Hobbies and interests («aficiones e intereses») are the activities people do for pleasure (placer) and relaxation (relajación) outside of work or school. They help us enjoy life, meet new people, and learn new skills.
- Hobbies: activities done regularly for enjoyment (e.g., playing sports, reading, painting).
- Interests: things that attract our attention or curiosity (e.g., music, travel, technology).
In Spanish, common hobby words often end in -ar for activities (e.g., bailar = to dance) or are given as nouns (e.g., la música = music, el deporte = sport).
Common Spanish Hobbies
A1-A2 level hobbies often include:
- El deporte – Sport
- La música – Music
- La lectura – Reading
- El cine – Movies
- Viajar – To travel
- Pintar – To paint
- Bailar – To dance
- Cocinar – To cook
- Jardinería – Gardening
- Los videojuegos – Video games
Common Spanish hobbies include La música (music), El deporte (sport), and La lectura (reading).
Sample Vocabulary List
| Spanish | English | Type | Example Sentence (Esp/Eng) |
|---|---|---|---|
| El hobby | Hobby | Noun | Mi hobby es el fútbol. / My hobby is soccer. |
| La afición | Interest | Noun | Tengo afición por la fotografía. / I’m interested in photography. |
| El deporte | Sport | Noun | Practico deporte los fines de semana. / I do sports on weekends. |
| La música | Music | Noun | Escucho música todos los días. / I listen to music every day. |
| Leer | To read | Verb | Me gusta leer novelas. / I like to read novels. |
| Viajar | To travel | Verb | Nos gusta viajar en verano. / We like to travel in summer. |
| Pintar | To paint | Verb | Ella pinta cuadros hermosos. / She paints beautiful pictures. |
| Bailar | To dance | Verb | ¿Sabes bailar salsa? / Do you know how to dance salsa? |
| Cocinar | To cook | Verb | Cocino para mi familia. / I cook for my family. |
| Los videojuegos | Video games | Noun | Juega videojuegos con sus amigos. / He plays video games with his friends. |
'To travel' in Spanish is 'viajar'.
Using Hobby Verbs
Many hobbies are expressed as infinitive verbs after phrases like "Me gusta..." (I like...) or "Prefiero..." (I prefer...):
- Me gusta bailar. (I like to dance.)
- Prefiero escuchar música. (I prefer to listen to music.)
- Nos encanta viajar. (We love to travel.)
You can also use the noun form:
- Mi afición es el deporte. (My interest is sport.)
- Su hobby es la lectura. (His/her hobby is reading.)
Cultural Note
In Spanish-speaking countries, family and social activities are important leisure interests. Popular hobbies often include:
- El fútbol (soccer) – by far the most popular sport.
- Salir de tapas – going out for small snacks and socializing.
- Baile latino – dancing styles like salsa, bachata, merengue.
Dancing (Baile latino) is a popular hobby in Spanish-speaking countries.
Conclusion
Hobbies and interests are key to personal happiness and cultural connection. Learning these words helps you talk about what you love and understand others better.
- Common Spanish hobbies include el deporte, la música, la lectura, and viajar.
- Many hobby words are used as infinitive verbs (e.g., bailar, cocinar) after expressions of liking.
- Typical leisure activities in Spanish-speaking countries also include salir de tapas and baile latino.