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List Of Hobbies In English

List Of Hobbies In English

International English Test Editorial Team·12 Dec 2023·4 min read

Want to chat about hobbies in English? Check out our list of common hobbies and related words!

Everyone possesses a hobby or a preferred activity for their leisure time. Whether it’s learning foreign languages, indulging in painting or drawing, or opting for simpler pleasures like watching movies, TV series, or playing video games, there is a wide array of hobbies to explore. Engaging in diverse hobbies adds enjoyment and diversity to our lives.

In today’s discussion, we’ll delve into the topic of hobbies and familiarize ourselves with English vocabulary associated with this subject. Given that hobbies are a significant conversation topic in the English language, acquiring related vocabulary and questions is particularly valuable, especially for ESL students.

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Common hobbies

To begin with, let’s provide an extensive roster of hobbies that enjoy popularity and prevalence in English-speaking nations:

  •        Learning new languages

  •        Shopping

  •        Traveling

  •        Hiking

  •        Knitting

  •        Playing board games

  •        Walking

  •        Writing stories

  •         Fishing

  •         Cycling

  •         Exercising

  •         Drawing

  •         Painting

  •         Collecting things

  •         Reading books

  •         Blogging

  •         Dancing

  •        Singing

  •         Listening to music

  •         Playing musical instruments (piano, guitar etc.)

  •         Playing computer games

  •         Cooking

  •         Baking

  •         Gardening

  •         Doing crafts (handmade)

  •         Photography

  •         Skydiving

  •         Skating

  •         Skiing

  •         Roller skating

  •         Longboarding

  •         Surfing

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nERkTVBceGg?feature=oembed

Discussing hobbies and how individuals spend their leisure time is a great way to connect with others and share your own interests—in English. If you have an interest in business English, casual conversation is not only welcomed but also expected, and what better topic to engage in than your hobbies?

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How to ask others about their hobbies

  •         What is your hobby?
  •         What are your hobbies?
  •         Do you have any hobbies?

You’ve likely encountered these three questions in textbooks. However, in everyday conversation, the term “hobby” isn’t commonly used. Instead, you might be inquired:

  •         What do you do for fun?
  •         What do you do in your spare/free time?
  •         What do you do when you’re bored?

How to tell others about your hobbies

To share information about your hobbies in English, you can utilize one of the grammatical structures provided below:

  •         I like + to do something
  •         I like + (verb + ing)
  •         I enjoy doing something
  •         I am keen on something (British English)
  •         I am fond of something

For example:

  •         I like watching movies.
  •         I like to play golf.
  •         I am keen on photography.
  •         I enjoy baking.
  •         I am fond of traveling.

If you would like to say that you thoroughly enjoy doing something – that it is one of your favorite things – you can add the word “really” after “I” (or the form of “to be” if this is used in the sentence).

For example: I really like playing tennis. We are really fond of skydiving.

If you do not want to speak about a specific activity or hobby, you can use this phrase_: I like hanging out with my friends and stuff like that._

That’s all for today. Remember that the subject of hobbies will help you to start a conversation and get to know others better. And it is, of course, an excellent way to practice your conversational skills when you meet native speakers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Although textbooks teach "What is your hobby?", "What are your hobbies?", and "Do you have any hobbies?", native speakers rarely use the word "hobby" in casual talk. More natural questions are "What do you do for fun?", "What do you do in your spare time?", and "What do you do when you're bored?" These sound friendlier and keep a conversation flowing easily.
You can describe what you enjoy with several patterns: "I am keen on something" (common in British English) and "I am fond of something". For example, "I am keen on photography" or "I am fond of traveling". Other options include "I like to do something", "I like" plus a verb ending in -ing, and "I enjoy doing something", as in "I enjoy baking".
Both work. You can say "I like" followed by an -ing verb, such as "I like watching movies", or "I like" followed by an infinitive, such as "I like to play golf". The meaning stays the same when describing hobbies, so you can choose whichever feels more comfortable in the moment.
Add "really" right after "I" to show something is one of your favorite activities, as in "I really like playing tennis". When the sentence uses a form of the verb "to be", place "really" after that verb instead, for example "We are really fond of skydiving". This small word makes your enthusiasm clear.
If you prefer not to mention one particular activity, you can keep your answer vague and friendly by saying "I like hanging out with my friends and stuff like that." This phrase lets you join a conversation about free time without committing to a single named hobby, which is handy in relaxed, casual settings.
Hobbies are a significant conversation topic in English, so learning the related vocabulary helps you connect with others and share your interests. Even in business English, casual conversation is welcomed and expected, and discussing what you do for fun is an easy, friendly opener. It is also an excellent way to practise conversational skills with native speakers.
International English Test

International English Test Editorial Team

ALTE Associate Member · UK English assessment provider · Est. 2023

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