Talk About Your Hobbies in German: Top 10 Hobbies
Was sind deine Hobbys? It is one of the easiest ways to start a conversation in German. In this A1 lesson, Luzi from YourGermanTeacher shows you the two ways to answer this question, the grammar difference between them, and then walks you through the top 10 German hobbies of 2021 with example sentences.
Why This Question Matters
There are two reasons to learn it. It is an easy question to start a conversation with someone, and it is also very common in the A1 oral exam.
Two Ways to Answer: Was sind deine Hobbys?
| Option | Pattern | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meine Hobbys sind + noun | Meine Hobbys sind Tanzen und Singen. | My hobbies are dancing and singing. |
| 2 | Ich + verb + gern | Ich singe und tanze gern. | I like to sing and dance. |
The grammar is different. In option 1, a noun follows sind. Tanzen and singen are verbs, but here they are written with a capital letter because every verb can also be used as a noun. In option 2 you use a normal verb and add gern (like to). You need the gern: Ich singe only means I sing, while Ich singe gern means I like to sing.
Examples from the Video
- Ich spiele gern Volleyball und treffe oft Freunde. (I like to play volleyball and often meet friends.)
- Meine Hobbys sind Malen und Singen. (My hobbies are painting and singing.)
- Ich spiele gern Gitarre und höre tÀglich Musik. (I like to play guitar and listen to music every day.)
- Meine Hobbys sind FuĂball und Lesen. (My hobbies are football and reading.)
Was machst du in der Freizeit?
This is the second common question (die Freizeit = free time). Here you only have one option: verb + gern.
- Ich gehe gern shoppen. (I like to go shopping.)
- Ich spiele gern Brettspiele und lese jeden Tag. (I like to play board games and I read every day.)
- Ich koche gern und mache sehr gerne Sport. (I like to cook and I really like doing sports.)
Gern and gerne are the same. You can use whichever you prefer.
The Top 10 German Hobbies of 2021
This is the ranking from the video, counted down from number 10 to number 1.
| # | Hobby | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Wandern | hiking | Andi wandert sehr gerne. |
| 9 | Gesellschaftsspiele | board games, card games and other group games | Wir spielen gern Brettspiele. |
| 8 | Lesen | reading | Maria liest jeden Tag. |
| 7 | Fitnessstudio | going to the gym | Ich gehe nie ins Fitnessstudio. |
| 6 | Computerspiele | computer games and console games | Tom spielt tÀglich PlayStation. |
| 5 | RÀtsel | riddles and puzzles, such as crosswords (KreuzwortrÀtsel) and Sudoku | Meine Oma spielt gerne Sudoku. |
| 4 | Essen gehen | going out to eat in a restaurant (not at home) | Sonntags essen wir in einem Restaurant. |
| 3 | Fotografieren | taking pictures | Max fotografiert sehr oft. |
| 2 | Gartenarbeiten | gardening | Die Deutschen arbeiten sehr gerne im Garten. |
| 1 | Shoppen | shopping | Monika geht sehr gerne am Wochenende shoppen. |
Notes from the Video
- Gartenarbeiten: Luzi explains why it is so high: in Germany, Switzerland and Austria many families have their own house with a garden that needs care.
- Fotografieren: The hobby has become more popular, probably because phone cameras have become much better.
Homework
Answer in the comments: Was sind deine Hobbys? Start with Mein Hobby ist ... (one hobby) or Meine Hobbys sind ... (more than one), or use a verb: Ich spiele gern Basketball.
What to Learn Next
Learn how often you do your hobbies in German Frequency Adverbs: nie, selten, oft, immer, compare the verbs in mögen vs. möchten vs. gern in German and practise introductions in How to Introduce Yourself in German.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask about hobbies in German?
Ask Was sind deine Hobbys? or Was machst du in der Freizeit? Both are common in everyday conversation and in the A1 oral exam.
How can I answer Was sind deine Hobbys?
Either with a noun: Meine Hobbys sind Tanzen und Singen. Or with a verb plus gern: Ich singe und tanze gern.
Why do tanzen and singen have a capital letter in Meine Hobbys sind Tanzen und Singen?
Because after sind a noun follows, and every German verb can be used as a noun. In Ich singe gern it stays a normal verb with a small letter.
Is there a difference between gern and gerne?
No. They mean the same and you can use whichever you prefer.
What are the top German hobbies in the video?
From 10 to 1: Wandern, Gesellschaftsspiele, Lesen, Fitnessstudio, Computerspiele, RĂ€tsel, Essen gehen, Fotografieren, Gartenarbeiten and Shoppen.
Ready to talk about yourself, your free time and much more in German? Our beginner German course for A1 gives you everything step by step.
