How to talk about your hobbies in German

If you’re starting your adventure with the German language, diving into conversations about your hobbies can be a fantastic icebreaker. Not only does it help you practice new words and phrases, but it also connects you with German speakers who share your interests. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through some handy phrases and essential vocabulary to discuss hobbies in German. We’ll look at a variety of popular activities and provide you with a categorized list of hobbies in German, from sports to arts to travel.

• How to talk about hobbies in German
• List of hobbies by category in German
• Popular hobbies in Germany and how to talk about them

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How to talk about hobbies in German

First, let’s cover some basic words and phrases that will form the backbone of your conversations about hobbies. Here’s how you can talk about your hobbies in German:

• Ich spiele gerne… (I like to play…) – This phrase is perfect for sports or musical instruments. For example:
  • Ich spiele gerne Tennis. (I like to play tennis.)
  • Ich spiele gerne Gitarre. (I like to play guitar.)
• Ich gehe gerne… (I like to go…) – This phrase is great for activities that involve going out, such as:
  • Ich gehe gerne ins Kino. (I like to go to the movies.)
  • Ich gehe gerne auf Festivals. (I like to go to festivals.)
• Mein Hobby ist… (My hobby is…) – This phrase is ideal for stating any hobby directly. For instance:
  • Mein Hobby ist Fotografie. (My hobby is photography.)
  • Mein Hobby ist das Kochen. (My hobby is cooking.)

Explaining why you like your hobbies

To delve deeper into conversations and share why you enjoy your hobbies, use the following structure:

• Ich mache das gerne, weil… (I like doing this because…) – This provides a reason and can thus make your conversation more engaging. Examples include:
  • Ich spiele gerne Schach, weil es strategisches Denken fördert. (I like to play chess because it promotes strategic thinking.)
  • Ich gehe gerne wandern, weil ich die Natur liebe. (I like to go hiking because I love nature.)

Note that the conjugated verb following “weil” in each of the above examples (fördert and liebe, respectively) comes at the end of the sentence. This is because the conjunction word “weil” introduces a subordinate clause (Nebensatz). In a German Nebensatz, the conjugated verb typically comes at the very end, rather than in the second position. 

Asking about others’ hobbies

Engaging with others about their hobbies can also enrich your conversations. Here are some questions you might ask:

• Was sind deine Hobbys? (What are your hobbies?)
• Was machst du gerne in deiner Freizeit? (What do you like to do in your free time?)
• Spielst du ein Instrument? (Do you play an instrument?)

Responding to questions about your hobbies

When someone asks about your hobbies, you can respond with:

• In meiner Freizeit lese ich gerne. (In my free time, I like to read.)
• Ich sammle alte Münzen. (I collect old coins.)
• Am Wochenende gehe ich oft wandern. (I often go hiking on weekends.)

List of hobbies by category in German

In German, many nouns derived from verbs can also be used as verbs. This means that the words for the activities themselves can also be used to describe the act of doing those activities.

For example, “Fußballspielen” is both the noun for “playing soccer” and the verb meaning”to play soccer.” “Schwimmen” is both the noun and the verb meaning “to swim.”

This is also the case for the nouns in the following lists:

Sports (Sportarten)

• das Fußballspielen – playing soccer
• das Schwimmen – swimming
• das Tennis – tennis
• das Wandern – hiking
• das Radfahren – cycling
• das Joggen – jogging
• das Segeln – sailing
• das Klettern – climbing

Arts and crafts (Kunst und Handwerk)

• das Malen – painting
• das Zeichnen – drawing
• das Stricken – knitting
• das Töpfern – pottery making
• das Fotografieren – photography
• das Nähen – sewing
• das Schreiben – writing
• das Basteln – crafting

Music and dance (Musik und Tanz)

• das Klavierspielen – playing piano
• das Gitarrespielen – playing guitar
• das Singen – singing
• das Tanzen – dancing
• das Schlagzeugspielen – playing drums

Travel and nature (Reisen und Natur)

• das Reisen – traveling
• das Campen – camping
• das Vogelbeobachten – birdwatching
• das Angeln – fishing
• das Gartenarbeiten – gardening

Culinary (Kulinarik)

• das Kochen – cooking
• das Backen – baking
• das Grillen – barbecuing
• das Weinverkosten – wine tasting

Intellectual and educational (Intellektuelle und bildende Hobbys)

• das Lesen – reading
• das Schachspielen – playing chess
• das Rätsellösen – solving puzzles
• das Fremdsprachenlernen – learning foreign languages

Technology and digital (Technologie und Digital)

• das Programmieren – programming
• das Computerspielen – playing video games
• das Bloggen – blogging
• die Fotobearbeitung – photo editing

Social and community activities (Soziale und Gemeinschaftsaktivitäten)

• das Ehrenamt – volunteering
  • Example: Ich betätige mich im Ehrenamt.
• das Mitgliedsein in einem Verein – being a member of a club
  • Example: Ich bin Mitglied im Sportverein. 
• das Teilnehmen an Meetups – attending meetups
  • Example: Ich nehme an Meetups teil. 

Popular hobbies in Germany and how to talk about them

Germany offers a rich tapestry of cultural and recreational activities that are popular among locals. Understanding these can help you connect more deeply with German culture and practice your language skills in real-life contexts. Here are some popular hobbies in Germany and phrases to discuss them:

Football (Fußball)

Fußball is not just a sport in Germany, it’s a passion! With clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the sport is a major part of German culture.

• Phrase to use: Gehst du gerne zu Fußballspielen? (Do you like going to football matches?)
• Example: Ich sehe mir gerne Spiele der Bundesliga an. Mein Lieblingsteam ist Bayern München. (I like watching Bundesliga matches. My favorite team is Bayern Munich.)

Gardening (Gartenarbeit)

Many Germans love spending their time tending to their gardens, making Gartenarbeit a popular hobby across all ages.

• Phrase to use: Hast du einen eigenen Garten? (Do you have your own garden?)
• Example: Ich arbeite am Wochenende oft in meinem Garten. Es entspannt mich sehr. (I often work in my garden on the weekends. It relaxes me a lot.)

Cycling (Radfahren)

Germany’s extensive bike paths and scenic routes make Radfahren a favorite hobby for many. It’s not only a way to stay fit, but also a preferred mode of transportation in urban areas.

• Phrase to use: Fährst du oft Rad? (Do you cycle often?)
• Example: Ich fahre jeden Tag mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit. Es ist gesund und umweltfreundlich. (I bike to work every day. It’s healthy and environmentally friendly.)

Hiking (Wandern)

The German landscape is dotted with trails that offer spectacular views, making Wandern a popular weekend activity.

• Phrase to use: Welchen Wanderweg empfiehlst du? (Which hiking trail do you recommend?)
• Example: Ich gehe gerne im Schwarzwald wandern. Die Routen dort sind atemberaubend. (I like hiking in the Black Forest. The routes there are breathtaking.)

Photography (Fotografie)

With its rich history and beautiful landscapes, photography is a hobby many Germans pursue.

• Phrase to use: Welche Art von Fotografie magst du? (What kind of photography do you like?)
• Example: Ich fotografiere gerne Landschaften und Städte bei meinen Reisen durch Deutschland. (I like to photograph landscapes and cities on my travels through Germany.)

Cooking and baking (Kochen und Backen)

The love for good food and the joy of making it are evident in the German penchant for Kochen und Backen.

• Phrase to use: Kochst du lieber oder backst du lieber? (Do you prefer cooking or baking?)
• Example: Ich backe jeden Sonntag Kuchen. Das ist eine Tradition in meiner Familie. (I bake cakes every Sunday. It’s a tradition in my family.)

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Enhancing your German through hobbies

We hope this article has equipped you with valuable tools to discuss hobbies in German and further immerse yourself in German culture! We’ve introduced essential phrases to help you talk about hobbies and provided a categorized list of popular hobbies, which should help you explore a range of topics. Discussing these interests not only enriches your vocabulary, but also helps you connect with German speakers on a personal level, making your conversations more meaningful and enjoyable.

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