When learning French, discussing hobbies is a great way to practice your language skills and connect with native speakers. Here are some essential French words and phrases that will help you talk about your interests and activities.
Loisir translates to “hobby” in English. It’s a general term used to describe any leisure activity that one engages in for pleasure.
Quel est ton loisir préféré ?
Passion means “passion.” It’s used to describe an activity that you are very passionate about and dedicate a lot of time and energy to.
La peinture est ma grande passion.
Peindre means “to paint.” It’s a verb used when someone wants to express their hobby of painting.
J’aime peindre des paysages le weekend.
Dessiner translates to “to draw.” It is used when discussing drawing as a hobby.
Je dessine des portraits pour me détendre.
Tricoter means “to knit.” It refers to the action of knitting, often used as a hobby by many people to create scarves, sweaters, and other items.
Ma grand-mère m’a appris à tricoter quand j’étais jeune.
Cuisiner translates as “to cook.” It’s often used when someone refers to cooking either as a hobby or profession.
Je cuisine des plats italiens tous les samedis.
Jardiner means “to garden.” It’s used to describe the hobby of gardening, including planting, weeding, and cultivating plants.
J’aime jardiner dans mon jardin pendant les matinées.
Lire means “to read.” This verb is used when talking about the hobby of reading books, magazines, or any other written material.
Je lis un nouveau roman chaque mois.
Jouer translates to “to play.” This verb can be used with various sports and games when discussing playing them as hobbies.
Elle joue au tennis avec ses amis le dimanche.
Photographier means “to photograph.” It refers to the hobby of taking photographs.
Je vais photographier le coucher de soleil ce soir.
Collectionner translates to “to collect.” It’s used when someone collects specific items, such as stamps, coins, or vintage items, as a hobby.
Il collectionne des pièces de monnaie depuis l’âge de dix ans.
Bricoler means “to tinker” or “to do DIY projects.” It’s often used to describe someone engaged in handyman activities or crafts.
Mon père bricole dans le garage tous les week-ends.
Voyager translates to “to travel.” Many people consider traveling as a hobby because it involves exploring new places and experiencing different cultures.
Nous aimons voyager pendant les vacances d’été.
Écrire means “to write.” This verb is used when someone takes up writing as a hobby, whether it is journaling, storytelling, or poetry.
Elle écrit des poèmes inspirés par la nature.
Danser translates to “to dance.” It refers to dancing either as a form of exercise or as a competitive activity.
Ils dansent la salsa chaque vendredi soir.
Pêcher means “to fish.” It’s used when talking about fishing as a leisure activity.
Nous allons pêcher au lac ce weekend.
Faire de la randonnée translates to “to go hiking.” It’s a phrase used when discussing hiking as an activity.
Faire de la randonnée dans les montagnes est très relaxant.
Faire du vélo means “to cycle.” It refers to cycling as a hobby, which can range from casual riding to more competitive forms.
Faire du vélo le long de la rivière est mon activité préférée.
By incorporating these words into your vocabulary, you can more effectively communicate your hobbies and interests in French. Whether you’re discussing leisure activities with a French-speaking friend or writing about your hobbies, these words will enhance your language proficiency and help you connect with others over shared interests.
