¿Qué te gusta hacer? What do you like to do? Do you know how to talk about your favorite hobbies with your Spanish-speaking friends? Do you have the Spanish vocabulary to discuss a fun hobby with people in Spanish-speaking countries?
Many Spanish-speaking cultures share a common trait: a love for enjoying life. Whether in Colombia or Argentina, people possess an innate charm, a cheerful disposition, and a natural knack for unwinding, which is deeply rooted in their Hispanic heritage.
And get this, the phrase ‘pasar el rato,’ which can be translated as ‘hanging out’ or ‘chilling,’ is considered a legitimate hobby in Spanish culture. This reflects the relaxed and sociable lifestyle that is cherished among Spanish speakers.
Regardless of cultural differences, we’re all human and we all have a need to have fun, find moments of freedom, pursue our interests, unwind, and enjoy ourselves. Studies have demonstrated that both vacations and hobbies are not just luxuries, but also necessities.
Now that we understand the importance of hobbies, let’s look at the important Spanish verbs and vocabulary you’ll need to share your passions, your recreational activities, and the things you do in your spare time.
Firs of all, you should know that it is not very common to ask in Spanish, “¿Cuál es tu pasatiempo favorito?” (what is your favorite hobby?). Rather, we ask, “¿Qué te gusta hacer?” (what do you like to do?). Note that the reference to leisure time or leisure time is implicit.
Discussing hobbies can be a great way to break the ice and practice a new language when meeting new people.
We can ask, for example, “¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre?” to find out what people enjoy doing in their free time.
We might hear answers like in the following examples:
- Jugar damas – playing checkers
- Jugar cartas – playing cards
- Jugar ajedrez – playing chess
- Jugar domino – playing dominoes
It is still common in Hispanic cultures to see people playing any of these in parks, on sidewalks, backyards, and more. Some parks when designed or remodeled have built-in spaces for these activities. Even more, when Hispanics migrate to other countries, they bring along their traditional hobbies, and it is not rare to find them on the sidewalks of their new neighborhoods playing checkers and for locals to join in.
Note: these face-to-face activities are declining with the advent of mobile phones, but hobbies that offer in-person communication provide important social connections and foster a sense of community, and we should try to preserve them. Less app time, more people time, folks!
Other common hobbies are for people who that like to be in the fresh air (estar al aire libre):
- Hacer ejercicios – to work out (When people say “ejercicios” they mostly refer to cardio like walking, jogging, and so forth).
- Acampar – to go camping
- Escalar montañas o escalar cerros – mount climbing or hiking
- Andar en patineta – skateboarding
- Pintar – painting
- Surfear – surfing
- Bucear – Scuba diving
- Volar cometas – flying kites
And here are some unusual traditional hobbies that Latinos often enjoy in their ‘tiempo libre’:
- Ver telenovelas – watching telenovelas: Yes, it may be surprising, but this is actually a hobby of mine and of many others. While it may sound peculiar, it’s actually quite common for Hispanic women, particularly older ones, to enjoy watching soap operas as a hobby. And finally, it’s a blast. In many Latino homes, noon or 7 pm means TV time!
- Jugar lotería – buying lottery tickets: This might sound odd, but buying lottery tickets is how some people unwind and enjoy themselves. Go figure!
- Jugar billar – playing pool: Pool is very popular in Latin America and, which serves as both a fun hobby and a decent form of exercise. It’s a social activity and a physical one. Moreover, it’s a mental challenge that makes you think about ways to solve problems and develop strategies.
- Textear – texting (this is a hobby of the new ages and an important way for friends to keep in touch, organize meetings, and plan events)
- Jugar video juegos – playing video games
- Salir a tomar – to go out drinking
- Tomar fotografías – to take photos
- Volar drones – flying drones. It’s not unusual for folks in less regulated countries to own a drone and fly it for fun.
Latino culture is diverse. The traditional pastimes of each country are closely associated with aspects of its history and culture.
For example:
Bailar tango
Tango’s passionate and intricate movements have charmed people worldwide, extending beyond its origins in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. With its romantic essence, this dance has garnered a global fan base, transcending its South American roots. From Paris to Tokyo, tango enthusiasts can usually find a milonga or dance school in major cities. While not everyone may master its steps, the enthusiasm for tango spans cultures. Many language students in Argentina also learn the Tango, practicing their Spanish while learning a new hobby.
¿Sabés dónde puedo aprender tango? Quiero mejorar mi español y me parece re copado bailar?
“Do you know where I can learn tango? I want to improve my Spanish, and I think it’s really cool to dance.”
Why it’s a good phrase to learn: It’s informal and uses colloquial expressions like “¿Sabés?” (Do you know?) and “re copado” (really cool), which are more likely to be used in everyday conversations in Argentina among younger people or in casual settings.
Bailar flamenco
Among the Andalusians of Spain, this traditional dance of gypsy origin is widely loved and practiced as a popular pastime. Flamenco is a representation of the folklore of the Castilian culture, a culture that was exported to modern-day Latin America during the colonial period.
¿Te gustaría ir a clases de flamenco conmigo? Sería una forma genial de conectar con la cultura española.
“Would you like to go to flamenco classes with me? It would be a great way to connect with Spanish culture.”
Why it’s a good phrase to learn: It’s casual and suggests a shared activity that could help both participants immerse themselves in a significant aspect of Spanish culture.
Jugar béisbol
Baseball is one of the quintessential pastimes of Latinos in terms of sports. They enjoy watching it as much as playing it. Children learn to play baseball from a young age, and it is very common to see informal games on the streets. Virtually every town has a baseball field.
¿Qué tal si armamos un partidito de béisbol este fin? Desde chiquito me ha fascinado.
“How about we set up a little baseball game this weekend? I’ve been fascinated by it since I was little.
Why it’s a good phrase to learn: This version uses more colloquial terms like “partidito” (little game) and “desde chiquito” (since I was little), which are more aligned with the informal and familial way of speaking common in Latin American countries.
More hobbies
Here are some weird and wonderful hobbies that people enjoy doing. Learning the vocabulary associated with some of these pastimes will greatly expand your knowledge of the Spanish language.
- Crear bisutería – creating jewelry
- Hacer atrapa suerños – making dream catchers
- Crear accesorios de resina – creating accessories with resin
- Pintar mandalas – painting mandalas
- El crochet – crochet
- Meditar – to meditate
- Hacer Yoga – to practice yoga
- Hornear o cocinar dulces – to bake or cook deserts
One fast-growing and super-accessible pastime in the modern age is travel:
“Turistear” (sightseeing) has unquestionably claimed the top spot as the new number one hobby these days. It’s as though we’ve come to the realization that the barriers were always imaginary, and now there’s a widespread eagerness to discover new places and unravel the enigmas of foreign lands. “Turistear” specifically means traveling for pleasure, visiting multiple places in a short period. It could be within your own country or traveling to other ones.
As a result of this newfound connection to the outside world, other hobbies and almost job-like activities have emerged. Blogging is a prime example, allowing people to express themselves through written content on various topics. This new generation of travel “Blogueros” is taking over the internet, with their written and video content saturating every corner.
Example phrases to learn and use to make your own phrases:
Jugar videojuegos es mi forma de relajarme después del trabajo.
Playing video games is my way of relaxing after work.
This phrase touches on the theme of relaxation and personal time, using board games (pastimes that are making a comeback) as a way to de-stress (“mi forma de relajarme” – my way of relaxing). It’s relevant for conversations about work-life balance and personal interests.
Me encanta crear contenido para mi canal de cocina en YouTube.
I love creating content for my YouTube cooking channel.
YouTube and Instagram are blowing up with content creation as a hobby. This phrase captures the joy of sharing passions and skills globally through digital storytelling.
Disfruto mucho de bailar salsa/samba/tango.
“I really enjoy dancing salsa/samba/tango.”
Instead of using “me encanta” ( love), you can try “disfrutar” (to enjoy) to express your fondness for Latin dance. It’s a slightly more subdued way of conveying your appreciation for these cultural art forms, but still indicates that you value and appreciate them.
Me gusta jugar al ajedrez en el parque los fines de semana.
I like to play chess in the park on weekends.
This phrase is useful because it combines several elements of hobby-related vocabulary such as “me gusta” (I like), an activity (“jugar al ajedrez” – play chess), and a common timeframe for hobbies (“los fines de semana” – on weekends). It’s a simple, versatile structure that can be adapted to various hobbies and preferences.
Los domingos por la tarde, me gusta ver telenovelas.
On Sunday afternoons, I like to watch soap operas.
This sentence incorporates specific times (“Los domingos por la tarde” – On Sunday afternoons), which is handy for discussing routines.
Estoy aprendiendo a programar mi propio juego de realidad virtual.
I’m learning to program my own virtual reality game.
Virtual reality and the maker culture are exploding in popularity. This is where DIY and technology intersect. Learning to code is not only a valuable skill, but also a popular hobby that allows for creative expression.
Hacer yoga por la mañana me energiza para todo el día
Doing yoga in the morning energizes me for the whole day.
This phrase highlights benefits of a hobby, not just the activity itself. This is useful for discussing not only what you enjoy, but also why you enjoy it, adding depth to conversations about personal habits and health.
Este fin de semana voy a probar a hacer surf por primera vez.
This weekend I’m going to try surfing for the first time.
Here’s an example of expressing future plans and a willingness to try new things (“voy a probar” – I’m going to try), making it a good construction for sharing upcoming adventures or interests in exploring new hobbies.
“Practico yoga en realidad aumentada para relajarme.”
I practice augmented reality yoga to relax.
Augmented reality (AR) is transforming traditional activities, like yoga, into immersive experiences. This phrase highlights how technology is being used to enhance well-being and introduce innovative ways to engage in hobbies.
¿Qué te gusta hacer?
Wanda is a writer from the Dominican Republic. An English teacher from a young age, Wanda also loves traveling, reading, and writing.