Inklingo

How to Say "hobby" in Spanish

English → Spanish

afición

nounA2general
Use 'afición' when referring to a strong interest or liking for a particular activity that you do regularly for pleasure.

Examples

Mi gran afición es la fotografía de paisajes.

My great hobby is landscape photography.

pasatiempo

/pa-sah-tee-ehm-poh//pasaˈtjempo/

nounA2general
Choose 'pasatiempo' for a general term for any activity done regularly in one's leisure time for enjoyment or amusement.
A child happily painting a picture on a canvas with colorful paints.

Examples

Mi pasatiempo favorito es la fotografía.

My favorite hobby is photography.

Muchos jóvenes tienen los videojuegos como principal pasatiempo.

Many young people have video games as their main pastime.

Buscaba un pasatiempo que no fuera muy caro.

I was looking for a hobby that wasn't very expensive.

A Word Made of Two

This word is a combination of 'pasar' (to pass) and 'tiempo' (time). It's a compound word that literally means 'a way to pass the time'.

Always Masculine

Because the second half of the word is 'tiempo' (which is masculine), 'pasatiempo' is also always masculine. Use 'el' or 'un' with it.

Spelling it as two words

Mistake: “Mi pasa tiempo es leer.”

Correction: Mi pasatiempo es leer. Even though it comes from two words, it is always written as one single word in Spanish.

pasión

nounA2general
Use 'pasión' when the activity is not just a hobby but something you are extremely enthusiastic about, bordering on obsession.

Examples

Mi mayor pasión es viajar por Latinoamérica.

My greatest passion is traveling through Latin America.

Afición vs. Pasatiempo

Learners often confuse 'afición' and 'pasatiempo' as they are very similar. 'Afición' implies a deeper interest or liking, while 'pasatiempo' is a more neutral term for any leisure activity. Think of 'afición' as something you are fond of, and 'pasatiempo' as simply something you do to pass the time enjoyably.

Related Translations

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