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Hobbies in Spanish: Sports & Activities

8 min read2024-03-22Francisco Salvetti

Whether you're making new friends, having a job interview, or just chatting with Spanish speakers, knowing how to talk about your hobbies and interests is essential. Let's explore the Spanish vocabulary for various sports and activities, along with useful phrases to discuss them.

Common Sports Vocabulary

fútbol

soccer/football

Juego al fútbol los domingos - I play soccer on Sundays

baloncesto

basketball

Me encanta jugar al baloncesto - I love playing basketball

tenis

tennis

Practico tenis dos veces por semana - I practice tennis twice a week

natación

swimming

Hago natación en verano - I go swimming in summer

ciclismo

cycling

El ciclismo es mi deporte favorito - Cycling is my favorite sport

Person playing basketball

Many sports terms in Spanish are similar to English, making them easier to remember

Artistic and Creative Hobbies

pintura

painting

Me relaja hacer pintura - Painting relaxes me

fotografía

photography

La fotografía es mi pasión - Photography is my passion

música

music

Toco la guitarra - I play the guitar

baile

dancing

Tomo clases de baile - I take dance classes

artesanía

crafts

Hago artesanía en mi tiempo libre - I do crafts in my free time

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Outdoor Activities

senderismo

hiking

Vamos de senderismo este fin de semana - We're going hiking this weekend

jardinería

gardening

La jardinería me ayuda a relajarme - Gardening helps me relax

camping

camping

Me gusta ir de camping - I like to go camping

escalada

climbing

Practico escalada en roca - I practice rock climbing

Person hiking in mountains

Outdoor activities are popular hobbies in Spanish-speaking countries

Indoor Activities and Games

lectura

reading

Mi hobby favorito es la lectura - My favorite hobby is reading

cocina

cooking

Me encanta la cocina italiana - I love Italian cooking

ajedrez

chess

Juego al ajedrez todos los días - I play chess every day

videojuegos

video games

Juego videojuegos con amigos - I play video games with friends

Useful Phrases for Discussing Hobbies

Mi pasatiempo favorito es...

My favorite hobby is...

Mi pasatiempo favorito es la fotografía - My favorite hobby is photography

Me gusta...

I like...

Me gusta jugar al tenis - I like playing tennis

En mi tiempo libre...

In my free time...

En mi tiempo libre leo libros - In my free time I read books

Practico...

I practice...

Practico yoga dos veces por semana - I practice yoga twice a week

Frequency Expressions

todos los días

every day

Juego fútbol todos los días - I play soccer every day

una vez por semana

once a week

Voy a clases de baile una vez por semana - I go to dance classes once a week

los fines de semana

on weekends

Hago senderismo los fines de semana - I go hiking on weekends

de vez en cuando

from time to time

Juego tenis de vez en cuando - I play tennis from time to time

Tips for Using Hobby Vocabulary

  • Remember to use "jugar a" for sports and games (jugar al fútbol, jugar al ajedrez)
  • Use "hacer" for activities (hacer yoga, hacer ejercicio)
  • Use "tocar" for musical instruments (tocar la guitarra, tocar el piano)
  • Use "practicar" when talking about practicing activities (practicar deportes)

Cultural Note

In Spanish-speaking countries, social hobbies and group activities are highly valued. It's common for people to spend their free time with family and friends, engaging in activities together. This is reflected in the language, where many hobby-related expressions emphasize the social aspect of activities.

Group of friends playing board games

Social activities and group hobbies are an important part of Spanish-speaking cultures

Remember that being able to discuss your hobbies and interests is a great way to connect with Spanish speakers and practice your language skills in a natural context. Start with activities you enjoy and gradually expand your vocabulary to include more specific terms and expressions.

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