ultimate guide features 225 challenging trivia questions, complete with answers.

Divided into categories, these trivia questions will challenge even the most seasoned trivia buffs. Use this guide for game nights, parties, or just to sharpen your knowledge!

Table of Contents

Hard Trivia Questions

What is the only letter not used in any U.S. state name?
Answer: Q
What is the name of the mathematical conjecture that states every even number greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers?
Answer: Goldbach’s Conjecture
What is the rarest naturally occurring element on Earth?
Answer: Astatine
Which chess piece was originally called the “elephant” in early versions of the game?
Answer: Bishop
What is the smallest country in the world by both area and population?
Answer: Vatican City
Which famous philosopher said, “I think, therefore I am”?
Answer: René Descartes
What is the only word in the English language that ends with the letters “mt”?
Answer: Dreamt
What is the most linguistically diverse country in the world, with over 840 languages spoken?
Answer: Papua New Guinea
What year was the Magna Carta signed?
Answer: 1215
What is the term for an animal that eats its own kind?
Answer: Cannibal
Who is the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different sciences?
Answer: Marie Curie (Physics and Chemistry)
What is the highest-grossing video game franchise of all time?
Answer: Pokémon
What is the official national dish of Scotland?
Answer: Haggis
What is the name of the treaty that ended World War I?
Answer: Treaty of Versailles
Which number does not have its own Roman numeral?
Answer: Zero

History and Geography Trivia

Who was the first Roman emperor? Augustus
Which country has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites? Italy
What year did the Titanic sink? 1912
Who was the first President of the United States to live in the White House? John Adams
Which country is known as the “Land of the Rising Sun”? Japan
What is the longest river in the world? The Nile
Who discovered America in 1492? Christopher Columbus
What year did World War II end? 1945
Which country is the smallest in the world? Vatican City
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson
What year was the Berlin Wall torn down? 1989
Which country is known for the Great Sphinx? Egypt
Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II? Joseph Stalin
Which city was the first to host the modern Olympic Games? Athens
What is the capital of Canada? Ottawa
What country is home to the Amazon rainforest? Brazil
Who painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling? Michelangelo
What year did the French Revolution begin? 1789
Which ancient wonder was located in Babylon? The Hanging Gardens
What is the oldest university in the world? University of al-Qarawiyyin, Morocco
Where was Napoleon Bonaparte born? Corsica
What year did the U.S. land on the moon? 1969
Which Asian country was formerly called Siam? Thailand
What is the capital of Australia? Canberra
What year was the United Nations founded? 1945
Who was the first female Prime Minister of the UK? Margaret Thatcher
Which European country remained neutral during World War II? Switzerland
What is the national currency of Japan? Yen
Where is the Taj Mahal located? India
Which African country is known as the “Rainbow Nation”? South Africa
What year did the American Civil War end? 1865
What is the official language of Brazil? Portuguese
What is the capital of Argentina? Buenos Aires
Who invented the printing press? Johannes Gutenberg
What is the largest desert in the world? The Sahara
Which continent has the most countries? Africa
What city is known as the “Eternal City”? Rome
What year did the Cold War begin? 1947
Which European country is famous for its fjords? Norway

Science and Technology Trivia

What is the chemical symbol for gold? Au
What planet is closest to the sun? Mercury
What is the hardest natural substance on Earth? Diamond
Who developed the theory of relativity? Albert Einstein
What is the smallest unit of matter? Atom
Which element has the atomic number 1? Hydrogen
What is the powerhouse of the cell? Mitochondria
Which planet is known as the “Red Planet”? Mars
What is the main gas in Earth’s atmosphere? Nitrogen
Who invented the telephone? Alexander Graham Bell
What does DNA stand for? Deoxyribonucleic Acid
What is the study of weather called? Meteorology
Who discovered penicillin? Alexander Fleming
What is the boiling point of water in Celsius? 100°C
Which organ is responsible for pumping blood? Heart
What is the speed of light? Approximately 299,792 km/s
What is the process by which plants make food? Photosynthesis
What is the symbol for iron on the periodic table? Fe
Which planet has the most moons? Jupiter
Who is known as the “Father of Computers”? Charles Babbage
What is the largest organ in the human body? Skin
What does an anemometer measure? Wind speed
What is the most abundant element in the universe? Hydrogen
What is the name of the largest ocean on Earth? Pacific Ocean
What year was the first human in space? 1961
Who developed the first vaccine? Edward Jenner
What type of blood has no antibodies? AB
What is the term for animals that eat both plants and meat? Omnivores
Which gas is essential for human respiration? Oxygen
What is the strongest muscle in the human body? Masseter (jaw muscle)
What is the study of insects called? Entomology
What is the term for a liquid changing into a gas? Evaporation
What organ produces insulin? Pancreas
Which planet is known as the “Gas Giant”? Jupiter
What does a barometer measure? Atmospheric pressure
What is the name of the first artificial satellite? Sputnik
Which energy source is derived from the sun? Solar energy
What is the SI unit of force? Newton
What is the heaviest naturally occurring element? Uranium

Pop Culture and Entertainment Trivia

Who directed “Jurassic Park”? Steven Spielberg
What is the highest-grossing movie of all time? Avatar
Who wrote the “Harry Potter” series? J.K. Rowling
What year did The Beatles release their first album? 1963
What is the longest-running TV show? The Simpsons
Who won the first Academy Award for Best Actor? Emil Jannings
What was Elvis Presley’s first No. 1 hit? Heartbreak Hotel
Which superhero has a weakness to kryptonite? Superman
What is the name of the hobbit played by Elijah Wood? Frodo Baggins
Which band released the album “Dark Side of the Moon”? Pink Floyd
Who voices Woody in “Toy Story”? Tom Hanks
Which movie features the line “I’ll be back”? The Terminator
What is the name of the coffee shop in “Friends”? Central Perk
Who is the highest-paid actor of all time? Robert Downey Jr.
Which book begins with “Call me Ishmael”? Moby-Dick
Who is the main villain in “The Avengers”? Loki
What is the name of the fictional school in “X-Men”? Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters
What is the most-watched Netflix show of all time? Squid Game
What is the name of Sherlock Holmes’ assistant? Dr. Watson
Who played Jack in “Titanic”? Leonardo DiCaprio
What year did MTV debut? 1981
Which artist is known as the “Queen of Pop”? Madonna
Who was the first actor to play James Bond? Sean Connery
What is the name of Batman’s butler? Alfred
Who sang “Rolling in the Deep”? Adele
Which Disney movie features a talking teapot? Beauty and the Beast
What is the name of the wizard in “The Lord of the Rings”? Gandalf
Who played Rachel in “Friends”? Jennifer Aniston
What is the highest-rated TV series of all time? Breaking Bad
Who wrote the novel “Pride and Prejudice”? Jane Austen
Which actor played the Joker in “The Dark Knight”? Heath Ledger
What is the name of the dragon in “The Hobbit”? Smaug
Who is the author of “Game of Thrones”? George R.R. Martin
What is the main setting of “The Hunger Games”? Panem
Who is the oldest Kardashian sibling? Kourtney Kardashian
What was the first feature-length animated movie? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
What is the title of the first “Star Wars” film? Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Literature and Language Trivia

Who wrote “The Divine Comedy”? Dante Alighieri
What is the term for a word that has the same spelling but different meanings? Homonym
What year was the first “Harry Potter” book published? 1997
Which play features the line, “To be or not to be”? Hamlet
What is the longest word in the English language? Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Who wrote “The Catcher in the Rye”? J.D. Salinger
What is the term for a book published after an author’s death? Posthumous
What language has the most native speakers? Mandarin Chinese
Who wrote “1984”? George Orwell
What is the study of word origins called? Etymology
Who is the protagonist of “The Great Gatsby”? Jay Gatsby
What is the term for a word that sounds the same but has different meanings? Homophone
What language does the word “karaoke” come from? Japanese
Who wrote the epic poem “Paradise Lost”? John Milton
What is the original language of “Don Quixote”? Spanish
Who wrote “Frankenstein”? Mary Shelley
What does “RSVP” stand for in French? Répondez s’il vous plaît
What is the term for a poem of 14 lines? Sonnet
What is the most translated book in the world? The Bible
Who created the character Sherlock Holmes? Arthur Conan Doyle
What does the Latin phrase “carpe diem” mean? Seize the day
Who is the author of “The Odyssey”? Homer
What year was the first dictionary published? 1604
Who wrote “Brave New World”? Aldous Huxley
What is the term for a group of lines in a poem? Stanza
What is the oldest known written language? Sumerian
Who wrote the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”? Tennessee Williams
What is the name of the first Shakespearean play published? The First Folio
Who is the author of “The Road”? Cormac McCarthy
What is the term for a recurring symbol in literature? Motif
What does the Greek root “bio” mean? Life
Who wrote “The Picture of Dorian Gray”? Oscar Wilde
What is the study of sounds in language called? Phonetics
Who wrote “Wuthering Heights”? Emily Brontë
What language family does English belong to? Germanic
What is the shortest complete sentence in English? I am.
Who wrote “The Scarlet Letter”? Nathaniel Hawthorne
What is the term for an incomplete sentence? Fragment
What is the name of the famous French epic poem? The Song of Roland

Sports and Games Trivia

Who holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals? Michael Phelps
Which country won the first FIFA World Cup? Uruguay
What is the term for three consecutive strikes in bowling? Turkey
Which sport uses a shuttlecock? Badminton
Who is known as “The Great One” in hockey? Wayne Gretzky
What is the national sport of Japan? Sumo Wrestling
Which country has the most Formula 1 championship wins? United Kingdom
How many players are on a standard basketball team? Five
Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots (tied)
What is the highest score possible in 10-pin bowling? 300
Who is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history? LeBron James
What is the oldest tennis tournament in the world? Wimbledon
What sport is known as “the beautiful game”? Soccer (Football)
Who has won the most Grand Slam titles in tennis? Novak Djokovic (as of 2024)
What year was the first modern Olympic Games held? 1896
What is the maximum score in a single frame of darts? 180
What sport uses a pommel horse? Gymnastics
Who was the first female athlete to win six Olympic gold medals? Allyson Felix
What is the term for a zero score in tennis? Love
Who holds the record for the fastest 100m sprint? Usain Bolt
Which country is famous for cricket? India
What sport features the Triple Crown? Horse Racing
Who is the most decorated female gymnast in history? Simone Biles
Which chess piece can only move diagonally? Bishop
What is the name of the trophy awarded in the NHL? The Stanley Cup
How many holes are there in a standard golf course? 18
What year was the first Super Bowl played? 1967
Who has the most home runs in MLB history? Barry Bonds
Which country invented table tennis? England
What is the term for scoring three goals in a single hockey game? Hat trick
Who is the youngest Formula 1 world champion? Sebastian Vettel
Which sport uses the term “chukka”? Polo
What is the name of the award for the best college football player? Heisman Trophy
What sport is associated with the Williams sisters? Tennis
What year did Tiger Woods win his first Masters? 1997
Which athlete is known as the “Flying Finn”? Paavo Nurmi
What is the name of the soccer position responsible for defending the goal? Goalkeeper
Which NBA team plays at Madison Square Garden? New York Knicks
Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards? Lionel Messi

Miscellaneous Trivia

What is the largest mammal on Earth? Blue Whale
What is the most widely spoken language in Africa? Swahili
What is the name of the ship in “Moby-Dick”? Pequod
Which city hosted the first Winter Olympics? Chamonix
What is the capital city of Iceland? Reykjavik
Who discovered gravity when he saw a falling apple? Isaac Newton
Which country is known as the “Land of a Thousand Lakes”? Finland
What is the rarest blood type? AB negative
What is the world’s most popular non-alcoholic beverage? Tea
Which ocean is the deepest? Pacific Ocean
What is the square root of 144? 12
Who painted the “Mona Lisa”? Leonardo da Vinci
What is the smallest U.S. state by area? Rhode Island
What is the currency of South Korea? Won
Who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web? Tim Berners-Lee
What is the national flower of Japan? Cherry Blossom
Which city is known as the “Big Apple”? New York City
Who was the first human to orbit Earth? Yuri Gagarin
What is the tallest mountain in Africa? Mount Kilimanjaro
What is the world’s fastest land animal? Cheetah
What does the term “ISBN” stand for? International Standard Book Number
What is the hardest rock? Diamond
What year did the first iPhone launch? 2007
Which gas is used in balloons to make them float? Helium
What is the main ingredient in guacamole? Avocado
Which animal is known as the “Ship of the Desert”? Camel
What is the only U.S. state with a one-syllable name? Maine
What is the smallest planet in our solar system? Mercury
Who wrote “The Republic”? Plato
Which country consumes the most chocolate per capita? Switzerland
What is the most common surname in the United States? Smith
Which planet is the hottest in our solar system? Venus
What is the capital of Turkey? Ankara
What does “HTTP” stand for? Hypertext Transfer Protocol
What is the only continent without snakes? Antarctica
Who is the Roman god of war? Mars
What is the longest bone in the human body? Femur
What country has the longest coastline in the world? Canada
Which musical instrument has 88 keys? Piano
What is the name of the study of mushrooms? Mycology
Who is the Greek goddess of wisdom? Athena
What is the largest island in the world? Greenland
What is the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere? Nitrogen
Which artist painted “Starry Night”? Vincent van Gogh
What is the chemical symbol for potassium? K
What is the most spoken language in the world? English
What is the smallest bird in the world? Bee Hummingbird
What is the most populous city in the world? Tokyo
What does the acronym “RAM” stand for? Random Access Memory

Food and Drink Trivia

What spice is derived from dried flower buds? Cloves
What is the primary ingredient in hummus? Chickpeas
What is the most expensive spice in the world? Saffron
What country is known for originating sushi? Japan
What is the main ingredient in traditional paella? Rice
Which fruit has its seeds on the outside? Strawberry
What is the national dish of Scotland? Haggis
What type of pastry is used in a croissant? Puff pastry
What is the most consumed meat in the world? Pork
Which country is the largest producer of coffee? Brazil
What is the alcoholic ingredient in a margarita? Tequila
What is the term for wine experts? Sommeliers
What is the main ingredient in sauerkraut? Cabbage
Which cheese is traditionally used in tiramisu? Mascarpone
What is the primary ingredient in miso soup? Soybean paste
Which fruit is known as the “king of fruits”? Durian
What is the Italian word for “pasta cooked to be firm to the bite”? Al dente
Which nut is used to make marzipan? Almonds
What type of tea is traditionally used in a chai latte? Black tea
What is the national drink of Russia? Vodka
What is the main ingredient in gazpacho? Tomatoes
What does the term “proof” mean in alcohol? Twice the alcohol content by volume
What is the name of the thin pancake popular in France? Crêpe
What is the name of the process of aging meat? Dry aging
Which fruit is known for having no fat or cholesterol? Watermelon
What is the name of the edible part of a nutmeg seed? Aril (mace)
What is the name of the Korean dish of fermented vegetables? Kimchi
Which country is known for feta cheese? Greece
What type of pasta translates to “little tongues” in Italian? Linguine
What is the main ingredient in tabbouleh? Bulgur
What is the key ingredient in a Bloody Mary? Tomato juice
What is the term for a Japanese dish of raw fish? Sashimi
What is the main ingredient in a traditional pesto? Basil
Which fruit is known for its spiky skin and sweet interior? Pineapple
What is the French term for a set meal? Prix fixe
What country is known for its dish called “poutine”? Canada
What type of food is paneer? Cheese
Which country is the birthplace of pizza? Italy
What is the name of the wine region in California? Napa Valley
What is the main ingredient in a traditional French omelette? Eggs
What type of fish is used in traditional fish and chips? Cod
What is the process of beating egg whites until stiff? Whisking
What is the primary ingredient in meringue? Egg whites