"What do you do in your free time?" is one of the most common questions in everyday English conversation, and in speaking exams. This guide covers real, natural vocabulary for hobbies and free time, well beyond a basic list of activities.
2. Common Hobbies
Hobby
Note
reading
I love reading, especially crime novels.
gardening
My dad's really into gardening.
hiking
We go hiking most weekends.
cooking / baking
Baking is a great way to relax.
photography
I picked up photography during lockdown.
3. Creative & Social Hobbies
Hobby
Note
painting / drawing
She's been painting since she was a child.
playing an instrument
I play the guitar in my free time.
board games
We host board game nights with friends.
volunteering
I volunteer at a local charity shop.
4. Talking About Your Hobbies
Phrase
Example
to be into (something)
I'm really into hiking these days.
to pick up (a hobby)
I picked up painting last year.
to unwind
I like to unwind by reading in the evening.
a great way to relax
Gardening is a great way to relax after work.
5. Frequency Expressions
Expression
Example
most weekends
We go hiking most weekends.
every now and then
I go swimming every now and then.
whenever I get the chance
I read whenever I get the chance.
6. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
I like play football.
I like playing football. / I like to play football.
"Like" needs a gerund or to-infinitive after it, never the base verb.
My hobby is to read books.
My hobby is reading books. / Reading is my hobby.
After "my hobby is," the gerund is more natural than the to-infinitive.
I am boring at weekends.
I get bored at weekends.
"Boring" describes something dull; "bored" describes how you feel.
7. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete correctly (8 questions)
1. I'm really ___ hiking these days. (into)
2. I ___ up painting last year. (picked)
3. Reading is a great way to ___. (unwind)
4. I ___ at a local charity shop. (volunteer)
5. We go hiking ___ weekends. (most)
6. I read ___ I get the chance. (whenever)
7. My dad's really into ___. (gardening)
8. We host board ___ nights with friends. (game)
Show Answers (A)
1. into 2. picked 3. unwind 4. volunteer 5. most 6. whenever 7. gardening 8. game
B. Multiple Choice (5 questions)
1. "To be into something" means to... (a) really enjoy it (b) dislike it
2. To relax after stress is to... (a) unwind (b) pick up
3. To start a new hobby is to... (a) pick it up (b) unwind it
4. Working for free to help others is... (a) volunteering (b) hiking
5. "Every now and then" means... (a) occasionally (b) always
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.a
C. Error Correction (3 questions)
1. I like play football.
2. My hobby is to read books.
3. I am boring at weekends.
Show Answers (C)
1. I like playing football. 2. My hobby is reading books. 3. I get bored at weekends.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Describe your own hobbies, using at least three vocabulary words from this page.
2. Write a sentence about a hobby you'd like to pick up.
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "I'm really into photography, and I unwind by going for long walks." 2. "I'd love to pick up painting one day."
8. Mini Quiz
9. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge A2 Key / B1 Preliminary
Hobbies are one of the most common Speaking Part 1 topics.
"What do you like doing in your free time?"
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Hobbies and interests are near-guaranteed opening questions.
"Do you have any hobbies?" "How did you get interested in that?"
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Free time and hobbies is one of the most predictable everyday topics.
"What do you do at weekends?"
10. Frequently Asked Questions
A hobby is an activity you actively do (painting, cycling); an interest can be something you follow or care about without necessarily doing it yourself (an interest in history).
"In my free time, I usually..." or "I'm really into..." are both natural, common ways to introduce a hobby.
To be genuinely interested in or enjoy something: "I'm really into photography" means you actively enjoy it as a hobby.
"I'm into" is more informal and suggests a stronger, more active interest than the more general "I like."
To relax after a stressful period: "I like to unwind by reading in the evening."
Yes — describing your hobbies and free time is one of the most common everyday speaking topics at every level.
Reading a vocabulary list takes you part of the way. Real fluency comes from using these words in conversation, with a tutor who corrects you immediately. Book a free level test with Elite Language Solutions and find out exactly where you are.