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How to Talk About Your Hobby in English
04.07.2025
3 minutes to read
Talking about yourself seems easy. But as soon as you start talking about your hobbies in English, your mind goes blank: you kind of know what to say, but you don’t know how to start, which words to use, or how to build a normal sentence. And if it’s during a class or when speaking with someone from abroad — that’s it, panic. I’ve been through this myself. And I realized one thing: you don’t need to memorize long templates. It’s better to learn a few working phrases, understand the logic — and just talk like you would with a friend. In this article, I’ll show you how to talk about your hobby in English, give you useful phrases and examples, and explain how not to sound like Google Translate. It’ll be easy, clear, and not boring. Especially if you’re just starting to learn English.
Table of contents
At first, it might seem like talking about your hobbies in English is no big deal. Like, whatever, I’ll just say: “I like music” — and move on. But actually, being able to talk about your hobbies isn’t just another textbook topic. It’s your chance to start a real conversation in English, not just repeat a memorized text. Because hobbies are things you genuinely enjoy. That means it’s easier to talk about them, and people will listen to you with interest. It’s not dry grammar anymore — it’s real English for communication. Plus, when you can talk about yourself in English, you automatically boost a ton of skills: expand your vocabulary, learn to build sentences, memorize useful phrases and English structures. It’s like practice — but without boring rules and memorizing. Also, knowing how to describe your hobbies comes in handy in real life: when meeting foreigners, on social media, in messages, during interviews, even in online courses. You’re not just saying “My hobby is football” — you’re learning to express yourself, your thoughts, and emotions. That’s real English for beginners — with a focus on speaking, not just memorized words. So yeah, a seemingly simple topic — hobbies in English — is actually a great opportunity to learn to speak freely, confidently, and without fear. It’s also a great excuse to share what truly inspires you.
Why Learn to Talk About Your Hobbies in English
How to Talk About Several Hobbies at Once
Uncommon and Unique Hobbies
Popular Hobbies in English
What Hobbies You Can Mention and How to Name Them in English
Sometimes it’s hard to choose just one hobby, especially when you like a bit of everything. In that case, don’t hesitate to list your interests — just make sure to connect the phrases properly. Here are a few useful structures:
- “I have several hobbies. I enjoy reading, drawing, and playing the guitar.”
- “In my free time, I like to watch movies, go jogging, or cook something new.”
- “My hobbies include photography, traveling, and learning foreign languages.”
If you want to stand out and show you’ve got an interesting personality — here are some ideas for unusual hobbies in English:
- woodworking
- birdwatching
- knitting
- calligraphy
- astronomy
- photography
- collecting coins/stamps
- learning languages
Let’s start with the simplest and most familiar hobbies that almost everyone can relate to. These are classics — easy to remember and use. For example:
- reading books
- watching movies or TV shows
- listening to music
- playing sports
- drawing or painting
- cooking
- traveling
- playing video games
Before you learn how to talk nicely about your hobbies, you need to understand what hobbies you can mention and how to name them in English. Because saying “I like football” is one thing, but expressing it a bit more clearly and interestingly is another. Plus, there are tons of hobbies we kind of know, but aren’t quite sure how to translate or describe properly. Let’s figure it out — from the most popular to the unusual — hobbies in English that you can definitely use in conversation, writing, or even during an interview.
Phrases to Express Emotions and Opinions
Structures and Verb Tenses
Phrases to Start Your Story
Useful Words and Phrases to Use
Hobbies are all about emotions. So it’s important not just to name the activity but also to show why you like it. Here are some phrases to help with that:
- “It makes me feel happy/relaxed.”
- “I enjoy it because it helps me to forget about stress.”
- “I think it’s a great way to spend free time.”
- “In my opinion, everyone should have a hobby.”
- “It’s more than just a hobby — it’s my passion.”
When talking about hobbies, we mostly use the Present Simple — it’s perfect for describing regular actions.
Examples:
Examples:
- “I play the guitar.”
- “She collects stamps.”
- “They go hiking every weekend.”
- “I started drawing when I was a child.”
- “My dad taught me how to cook.”
- “I want to try surfing.”
- “I will join a dance club next month.”
Starting your story is often the hardest part. But if you’ve got some ready-made phrases on hand, it’s way easier. Here are a few to help you begin with confidence:
- “I want to tell you about my hobby.”
- “One of my favorite hobbies is…”
- “In my free time, I usually…”
- “I really enjoy…”
- “When I have some spare time, I like to…”
To make your story about your hobby sound like a real, flowing monologue (not just a bunch of words), it’s worth remembering a few useful expressions. These will help you link ideas, show emotion, and avoid getting stuck on each sentence. They’re not complicated — just truly useful vocabulary for beginners that’s easy to use in conversation, writing, or even an oral exam.
Here’s how to describe your hobby using simple and effective phrases — ones that’ll help you speak confidently and without hesitation.
Here’s how to describe your hobby using simple and effective phrases — ones that’ll help you speak confidently and without hesitation.
Typical Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you’re just starting to learn English and try talking about your hobbies, making mistakes is totally normal. It’s part of the process. But there are a few common mistakes worth noting so you don’t get stuck or embarrassed. First — many people are afraid of making mistakes and end up saying nothing. That’s the biggest mistake: staying silent. Even if your grammar isn’t perfect — no big deal. The key is to be understood. English for communication is not a test.Second — confusion with verbs. For example, people say “I like play football” instead of “I like playing football.” After like, enjoy, love, you almost always need a verb with -ing. Remember: like reading, enjoy drawing, love dancing — and it already sounds much better. Third mistake — being too dry and templated. Like: “My hobby is music. I like music.” That’s fine, but it’s better to add some detail: what kind of music, why you like it, when you listen to it. And finally — people forget about emotion. But hobbies are about what you truly enjoy. Don’t be afraid to say: “It makes me feel good” or “I can’t imagine my life without it.”
Be more relaxed, don’t fear mistakes — and you’ll do great.
Be more relaxed, don’t fear mistakes — and you’ll do great.
How to Practice Talking About Your Hobby: Practical Tips
Okay, so you’ve learned the phrases, understood the structures, and know how to describe a hobby — but how do you actually practice and get comfortable speaking? Here are a few effective tips that really helped me:
📌 1. Talk to yourself in the mirror. Seriously. Just stand in front of a mirror and speak out loud like you’re in an interview. It helps remove the fear of speaking and gets you used to your own voice in English.
📌 2. Record yourself. Do it once and you’ll instantly hear where you hesitate or lack words. It’s like training — the more you repeat, the more confident you sound.
📌 3. Make a mini presentation. Write 5–6 sentences about your hobbies. Read them out loud. Then close the text and try to retell it. It’s super effective and works even for beginners.
📌 4. Use chatbots and friends. Try sharing your hobby in a chat with AI or with a friend who’s also learning English. Even just a couple of sentences a day — and you’re already improving.
📌 5. Repeat it tomorrow. Yes, it sounds basic, but repetition is the key. The more often you talk about yourself, the easier it gets to speak on any topic.
The most important thing — don’t wait for the perfect moment. Enough theory — just start speaking. And your story about your hobby in English will become not just a textbook topic, but a real part of communication.
📌 1. Talk to yourself in the mirror. Seriously. Just stand in front of a mirror and speak out loud like you’re in an interview. It helps remove the fear of speaking and gets you used to your own voice in English.
📌 2. Record yourself. Do it once and you’ll instantly hear where you hesitate or lack words. It’s like training — the more you repeat, the more confident you sound.
📌 3. Make a mini presentation. Write 5–6 sentences about your hobbies. Read them out loud. Then close the text and try to retell it. It’s super effective and works even for beginners.
📌 4. Use chatbots and friends. Try sharing your hobby in a chat with AI or with a friend who’s also learning English. Even just a couple of sentences a day — and you’re already improving.
📌 5. Repeat it tomorrow. Yes, it sounds basic, but repetition is the key. The more often you talk about yourself, the easier it gets to speak on any topic.
The most important thing — don’t wait for the perfect moment. Enough theory — just start speaking. And your story about your hobby in English will become not just a textbook topic, but a real part of communication.
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