Hobbies & Free Time
Talk about hobbies, interests, and what you like to do in your free time.
Hobby & Activity Vocabulary
| Polish | English |
|---|---|
hobby /HOH-bee/ | hobby |
czas wolny /chahs VOHL-nih/ | free time |
sport /spohrt/ | sport |
muzyka /MOO-zih-kah/ | music |
film /feelm/ | movie / film |
książka /kshownsh-kah/ | book |
podróż /POHD-roosh/ | travel / journey |
gotowanie /goh-toh-VAH-nyeh/ | cooking |
spacer /SPAH-tsehr/ | walk / stroll |
bieganie /byeh-GAH-nyeh/ | running / jogging |
pływanie /pwih-VAH-nyeh/ | swimming |
rysowanie /rih-soh-VAH-nyeh/ | drawing |
taniec /TAH-nyets/ | dance |
gra komputerowa /grah kohm-poo-TEH-roh-vah/ | computer game |
Expressing Likes and Interests
Lubić + Infinitive (I Like To...)
To say you like DOING something, use "lubić" followed by the infinitive of the activity verb. This is the most common way to talk about hobbies.
You can also use "lubić" + noun (in accusative): "Lubię muzykę" (I like music). With an activity, use the infinitive: "Lubię słuchać muzyki" (I like listening to music).
Interesować się + Instrumental (To Be Interested In)
"Interesować się" (to be interested in) takes the instrumental case. This is a reflexive verb — the "się" is always present.
Remember: "interesować się" always uses instrumental. History (historia) → historią, sport → sportem, music (muzyka) → muzyką.
Frequency Adverbs
Use these adverbs to say how often you do things. They usually come before or after the verb.
"Nigdy" (never) requires "nie" before the verb — double negation is correct and required in Polish! "Nigdy nie..." is the standard pattern.
What Do You Like to Do?
Co lubisz robić w wolnym czasie?
What do you like to do in your free time?
Lubię czytać i grać na gitarze. A ty?
I like to read and play guitar. And you?
Interesuję się gotowaniem. Często gotuję polskie potrawy.
I'm interested in cooking. I often cook Polish dishes.
Super! Czy lubisz sport?
Great! Do you like sport?
Tak, czasami biegam i pływam. Ale nigdy nie gram w piłkę.
Yes, I sometimes jog and swim. But I never play football.
Ja zawsze oglądam piłkę w telewizji!
I always watch football on TV!
Talking About Hobbies
Polish Leisure Culture
Poles love outdoor activities — hiking in the Tatry mountains, cycling, and mushroom picking (grzybobranie) in autumn forests are national pastimes. Board games and card games are popular at family gatherings. Poles are also passionate about football (piłka nożna) and ski jumping (skoki narciarskie). On weekends, many families make a "wycieczka" (trip) to the countryside or mountains.