Inklingo

How to Say "pastime" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “pastime” is “pasatiempo” — use 'pasatiempo' when referring to a specific hobby or activity that you regularly do to enjoy your free time.

English → Spanish

pasatiempo

pa-sah-tee-ehm-pohpasaˈtjempo

nounA2general
Use 'pasatiempo' when referring to a specific hobby or activity that you regularly do to enjoy your free time.
A child happily painting a picture on a canvas with colorful paints.

Examples

Mi pasatiempo favorito es la fotografía.

My favorite pastime 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.

distracción

nounB1general
Choose 'distracción' when the pastime is seen as a way to occupy oneself pleasantly and divert attention from more serious matters.

Examples

Mi distracción favorita es la jardinería.

My favorite pastime is gardening.

entretenimiento

en-tre-te-ni-mientoentɾeteˈnjento

nounB1general
Use 'entretenimiento' for a broader concept of entertainment or amusement, often something provided for enjoyment, like shows or media.
A colorful illustration showing a child smiling while flying a large, multi-colored kite high above a sunny, grassy field.

Examples

La televisión ofrece una gran variedad de entretenimiento para la noche.

Television offers a great variety of entertainment for the evening.

La industria del entretenimiento genera miles de millones de dólares al año.

The entertainment industry generates billions of dollars a year.

Buscamos un poco de entretenimiento después de un día tan largo.

We are looking for a little amusement after such a long day.

Gender Check: Masculine Noun

Remember that 'entretenimiento' is a masculine noun, so you must always use the masculine article 'el' (el entretenimiento) or the plural 'los' (los entretenimientos).

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Me gusta entretener.”

Correction: Me gusta el entretenimiento. (The mistake uses the verb 'to entertain' instead of the noun 'entertainment'.)

diversión

nounB1general
Opt for 'diversión' when the focus is on the fun, enjoyment, or amusement derived from an activity, especially in a social or recreational context.

Examples

El parque de atracciones ofrece muchas diversiones para toda la familia.

The amusement park offers many forms of entertainment for the whole family.

Pasatiempo vs. Distracción

Learners often confuse 'pasatiempo' and 'distracción'. Remember that 'pasatiempo' is best for a personal hobby you actively engage in, while 'distracción' can imply something that distracts you from work or worries, even if it's a hobby.

Related Translations

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