The best Siri Easter eggs: how Apple’s voice assistant can entertain you

homepod mini
(Image credit: Apple)

For many of us, Apple’s voice assistant Siri has become an integral part of everyday life. Whether you want to know if you need to take an umbrella on your walk to work, want it to play DJ by starting your favorite playlist on your HomePod, or even set reminders and timers, just ask.Ā 

While Apple’s voice assistant may have started life on iPhone, it can now to be found in Apple’s whole range of devices including iPads, Macs, HomePod speakers, and the Apple TV streaming device, Apple TV, further expanding what Siri can do. For example, with Siri on Apple TV you can control your smart home devices, such as changing the color your smart lights illuminate and even seeing a live feed from one of the best video doorbells on the TV when it's been pressed.

Sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of fun, and Siri can help here too. There are lots of Easter eggs in Siri’s code that are there for no other reason than to make you smile. Here are some of our favorites, although there are plenty more for you to discover.

Read on to discover some of Siri's best Easter eggs, or if you want to get Apple's voice assistant in your life now, check out the best prices for the latest Apple devices with the voice assistant built in. Ā 

Siri’s musical Easter eggs

Siri’s pretty good at controlling your music, but it can also amuse you with some fun musical in-jokes. If you tell Siri that ā€œI see a silhouetto of a manā€ you’ll be treated to a spoken word version of Bohemian Rhapsody.Ā 

Ask ā€œHey Siri, can you rap?ā€, and Siri will provide a funny demonstration, although Apple’s voice assistant won’t be winning a Grammy for its efforts anytime soon. if you say ā€œHey Siri, sing for meā€ you’ll discover that Siri isn’t as confident as you might expect. Our favorite is to ask ā€œHey Siri, beatbox for meā€, which Siri responds to with audible delight.

Siri can also tell you ā€œWhat does the fox say?ā€, ā€œhow many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?ā€ or ā€œwhere is Elvis Presley?ā€ but if you ask them ā€œwho let the dogs out?ā€ you’ll get a somewhat huffier response.

TV tropes and movie moments: Siri’s TV and film Easter eggsĀ 

Siri loves TV and movies, so it’s hardly surprising to discover a host of Easter eggs dedicated to famous shows and films. Siri will happily respond to famous movie lines such as ā€œHey Siri, I am your fatherā€, ā€œHey Siri, beam me up Scottyā€ or ā€œHey Siri, open the pod bay doorā€, and you can also ask Siri ā€œwhat is your favorite movie?ā€.Ā 

Some of the responses are more mischievous: try asking ā€œHey Siri, is Jon Snow alive?ā€, ā€œare you HER?ā€, ā€œIs Winter coming?ā€ or ā€œHey Siri, can I name you Jarvis?ā€; you’ll also get interesting responses to ā€œHey Siri, cease all motor functionsā€ or ā€œHey Siri, find me directions to Mordorā€.

There are many more: try ā€œsupercalifragilisticexpialidociousā€, ā€œmirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?ā€, ā€œwill you be my thunder buddy?ā€ or ā€œblue pill or red pill?ā€ to see if Siri is part of The Matrix.

Halloweeen and holidays: will Siri kiss you underneath the mistletoe?Ā 

Ā Some of Siri’s responses are seasonal, so for example you can ask ā€œWhat should I go as for Halloween?ā€ There are a few festive Easter eggs dedicated to Christmas too: you can ask Siri ā€œWhere does Santa live?ā€ and no matter what time of year, say ā€œwish me a Merry Christmasā€ to get a seasonally appropriate response. If you’re feeling brave you could ask Siri to ā€œkiss me underneath the mistletoeā€, but don’t worry: if the kids ask ā€œdoes Santa exist?ā€ Siri isn’t going to spill any secrets.Ā 

Apple HomePod

(Image credit: Future)

Do it by the books: Siri’s literary Easter eggsĀ 

Siri is very well-read, and likes a good literary gag: if you ask ā€œtell me a storyā€ you’ll get a very different take on a famous fairy tale, and if you ask ā€œwhat’s the meaning of life?ā€ there’s a 50/50 chance of getting some wisdom or getting a book joke. It’s fun to ask ā€œHey Siri, do you follow the three laws of robotics?ā€ if you’re a Sci-Fi fan, and if you’re a fan of the Hitch-hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, say to Siri: ā€œread me a poemā€ and ā€œmake sure you know where your towel isā€. Siri will also respond to ā€œdo you like green eggs and ham?ā€

Get your geek on: Siri’s tech jokes and referencesĀ 

Apple’s engineers have packed Siri with tech jokes, references and self-deprecating humor, and you can have fun by saying things like ā€œHey Siri, OK Googleā€, ā€œApple or PC?ā€ or ā€œWho is the best assistant?ā€. On a Mac, ask Siri ā€œWhat is the best computer?ā€Ā 

There are plenty of others to try, including ā€œtesting, 1, 2, 3ā€, ā€œwhat is zero divided by zero?ā€, ā€œdo you have any pets?ā€ and ā€œwhat do you think about the Google assistant?ā€

Siri can even help with your love life: ask ā€œWhat’s your best pick-up line?ā€ and Siri can offer several suggestions.

Knock knock, who’s there? It’s Siri, with some bad jokesĀ 

Most digital assistants can tell a few really bad jokes, and Siri is no exception. Try ā€œknock knockā€, ā€œtell me a jokeā€, ā€œwhy did the chicken cross the road?ā€ or ā€œHey Siri, talk dirty to meā€ for some groan-inducing responses, or ask ā€œhow much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?ā€ for something more surprising.Ā 

Will pigs ever fly, and other big questions you can ask Siri to answerĀ 

Siri isn’t just here for the little things. You can ask the big questions too. Questions like ā€œWill pigs fly?ā€ or ā€œhey Siri, can I borrow some money?ā€. You can ask for advice, such as ā€œwhat should I wear today?ā€ or ā€œwhat music should I listen to??ā€ There are some limits, though: Siri isn’t impressed if you say ā€œI need to hide a body.ā€

There are many more. Siri can answer ā€œwhy is the sky blue?ā€, ā€œwhen will Hell freeze over?ā€ and even ā€œwhat’s your favorite animal?ā€, and you can also ask ā€œif a tree falls in the woods and no-one is around, does it make a sound?ā€ to get a surprisingly sensible response.Ā 

We’re not sure what this says about Apple customers, but a lot of Siri’s snappy responses are for romantic and/or personal questions such as ā€œwhat do you look like?ā€, ā€œwhat are you doing later?ā€, ā€œwhat are you wearing?ā€, ā€œdo you have a girlfriend?ā€ and ā€œwill you marry me?ā€. You can ask Siri how old they are, if they ever sleep, whether they like cats, how much they cost or how tall they are, and it’s always nice to ask ā€œhow are you?ā€

Carrie Marshall

Contributor

Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than twenty books. Her latest, a love letter to music titled Small Town Joy, is on sale now. She is the singer in spectacularly obscure Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind.