Topics / Hobbies Vocabulary
Hobbies and Free-Time Vocabulary in English
Music, films, games, and the words for clubs, crafts, and what people do after work. 104 words, A1 to B2.
104 words
Arts and Going Out
HobbyA2An activity you do for pleasure in your free time.“Her hobby is painting.”LeisureB1Time when you are not working and can do what you enjoy.“She spends her leisure time walking in the hills.”InterestA2A feeling of wanting to know more; also extra money from a bank.“She has a strong interest in local history museums.”ClubA1A group of people who meet for a sport or interest, or a place with music.“He is in the football club.”MemberA2A person who belongs to a group or organisation.“She is a member of the sports club.”JoinA2To become a member of a group, or to connect things together.“Would you like to join our club?”MusicA1Sounds made by voices or instruments in a pleasing way.“She loves music.”SongA2A piece of music with words that you sing.“They sang a song together at the party.”SingA1To make musical sounds with your voice.“They sing in the choir.”SingerA1A person who sings, often as a job.“She is a singer in a band.”BandA2A group of musicians; also a thin strip of material.“A jazz band played in the square after dinner.”ConcertA2A public performance of music.“We went to a concert on Saturday night.”FestivalB1A series of performances or events, often of music, film, or food, or a special public celebration.“We went to a music festival in the summer.”GuitarA2A musical instrument with strings that you play with your fingers.“He is learning to play the guitar.”PianoA1A large musical instrument with black and white keys.“She plays the piano every day.”ViolinA2A wooden musical instrument with four strings, played with a bow.“She plays the violin in the school orchestra.”DrumA1A round musical instrument that you hit with your hands or sticks.“He plays the drum in the school band.”InstrumentB1A tool or device for a particular job, especially a musical one.“The piano is her favourite instrument.”OrchestraA2A large group of people who play classical music together.“The school orchestra practised in the hall.”ChoirB1A group of people who sing together, especially in a church or school.“She sings in the school choir every Tuesday.”ListenA1To pay attention to sound.“Please listen to the teacher.”AlbumA2A collection of songs, or a book for photos or stamps.“She bought the band’s new album at the airport shop.”FilmA1A story shown with moving pictures; a movie.“We watched a film last night.”MovieA2A film you watch at the cinema or at home.“We watched a movie on the coach to pass the time.”CinemaA1A place where you pay to watch films.“Shall we go to the cinema tonight?”ActorA1A person who acts in films, plays, or on television.“He is an actor in a TV programme.”ActressA2A woman who acts in plays, films, or on television.“The actress signed programmes after the show.”DirectorB1A person who manages a company, a department, or a film.“The director of the company spoke at the meeting.”SceneA2A part of a play or film, or the place where something happens.“The first scene of the play is in a kitchen.”TheatreA1A building where you watch plays (British spelling).“We went to the theatre on Saturday.”DramaB1A play for the theatre, television, or radio, or plays as a subject.“She studies drama at college.”BalletA2A type of dancing that tells a story with music, or a show of this.“We booked cheap seats for the ballet on Saturday.”OperaA2A play in which the words are sung, with an orchestra.“We booked cheap seats for the opera in Cardiff.”MuseumA2A building where objects of history, art, or science are shown.“We spent the afternoon at the museum.”GalleryA2A building or room for showing art.“We spent an hour in the art gallery.”
Making and Collecting
ArtA2Paintings, drawings, and other creative work; also the skill of making them.“The hotel is next to a small art gallery.”ArtistA2A person who creates art, such as paintings, drawings, or music.“The artist painted a picture of the river.”PaintA1A coloured liquid that you put on a wall, picture, or object.“The door needs more paint.”PaintingA2A picture made with paint; also the activity of using paint.“There is a famous painting of the harbour in the gallery.”DrawA1To make a picture with a pencil or pen.“The children drew a house.”DrawingA1A picture you make with a pencil or pen.“This is a drawing of my house.”SketchB2A quick drawing; also a short comic scene, or a brief outline of a plan.“A field sketch still needs a title, scale, and north arrow.”PhotoA1A picture made with a camera.“This is a photo of my family.”CameraA1A device for taking photographs or film.“She took a photo with her camera.”BookA1A set of printed pages with a story or information.“I am reading a good book.”ReadA1To look at words and understand them.“I read every evening.”NovelA2A long written story about people and events that are not real.“I am reading a novel about life in a small town.”PoemA2A piece of writing that uses rhythm and often rhyme to express ideas or feelings.“She wrote a short poem about the sea.”PoetryB2Poems in general; literature written in verse.“Comment on the poetry’s imagery, not only on the poet’s life.”StoryA1A description of events, real or imagined.“Tell me a story.”AuthorB2A person who writes a book, article, or play.“The author signed copies of her novel.”WriterA2A person who writes books, articles, or stories as a job.“The writer signed copies of her novel.”LibraryA2A place where you can borrow books.“She studies in the library.”KnitA2To make clothes from wool using two long needles.“My gran can knit a jumper in a week.”KnittingA2The activity of making things from wool, or the piece you are making.“She took her knitting on the train.”CraftB1A skilled trade of making things; also skill in doing something.“The college still offers a craft apprenticeship in joinery.”DIYB1Making or repairing things yourself instead of paying a worker (UK, often uncountable).“DIY in halls still needs the landlord’s permission; a drill is a fire-safety fail without it.”CollectA2To bring things together, or to get items of the same type.“He collects stamps from different countries.”CollectionB1A group of objects of the same type that have been gathered together.“The museum has a large collection of maps.”StampA1A small piece of paper you stick on a letter so you can send it.“I need a stamp for this postcard.”CoinA2A small round piece of metal used as money.“I need a coin for the locker at the swimming pool.”CookA1To make food ready to eat by heating it.“He can cook rice.”BakeA2To cook food in an oven.“We can bake potatoes in the hostel oven tonight.”GardenA1A piece of land by a house, with grass, flowers, or vegetables.“The children play in the garden.”Garden CentreB1A large shop that sells plants, pots, and garden tools (UK).“The garden-centre trip still needs the EVOLVE form; a high-street florist is not the same visit.”AllotmentB2A small plot of public land rented for growing food; also a share allocated to someone.“Map the allotment on the OS extract, then the plot number; an allotment of funds still needs the £ line.”PlantA2A living thing such as a tree or flower that grows in the ground.“Water the plants twice a week.”ModelA2A small copy of something, or a person who wears clothes in photos.“There is a model of the airport in the visitor centre.”Train SetB1A toy railway with an engine, carriages, and track.“The children got a wooden train set for Christmas.”JigsawA1A picture cut into many small pieces that you fit together.“We did a jigsaw on the table.”ComicB1A magazine of cartoon stories; as an adjective, funny.“A comic is not an unseen text for the English paper.”
Games and Being Active
GameA1An activity with rules that you play for fun, such as football or cards.“Would you like to play a game?”Board GameB1A game played on a board, often with pieces or cards, such as chess or Monopoly.“A board game in the common room is fine; gambling apps are not.”ChessA1A board game for two people with black and white pieces, including kings and pawns.“They played chess after dinner.”Video GameB1A game played on a computer, console, or phone.“A video game in the common room still needs the age rating; an 18 certificate is not sixth-form kit.”CrosswordB1A word puzzle with numbered clues, filled into a grid of squares.“The crossword in tutor time is optional; the literacy booklet is not.”DanceA1To move your body to music.“They danced at the party.”DancerA2A person who dances, often as a job or in a show.“The dancer practised for two hours before the show.”YogaA2Exercises for the body and breathing, often done on a mat.“She goes to a yoga class on Wednesday.”RunA1To move quickly on your feet.“Don’t run in the corridor.”JogA2To run slowly for exercise.“I jog in the park every morning.”CycleA2To ride a bicycle.“She cycles to college every morning.”CyclingA2The activity or sport of riding a bicycle.“Cycling is a cheap way to get to work.”SwimA1To move through water using your arms and legs.“The children swim in the pool.”SwimmingB1The sport or activity of moving through water using the arms and legs (often uncountable).“Swimming is on the PE rotation; a note from home is not a term-long excuse without a GP letter.”WalkA1To move on your feet at a normal speed.“I walk to school.”HikingA2The activity of long walks in the countryside.“Hiking is a cheap way to see the hills.”HikeA2To walk a long way in the countryside for pleasure.“We hiked to the lake in two hours.”CampA2To stay in a tent for a short time.“We camped by the lake for two nights.”CampingA2The activity of staying in a tent on holiday.“They went camping in the mountains.”FishingB1The sport or job of catching fish (often uncountable).“Fishing from the harbour wall still needs the council permit.”VolunteerB1To offer to do something without being paid, or without being asked first.“She volunteered to help at the school.”BlogB1A website of short articles, usually in date order.“Do not cite a campaign blog as peer-reviewed evidence.”TelevisionA1A device with a screen for watching programmes; also called TV.“They watch television in the evening.”SeriesB1A number of similar things that come one after another.“There was a series of delays.”RadioA1A device that plays music and news from radio stations.“We listen to the radio in the car.”NewspaperA1A set of large printed pages with news, sold each day or week.“He reads the newspaper in the morning.”MagazineA2A thin book with articles and pictures, out every week or month.“I read a travel magazine.”KiteA2A light toy that flies on a string in the wind.“The children flew a kite on the beach.”PicnicA1A meal you eat outside, for example in a park.“We had a picnic by the river.”BarbecueA2A meal cooked outside on a fire or grill.“We had a barbecue in the garden on Sunday.”PartyA1A social event with food, drink, and often music.“They had a birthday party.”CelebrateA2To do something enjoyable because of a special event.“We celebrated her birthday with a cake.”JoystickA1A stick you move to control a computer game or a toy plane.“Hold the joystick with both hands.”