Hobbies in German: Comprehensive Guide with 200+ German Hobbies Vocabulary
You had enough of boring German conversations? We totally understand!
That’s why we made this blog post for you: hobbies in German! Learn how to ask about hobbies, talk about your hobbies and explain everything about your favorite free time activities with the best chunks available.
Spring German (a project I co-founded) made a great video about this topic. This is how you talk about your hobbies in German:
What’s next? Explore the different hobbies in German!
1. How to ask about hobbies in German?
First of all, it’s quite important to learn how you ask about other people’s interests in a natural way – like a German native speaker would.
You might already know this much about the German culture, but local people like simple, direct questions.
Here’s a table with some of the most common chunks for asking about hobbies in German:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Was machst du gerne in deiner Freizeit? | What do you like to do in your free time? |
| Was sind deine Hobbys? | What are your hobbies? |
| Womit beschäftigst du dich in deiner Freizeit? | What do you occupy yourself with in your free time? |
| Hast du irgendwelche Interessen? | Do you have any interests? |
| Treibst du Sport? | Do you play any sports? |
| Bist du kreativ? | Are you creative? |
| Was machst du zum Spaß? | What do you do for fun? |
| Wie entspannst du dich? | How do you relax? |
2. How to talk about hobbies in German?
Alright, now let’s talk about how you can share your own enthusiasm with others about your hobbies.
You can use these phrases to sound natural when chatting about what you like to do. Just remember, Germans appreciate directness, so don’t be shy about sharing your interests!
Here’s a table with some handy chunks and phrases you can use to talk about your own hobbies:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich interessiere mich für… | I’m interested in… |
| Mein Hobby ist… | My hobby is… |
| In meiner Freizeit… | In my free time… |
| Ich spiele gern… | I like to play… |
| Ich gehe oft… | I often go… |
| Am Wochenende mache ich gerne… | On weekends, I like to do… |
| Ich sammle… | I collect… |
| Ich bin ein großer Fan von… | I’m a big fan of… |
| Ich entspanne mich beim… | I relax by… |
| Meine Leidenschaft ist… | My passion is… |
You can easily combine these phrases with specific hobbies or activities. So, more about this in the next sections!
3. The most popular hobbies in Germany
Germans love going out in the nature after a long working day and on the weekends. If you want to talk about planning ahead for group activities, you first have to learn the days of the week in German. It’s also a good idea to know the months in German, so you’re up-to-date with seasonal activities.
Hiking, listening to German music, traveling and playing football in German speaking countries are just some of the most popular hobbies.
We made a complete list with chunks (and their English translations), so you won’t ever get lost for words when talking about your hobbies.
Hiking (Wandern)
Want to go on a hike? Make sure to use clear phrases for directions in German, so you don’t get lost!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| eine Wanderung machen | to go on a hike |
| den Wanderweg folgen | to follow the hiking trail |
| Bergschuhe anziehen | to put on hiking boots |
| den Rucksack packen | to pack the backpack |
| die Wanderkarte lesen | to read the hiking map |
| mit Wanderstöcken gehen | to walk with hiking poles |
| die Wasserflasche auffüllen | to refill the water bottle |
| den Kompass benutzen | to use the compass |
| die Wanderjacke anziehen | to put on the hiking jacket |
| durch das Fernglas schauen | to look through the binoculars |
| in einer Berghütte übernachten | to stay overnight in a mountain hut |
| den Gipfel erreichen | to reach the peak |
| die Ausrüstung vorbereiten | to prepare the equipment |
| den Abstieg beginnen | to begin the descent |
| die Aussicht genießen | to enjoy the view |
Cycling (Radfahren)
Germans love cycling and cycling sports. If you want to make a bit of a small talk in German, cycling is one of your go-to topics.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Rad fahren | to cycle |
| eine Fahrradtour machen | to go on a bike tour |
| den Fahrradhelm aufsetzen | to put on the bike helmet |
| in die Pedale treten | to pedal |
| die Gangschaltung benutzen | to use the gears |
| den Sattel einstellen | to adjust the saddle |
| die Kette ölen | to oil the chain |
| die Bremsen überprüfen | to check the brakes |
| den Lenker festhalten | to hold the handlebars |
| den Reifen aufpumpen | to pump up the tire |
| den Fahrradcomputer ablesen | to read the bike computer |
| aus der Trinkflasche trinken | to drink from the water bottle |
| mit dem Mountainbike fahren | to ride the mountain bike |
| einen Platten reparieren | to repair a flat tire |
| die Fahrradlichter einschalten | to turn on the bike lights |
Football (Fußball)
Who doesn’t like football? You can talk about it, play it, or analyze it with your friends.
Use these chunks for football in German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Fußball spielen | to play soccer |
| einen Pass geben | to make a pass |
| aufs Tor schießen | to shoot at the goal |
| den Ball dribbeln | to dribble the ball |
| eine Ecke schießen | to take a corner kick |
| ins Abseits geraten | to be offside |
| ein Foul begehen | to commit a foul |
| eine gelbe Karte bekommen | to receive a yellow card |
| den Ball köpfen | to head the ball |
| ein Tor erzielen | to score a goal |
| den Ball abfangen | to intercept the ball |
| eine Mannschaft aufstellen | to set up a team |
| das Spiel pfeifen | to referee the game |
| die Taktik besprechen | to discuss tactics |
| sich aufwärmen | to warm up |
Gardening (Gärtnern)
An amazing method to relax yourself is to do some gardening. And now, you know how to talk about it in German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| im Garten arbeiten | to work in the garden |
| Blumen pflanzen | to plant flowers |
| den Rasen mähen | to mow the lawn |
| Unkraut jäten | to weed |
| die Pflanzen gießen | to water the plants |
| einen Baum beschneiden | to prune a tree |
| Gemüse anbauen | to grow vegetables |
| den Boden umgraben | to dig up the soil |
| Samen säen | to sow seeds |
| Kompost herstellen | to make compost |
| Rosen schneiden | to trim roses |
| einen Zaun streichen | to paint a fence |
| Früchte ernten | to harvest fruits |
| einen Gartenteich anlegen | to create a garden pond |
| Blumenbeete anlegen | to create flower beds |
Reading (Lesen)
If you’re going for the best way to immerse yourself in a language, reading is the best solution.
We can even recommend you some easy German books!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ein Buch lesen | to read a book |
| in die Bibliothek gehen | to go to the library |
| ein Lesezeichen benutzen | to use a bookmark |
| ein Buch ausleihen | to borrow a book |
| eine Buchbesprechung schreiben | to write a book review |
| in einem Buch blättern | to browse through a book |
| die Seite umblättern | to turn the page |
| einen Roman verschlingen | to devour a novel |
| einen Buchclub beitreten | to join a book club |
| ein E-Book herunterladen | to download an e-book |
| eine Buchhandlung besuchen | to visit a bookstore |
| Notizen machen | to take notes |
| ein Hörbuch hören | to listen to an audiobook |
| einen Bestseller kaufen | to buy a bestseller |
| eine Lesebrille aufsetzen | to put on reading glasses |
Cooking (Kochen)
Let’s make some magic in the kitchen together!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ein Rezept ausprobieren | to try out a recipe |
| Zutaten vorbereiten | to prepare ingredients |
| den Herd anstellen | to turn on the stove |
| das Gemüse schneiden | to chop vegetables |
| eine Soße anrühren | to make a sauce |
| den Tisch decken | to set the table |
| das Essen würzen | to season the food |
| den Backofen vorheizen | to preheat the oven |
| einen Kuchen backen | to bake a cake |
| das Fleisch braten | to fry meat |
| die Nudeln abgießen | to drain the pasta |
| den Teig kneten | to knead the dough |
| das Geschirr spülen | to wash the dishes |
| neue Rezepte sammeln | to collect new recipes |
| Kräuter anpflanzen | to grow herbs |
Traveling (Reisen)
If you’re ready for a true language learning adventure, visit one German-speaking country!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| eine Reise planen | to plan a trip |
| den Koffer packen | to pack the suitcase |
| ein Ticket buchen | to book a ticket |
| ins Ausland reisen | to travel abroad |
| eine Unterkunft reservieren | to reserve accommodation |
| den Reisepass kontrollieren | to check the passport |
| Sehenswürdigkeiten besichtigen | to visit sights |
| Souvenirs kaufen | to buy souvenirs |
| fremde Kulturen kennenlernen | to get to know foreign cultures |
| Fotos machen | to take photos |
| eine Reiseversicherung abschließen | to take out travel insurance |
| Geld umtauschen | to exchange money |
| einen Mietwagen buchen | to book a rental car |
| im Hotel einchecken | to check in at the hotel |
| eine Stadtführung mitmachen | to take a city tour |
Watching TV/movies (Fernsehen/Filme schauen)
Watching the best TV shows or best German movies is another useful hobby – just don’t go overboard! (You can even try Lingopie for the best experience.)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| fernsehen | to watch TV |
| einen Film anschauen | to watch a movie |
| eine Serie bingewatchen | to binge-watch a series |
| den Fernseher einschalten | to turn on the TV |
| ins Kino gehen | to go to the cinema |
| Popcorn machen | to make popcorn |
| die Lautstärke anpassen | to adjust the volume |
| den Lieblingsfilm ansehen | to watch the favorite movie |
| eine Streaming-Plattform abonnieren | to subscribe to a streaming platform |
| den Filmkritiken folgen | to follow movie reviews |
| eine Filmpremiere besuchen | to attend a movie premiere |
| den Trailer anschauen | to watch the trailer |
| Untertitel einschalten | to turn on subtitles |
| eine Dokumentation sehen | to watch a documentary |
| den Filmabend planen | to plan a movie night |
Listening to music (Musik hören)
We probably don’t think about music as a language learning tool, but in reality, songs can get stuck in our heads. Then you find the lyrics, explore the meaning, aaaand you’re well on your way to learn German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Musik hören | to listen to music |
| ein Lied herunterladen | to download a song |
| eine Playlist erstellen | to create a playlist |
| Kopfhörer aufsetzen | to put on headphones |
| die Lautstärke erhöhen | to increase the volume |
| ein Konzert besuchen | to attend a concert |
| Musik streamen | to stream music |
| ein Album kaufen | to buy an album |
| den Rhythmus mitklatschen | to clap along with the rhythm |
| Musikinstrumente spielen | to play musical instruments |
| einen Radiosender einschalten | to turn on a radio station |
| Songtexte auswendig lernen | to memorize song lyrics |
| eine Band gründen | to form a band |
| ein Musikfestival besuchen | to visit a music festival |
| Musikvideos anschauen | to watch music videos |
Photography (Fotografie)
Take beautiful photos and share it with your friends. Here’s how you can talk about this hobby in German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Fotos machen | to take photos |
| die Kamera einstellen | to adjust the camera |
| ein Motiv suchen | to look for a subject |
| das Objektiv wechseln | to change the lens |
| den Blitz benutzen | to use the flash |
| ein Stativ aufstellen | to set up a tripod |
| die Belichtung anpassen | to adjust the exposure |
| den Fokus einstellen | to set the focus |
| ein Porträt aufnehmen | to take a portrait |
| Landschaftsfotos machen | to take landscape photos |
| Bilder bearbeiten | to edit pictures |
| eine Fotoausstellung besuchen | to visit a photo exhibition |
| Fotos entwickeln lassen | to have photos developed |
| ein Fotobuch erstellen | to create a photo book |
| eine Fotoreise unternehmen | to go on a photo trip |
Board games (Brettspiele)
What’s better than getting together and playing board games?!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Brettspiele spielen | to play board games |
| die Spielregeln erklären | to explain the game rules |
| Würfel werfen | to roll the dice |
| eine Spielfigur bewegen | to move a game piece |
| Karten austeilen | to deal cards |
| eine Strategie entwickeln | to develop a strategy |
| einen Zug machen | to make a move |
| das Spiel gewinnen | to win the game |
| einen Spieleabend organisieren | to organize a game night |
| ein neues Spiel kaufen | to buy a new game |
| Punkte zählen | to count points |
| das Spielbrett aufbauen | to set up the game board |
| eine Partie Schach spielen | to play a game of chess |
| ein Puzzle zusammensetzen | to put together a puzzle |
| einen Joker einsetzen | to use a joker |
Skiing (Ski fahren)
You can explore the German sports vocabulary, and you have to know, they are pretty good at winter sports.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ski fahren | to ski |
| die Skier wachsen | to wax the skis |
| Skistöcke benutzen | to use ski poles |
| einen Skilift benutzen | to use a ski lift |
| die Piste hinunterfahren | to ski down the slope |
| einen Skikurs nehmen | to take a skiing lesson |
| die Skibindung einstellen | to adjust the ski bindings |
| Skiausrüstung ausleihen | to rent ski equipment |
| einen Skipass kaufen | to buy a ski pass |
| im Tiefschnee fahren | to ski in deep snow |
| einen Slalom fahren | to ski a slalom |
| in einem Skigebiet übernachten | to stay overnight in a ski resort |
| nach dem Skifahren einkehren | to stop for a drink after skiing |
| Skiunfall vermeiden | to avoid a skiing accident |
| Apres-Ski genießen | to enjoy après-ski |
Swimming (Schwimmen)
Maybe you’re not the runner type. Maybe you’re the swimmer!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| schwimmen gehen | to go swimming |
| ins Wasser springen | to jump into the water |
| Bahnen ziehen | to swim laps |
| tauchen | to dive |
| unter Wasser schwimmen | to swim underwater |
| den Badeanzug anziehen | to put on the swimsuit |
| die Schwimmbrille aufsetzen | to put on swimming goggles |
| eine Schwimmtechnik verbessern | to improve a swimming technique |
| im Freibad sonnen | to sunbathe at the outdoor pool |
| am Strand schwimmen | to swim at the beach |
| einen Schwimmkurs besuchen | to attend a swimming course |
| die Wassertemperatur prüfen | to check the water temperature |
| sich mit dem Handtuch abtrocknen | to dry off with a towel |
| im See schwimmen | to swim in a lake |
| Wasserspiele machen | to play water games |
DIY projects (Heimwerken)
There comes a time, when you turn into a true master, and you fix things yourself.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| selbst etwas basteln | to craft something yourself |
| ein Regal bauen | to build a shelf |
| Wände streichen | to paint walls |
| ein Möbelstück restaurieren | to restore a piece of furniture |
| einen Gartenzaun errichten | to build a garden fence |
| Bilder aufhängen | to hang pictures |
| eine Lampe installieren | to install a lamp |
| Vorhänge nähen | to sew curtains |
| einen Tisch abschleifen | to sand down a table |
| ein Leck reparieren | to fix a leak |
| Tapeten anbringen | to put up wallpaper |
| einen Schrank zusammenbauen | to assemble a wardrobe |
| Heimwerker-Tutorials anschauen | to watch DIY tutorials |
| Werkzeuge ausleihen | to borrow tools |
| ein Heimwerkerprojekt planen | to plan a DIY project |
Fitness/going to the gym (Fitness/ins Fitnessstudio gehen)
Stay healthy by going to the gym/doing some fitness!
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ins Fitnessstudio gehen | to go to the gym |
| Gewichte heben | to lift weights |
| auf dem Laufband laufen | to run on the treadmill |
| Sit-ups machen | to do sit-ups |
| Yoga praktizieren | to practice yoga |
| einen Trainingsplan erstellen | to create a workout plan |
| die Muskeln dehnen | to stretch the muscles |
| an Fitnessgeräten trainieren | to work out on fitness equipment |
| einen Personal Trainer engagieren | to hire a personal trainer |
| die Herzfrequenz messen | to measure heart rate |
| an einer Fitness-Klasse teilnehmen | to participate in a fitness class |
| Proteinshakes zubereiten | to prepare protein shakes |
| Kalorien zählen | to count calories |
| Fortschritte verfolgen | to track progress |
| sich nach dem Training erholen | to recover after working out |
4. Practice speaking about your hobbies in German
Practice speaking about your hobbies with our flashcard-based worksheets!
This was just a sneak peek: if you click this button below, you’ll get access to our Full Practice Worksheet Library.
5. Learn German hobbies vocabulary with Conversation Based Chunking
Throughout this article, we mentioned “chunks”. And maybe, you’re not familiar with them.
Lexical chunks are the natural building blocks of the language. You use them in your native language, too, and you don’t even realize it. It’s not different in German either.
That’s why we teach our students with the Conversation Based Chunking method. It’s a method that focuses on these chunks, instead of giving you the boring vocabulary lists and the explaining everything with grammar definitions.
If you sign up now, you’ll get your first FREE German Chunking Kit with essential chunking lists, practice exercises and other resources to learn German. With the help of this method, you’ll talk about your hobbies in German in no time!
