English Hobby Names and Tips for Discussing Them

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Hobbies are an essential part of our lives, offering us a chance to unwind and explore our interests. From learning foreign languages and painting to enjoying movies, TV shows, or video games, there’s a world of activities to choose from. Engaging in a hobby not only brings joy but also adds excitement and diversity to our daily routines. Whether simple or complex, these pursuits enhance our lives in meaningful ways.

Today, we’re diving into the exciting world of hobbies and exploring essential English vocabulary related to this topic. Hobbies are a key conversation starter in English, making it important for you, especially as an ESL student, to familiarize yourself with relevant words and questions. Let’s get started!

Let’s go!

Names of common hobbies

First, let’s share a full list of hobbies that are popular and common in English speaking countries:

• Reading books
• Blogging
• Dancing
• Singing
• Listening to music
• Playing musical instruments (piano, guitar etc.)
• Learning new languages
• Shopping
• Traveling
• Hiking
• Cycling
• Exercising
• Drawing
• Painting
• Collecting things
• Playing computer games
• Cooking
• Baking
• Gardening
• Doing crafts (handmade)
• Embroidering
• Sewing
• Knitting
• Playing board games
• Walking
• Writing stories
• Fishing
• Photography
• Skydiving
• Skating
• Skiing
• Roller skating
• Longboarding
• Surfing

Discussing hobbies and leisure activities is a fantastic way to connect with others and share your interests—especially in English. If you’re focusing on business English, engaging in small talk is common, and there’s no better topic than your favorite pastimes to spark a conversation!

How to ask others about their hobbies

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

You’ve likely come across these three questions in textbooks, but interestingly, the term “hobby” isn’t commonly used in everyday conversation. Instead, people might ask you:

• 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

In order to tell others about your hobbies in English, you can use one of the grammatical structures 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.

To express that you truly love doing something, making it one of your favorite activities, simply place the word “really” after “I” or the appropriate form of “to be” in your sentence.

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

If you prefer not to discuss a particular activity or hobby, a great way to express your interests is by saying, “I enjoy spending time with my friends and similar activities.” This keeps the conversation light and open-ended!

That’s a wrap for today! Don’t forget that discussing hobbies is a fantastic way to spark conversations and connect with others. It’s also a great opportunity to hone your conversational skills, especially when interacting with native speakers. If you’re eager to speak about various hobbies with confidence, be sure to explore the practical exercises in our English Vocabulary Guide for helpful tips!