Explanation

Quick Answer

Talking about your pasatiempos(hobbies) in Spanish is a great way to break the ice and get to know new people. Whether you love los deportes(sports), la cocina(cooking), or la lectura(reading), this article will help you get out there and start talking about your hobbies in Spanish!

Spanish Verbs Used to Talk about Hobbies

Here are some common Spanish verbs that are used to talk about hobbies!

SpanishEnglish
andar en patinetato skateboard
armar rompecabezasto do puzzles
aprender idiomasto learn languages
bailarto dance
bucearto scuba dive
caminarto walk
cantarto sing
correrto run
dibujarto draw
escribirto write
escuchar músicato listen to music
hacer deporteto play sports
hacer ejercicioto do exercise
hacer escaladato go climbing
hacer manualidadesto do arts and crafts
hacer senderismoto go hiking
hacer yogato do yoga
hornearto bake
ir al cineto go to the movies
jugar a las cartasto play cards
jugar al básquetbolto play basketball
jugar al béisbolto play baseball
jugar al fútbolto play soccer
jugar videojuegosto play video games
leerto read
montar en bicicletato bike
nadarto swim
patinarto skate
pintarto paint
sacar fotosto take pictures
surfearto surf
trotarto jog
ver películasto watch movies
viajarto travel

Let's look at some examples:

examples
Me gusta bailar.
I like to dance.
Me gusta nadar y surfear.
I like to swim and surf.

Spanish Nouns Used to Talk about Hobbies

Let's take a look at some Spanish nouns used to talk about hobbies in Spanish!

Don't forget to use the correct article el, la, las, or loswith the nouns in this section! Need to brush up on your article knowledge? Check out our Introduction to Spanish Articles!

Sports

Below you'll find the names of some common deportes(sports) in Spanish!

SpanishEnglish
el alpinismomountain climbing
el atletismotrack and field
el bádmintonbadminton
el básquetbolbasketball
el béisbolbaseball
el billarpool/billiards
el bolichebowling
el boxeoboxing
el ciclismobiking
la escaladaclimbing
el esquískiing
el fútbolsoccer
el fútbol americanofootball
la gimnasiagymnastics
el golfgolf
el hockeyhockey
la nataciónswimming
la navegación a velasailing
el senderismohiking
el surfsurfing
el tenistennis
el voleibolvolleyball
el yogayoga

More Hobbies in Spanish

Here is a list of other nouns you can use to talk about what you do in your tiempo libre(free time).

SpanishEnglish
el ajedrezchess
el bailedance
la cocinacooking
la costurasewing
el dibujodrawing
la jardineríagardening
los juegos de mesaboard games
la lecturareading
la fotografíaphotography
las manualidadesarts and crafts
la pinturapainting
el puntoknitting
la reposteríabaking
los rompecabezaspuzzles
los videojuegosvideo games

Let's look at some examples:

examples
Me gusta la natación.
I like swimming
Me gustan las manualidades.
I like arts and crafts.

Want to practice these words? Check out the following vocab lists!

Quick Review of Gustar

To talk about what you like (or don't like) to do in your spare time in Spanish, you're going to need to know how to use gustar(to like) in the present. Let's do a quick review of the gustar forms you'll need to talk about your pasatiempos.

SpanishEnglishWhen It's UsedExample 1Example 2
me gustaI likeWith an infinitive or a singular noun.Me gusta bailar.(I like to dance.)Me gusta el fútbol.(I like soccer.)
me gustanI likeWith a plural noun.Me gustan los deportes.(I like sports.)
no me gustaI don't likeWith an infinitive or a singular noun.No me gusta bailar.(I don't like to dance.)No me gusta el fútbol.(I don't like soccer.)
no me gustanI don't likeWith a plural noun.No me gustan los deportes.(I don't like sports.)
te gustayou like or do you likeWith an infinitive or a singular noun.¿Te gusta bailar?(Do you like to dance?)¿Te gusta el fútbol?(Do you like soccer?)
te gustanyou like or do you likeWith a plural noun.¿Te gustan los deportes?(Do you like sports)
English
me gustaI like
me gustanI like
no me gustaI don't like
no me gustanI don't like
te gustayou like or do you like
te gustanyou like or do you like
When It's Used
me gustaWith an infinitive or a singular noun.
me gustanWith a plural noun.
no me gustaWith an infinitive or a singular noun.
no me gustanWith a plural noun.
te gustaWith an infinitive or a singular noun.
te gustanWith a plural noun.
Example 1
me gustaMe gusta bailar.(I like to dance.)
me gustanMe gustan los deportes.(I like sports.)
no me gustaNo me gusta bailar.(I don't like to dance.)
no me gustanNo me gustan los deportes.(I don't like sports.)
te gusta¿Te gusta bailar?(Do you like to dance?)
te gustan¿Te gustan los deportes?(Do you like sports)
Example 2
me gustaMe gusta el fútbol.(I like soccer.)
me gustan
no me gustaNo me gusta el fútbol.(I don't like soccer.)
no me gustan
te gusta¿Te gusta el fútbol?(Do you like soccer?)
te gustan

Want to learn more? Check out our article on Verbs Like Gustar!

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