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Do you have activities that you enjoy doing in your free time? Learning English vocabulary for hobbies will help you express your interests and talk about the things you love. Have you ever wanted to tell someone about your favorite pastime or ask others about their hobbies? By learning these words, you’ll be able to have fun conversations and connect with people who share similar interests. Are you ready to discover new words related to hobbies and start expressing yourself in English?
Crafts and Artistic Pursuits
1. Knitting (verb) /ˈnɪtɪŋ/: The craft of making fabric, garments, or other items by intertwining yarn or thread using long needles.
Example: Grandma enjoys knitting sweaters for the children in her free time.
2. Crocheting (verb) /kroʊˈʃeɪɪŋ/: A method of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other materials using a crochet hook.
Example: Sarah was crocheting a colorful blanket for her newborn niece.
3. Embroidery (noun) /ɪmˈbrɔɪdəri/: The craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn.
Example: She added beautiful embroidery to the edges of the tablecloth.
4. Quilting (verb) /ˈkwɪltɪŋ/: The process of sewing multiple layers of fabric together to make a padded material, often in decorative patterns.
Example: Jane spends her weekends quilting and has made some beautiful bed covers.
5. Drawing (verb) /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/: The art or technique of representing an object, scene, or idea by making marks on a surface with a pencil, pen, or similar implement.
Example: Tom enjoys drawing landscapes with charcoal pencils.
6. Painting (verb) /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/: The practice of applying paint, pigment, color, or other medium to a solid surface with a brush or other tools.
Example: Maria is painting a portrait of her dog.
7. Sculpting (verb) /ˈskʌlptɪŋ/: The art or practice of shaping figures or designs in the round or in relief, as by chiseling marble, modeling clay, or casting in metal.
Example: In his spare time, he started sculpting figures from clay.
8. Pottery (noun) /ˈpɒtəri/: The art or craft of shaping and creating objects out of clay or similar materials.
Example: John enrolled in a pottery class to learn how to make ceramic vases.
9. Origami (noun) /ɔːrɪˈɡɑːmi/: The Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.
Example: The children had fun making origami birds at the art workshop.
10. Jewelry making (noun) /ˈdʒuːəlriː ˈmeɪkɪŋ/: The practice of crafting jewelry from various materials, such as metals, gemstones, or beads.
Example: Lisa is passionate about jewelry making and often sells her handmade necklaces at local craft fairs.
11. Woodworking (noun) /ˈwʊdˌwɜːrkɪŋ/: The activity or skill of making items from wood, including furniture, cabinetry, or other objects.
Example: In his garage, Peter spends time woodworking and has crafted many pieces of furniture.
12. DIY projects (noun) /ˌdiːaɪˈwaɪ ˈprɒdʒɛkts/: Tasks or activities in which someone does something themselves or on their own initiative, particularly in their home or yard.
Example: Over the weekend, Sam completed several DIY projects around the house, including painting the living room.
Outdoor Activities
1. Hiking (verb) /ˈhaɪkɪŋ/: The activity of going for long walks, especially in the countryside or woods.
Example: The family went hiking in the mountains over the weekend.
2. Camping (verb) /ˈkæmpɪŋ/: The activity of spending a vacation living in a camp, tent, or camper.
Example: We are going camping at the lake this summer.
3. Bird watching (noun) /ˈbɜːrd ˌwɑːtʃɪŋ/: The activity of observing wild birds in their natural environment as a hobby.
Example: Bird watching can be a peaceful and rewarding hobby if you have patience.
4. Fishing (verb) /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/: The activity of catching fish, either for food or as a sport.
Example: John enjoys fishing at the lake near his house.
5. Gardening (verb) /ˈɡɑːrdnɪŋ/: The activity of tending and cultivating a garden, especially as a pastime.
Example: My grandmother loves gardening and grows the most beautiful roses.
6. Cycling (verb) /ˈsaɪklɪŋ/: The sport or activity of riding a bicycle.
Example: Lucy goes cycling every morning to keep fit.
7. Running (verb) /ˈrʌnɪŋ/: The activity of moving swiftly on foot so that both feet leave the ground during each stride.
Example: Tom started running to train for the marathon.
8. Rock climbing (noun) /ˈrɒk ˌklaɪmɪŋ/: The sport or pastime of climbing rock faces, especially with the aid of ropes and special equipment.
Example: Rock climbing is a challenging but rewarding hobby.
9. Surfing (verb) /ˈsɜːrfɪŋ/: The sport or pastime of riding on the crest of a wave towards the shore while standing or lying on a surfboard.
Example: While in Hawaii, Jane took up surfing and loved it.
10. Sailing (verb) /ˈseɪlɪŋ/: The sport or activity of traveling in or operating a ship or boat.
Example: Every summer, he goes sailing in the Mediterranean Sea.
11. Photography (noun) /fəˈtɒgrəfi/: The art or practice of taking and processing photographs.
Example: Lisa’s photography hobby led her to start her own portrait business.
Indoor Activities
1. Cooking (verb) /ˈkʊkɪŋ/: The process of preparing food by heating it, often following a recipe.
Example: Samantha enjoys cooking dinner for her family every Sunday.
2. Baking (verb) /ˈbeɪkɪŋ/: The method of cooking food by dry heat in an oven, typically used for bread, cakes, and pastries.
Example: For Christmas, Kevin is baking cookies to give to his friends and family.
3. Reading (verb) /ˈriːdɪŋ/: The act of looking at and comprehending the meaning of written or printed words.
Example: Before bed, Mia enjoys reading a chapter of her favourite novel.
4. Writing (verb) /ˈraɪtɪŋ/: The activity of putting thoughts, ideas, or concepts down in print using symbols, letters or words.
Example: John started writing a journal to document his travels.
5. Video gaming (verb) /ˈvɪdɪəʊ ɡeɪmɪŋ/: The hobby of playing games on a computer or a console, either alone or with others.
Example: Tim spends his weekends video gaming with his friends online.
6. Dancing (verb) /ˈdænsɪŋ/: Moving rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.
Example: Sarah loves dancing and takes salsa lessons every Wednesday.
7. Yoga (noun) /ˈjoʊɡə/: A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India, often used for health and relaxation.
Example: Yoga helps Lisa to relax and relieve stress after a long day of work.
8. Meditation (noun) /ˌmɛdɪˈteɪʃən/: The act of focusing the mind and relaxing the body to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.
Example: Every morning, David practices meditation to start his day off positively.
9. Chess (noun) /tʃɛs/: A strategic board game for two players, where the aim is to put the opponent’s king in a position from which it cannot escape.
Example: Grandfather taught me how to play chess when I was just seven years old.
10. Puzzles (noun) /ˈpʌzlz/: Games, toys, or problems designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.
Example: Solving puzzles is a great way to challenge your mind and have fun at the same time.
11. Magic tricks (noun) /ˈmædʒɪk trɪks/: Acts of sleight of hand or illusion performed as entertainment.
Example: Learning to perform magic tricks can be a fun and entertaining hobby.
Music and Performing Arts
1. Playing guitar (verb phrase) /ˈpleɪɪŋ gɪˈtɑr/: The act of making music by strumming or picking the strings of a guitar.
Example: Every afternoon, you can hear Jack playing guitar on his front porch.
2. Playing piano (verb phrase) /ˈpleɪɪŋ piˈænoʊ/: The activity of producing sound from a piano by pressing its keys.
Example: Susan has been playing piano since she was five years old.
3. Singing (verb) /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/: The act of making musical sounds with the voice, usually a tune with words.
Example: Angela loves singing in the church choir every Sunday.
4. Acting (verb) /ˈæktɪŋ/: Performing a role in a play, movie, or television production, often taking on the character of someone else.
Example: Olivia enjoys acting and participates in local theater productions.
5. Ballet (noun) /bæˈleɪ/: A type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia.
Example: Lily has been learning ballet since she was six years old.
6. Stand-up comedy (noun) /ˈstænd ʌp ˈkɒmɪdi/: A form of comedy where a comedian performs in front of a live audience, typically speaking directly to them.
Example: Mike tried his hand at stand-up comedy at the local open mic night.
7. DJing (verb) /ˈdiːdʒeɪɪŋ/: The act of selecting and playing recorded music for an audience, either on radio or at a music venue.
Example: At the weekend, Sarah enjoys DJing at her friend’s parties.
8. Songwriting (noun) /ˈsɔŋˌraɪtɪŋ/: The activity of creating music and lyrics to create a song.
Example: Paul spends his evenings songwriting; he’s hoping to write a hit song one day.
Collecting
1. Coin collecting (noun phrase) /ˈkoɪn kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of gathering coins, often of different countries, historical periods, or unique designs.
Example: John’s coin collecting hobby led him to find some really rare and valuable pieces.
2. Stamp collecting (noun phrase) /ˈstæmp kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The activity of gathering and preserving postage stamps, often from different countries or time periods.
Example: Sarah has a book filled with stamps from her stamp collecting hobby.
3. Postcard collecting (noun phrase) /ˈpoʊstˌkɑrd kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of collecting postcards, often those with unique pictures or from different parts of the world.
Example: During his travels, Tom developed a hobby of postcard collecting from every new city he visited.
4. Vintage collecting (noun phrase) /ˈvɪntɪdʒ kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of collecting older items, such as clothes, furniture, or records, which are considered classic or nostalgic.
Example: Olivia loves vintage collecting, especially when it comes to clothes from the 60s.
5. Wine collecting (noun phrase) /ˈwaɪn kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of collecting wines, often with an emphasis on variations in type, region, or age.
Example: Michael’s passion for wine collecting has led him to acquire some very unique bottles.
6. Comic book collecting (noun phrase) /ˈkɒmɪk bʊk kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of gathering comic books, often those of a certain series, author, or time period.
Example: As a child, Ben started comic book collecting and now has an impressive library of vintage comics.
7. Toy collecting (noun phrase) /ˈtɔɪ kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of gathering toys, which can range from antique toys, special edition releases, or toys from a specific brand.
Example: Emily loves toy collecting and has an entire room dedicated to her unique doll collection.
8. Sneaker collecting (noun phrase) /ˈsniːkər kəˈlɛktɪŋ/: The hobby of gathering sneakers, often those that are limited edition or from specific brands.
Example: Ever since high school, Jake has enjoyed sneaker collecting and now owns over a hundred pairs.
Congratulations on learning the English vocabulary for hobbies! Now you can confidently talk about your favorite activities and understand others when they talk about theirs. This knowledge will enhance your communication skills and help you connect with people who have similar interests. Whether it’s sports, art, music, or any other hobby, you can now express your passion in English. Keep exploring new hobbies and expanding your vocabulary to enjoy even more fulfilling conversations!
