Complete list of Amazon Alexa commands you didn’t know you could use

February 11, 2018

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Many of us Amazon Alexa users are stuck in a rut and we don’t even know it. We say things like “Alexa, play my music” and “Alexa, what is the weather for today?” Those are handy commands, but they barely scratch the surface of what this very capable voice assistant can do.You already know your basic Alexa commands.Now get ready to explore the wider world of Alexa’s capabilities with these useful and fun commands you’ve been overlooking for too long!

Trivia and learning

Whether you’re curious about George Washington’s birthday, need to translate a phrase into French, or just want to hear a random fascinating fact, Alexa is here to share the knowledge.

• Alexa, tell me something interesting.
• Alexa, who is [name]?
• Alexa, when was [historical event]?
• Alexa, how do you spell [word]?
• Alexa, what is the distance between [place] and [place]?
• Alexa, what is the elevation of Mount Everest?
• Alexa, what is the capital of Djibouti?
• Alexa, what time is it in Paris?
• Alexa, translate “Where’s the bathroom?” into Spanish.

(Tip in a Tip –> Did you know that you can listen to everything your Echo has recorded? You can delete the recordings too. Click here for a free step-by-step guide!)

Sports and entertainment

Don’t worry if you missed the last few minutes of the big game. Alexa can tell you who won. It can also help get you to the movies or find out who stars in your favorite TV show.

• Alexa, who won the [team] game?
• Alexa, what is the [team] score?
• Alexa, when do the Chicago Cubs play next?
• Alexa, who stars in “This Is Us?”
• Alexa, what is Meryl Streep’s latest movie?
• Alexa, what movies are playing near me?
• Alexa, what action movies are playing?
• Alexa, when is [movie title] playing near me?
• Alexa, what movies are playing at [theater name]?

You’ve got a new Echo, so be sure to try out these Alexa commands.

Navigate local businesses

Is the grocery store still open? What’s a highly rated Mexican restaurant nearby? What’s the address of that new clothing store? Ask Alexa to find out.

• Alexa, is [business name] open right now?
• Alexa, what are the hours for [business]?
• Alexa, find the address for [business].
• Alexa, how far away is [business]?
• Alexa, what [restaurants or businesses] are nearby?

Get better weather

Alexa is great at delivering your daily forecast, but she can do more than that.

• Alexa, will it rain [or snow] today?
• Alexa, what is the weather for the week?
• Alexa, what is the weather for the weekend?
• Alexa, what’s the weather in London [or other city]?

Celebrate with Alexa

Alexa has your back when it comes to putting on a party. She can help you serenade the birthday person or set the mood with some upbeat or seasonal music.

• Alexa, sing “Happy Birthday.”
• Alexa, play party music.
• Alexa, play rock [or other genre] music for a party.
• Alexa, party on, Wayne.

Alexa has some surprising skills. Check out these seven unexpected abilities.

Conquer the kitchen

You probably already use Alexa to set your cooking timers, but it can also help you with measurements, ingredients and cooking tips.

• Alexa, at what temperature should I cook the chicken?
• Alexa, what is a substitute for butter?
• Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a cup?
• Alexa, start a soup timer for 30 minutes.
• Alexa, how much time is left on my soup timer?
• Alexa, what are my timers?
• Alexa, how many calories are in a celery stick?

Just for fun

Alexa has a whimsical side. These easter-egg commands generate funny responses.

• Alexa, sing me a song.
• Alexa, sneeze.
• Alexa, more cowbell.
• Alexa, what is the value of pi?
• Alexa, open the pod bay doors.
• Alexa, tell me a Star Trek joke.
• Alexa, play rock, paper, scissors.
• Alexa, where is Chuck Norris?
• Alexa, high five!
• Alexa, beam me up.

These are just some of Alexa’s built-in commands. Remember, there’s also a huge world of skills that you can enable to let you do everything from turning on your robot vacuum cleaner to finding your phone when you’ve misplaced it. Check out some of our suggestions for handy Alexa skills for the kitchen and for helping you save money.

Still undecided between Amazon Alexa and Google Home?

The two leading digital home assistants are locked in a battle for your money and your attention.Click here to figure out if Alexa or Home is the best fit for your life.