Talking about hobbies is a great way to connect with Arabic speakers. Whether you’re discussing football (the most popular sport in the Arab world), sharing your love of photography, or talking about weekend plans, this lesson gives you the vocabulary and phrases to express yourself.
Hobbies and Interests
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| هواية | hawāya | hobby |
| رياضة | riyāḍa | sport / exercise |
| كرة قدم | kurat qadam | football (soccer) |
| كرة سلة | kurat salaa | basketball |
| كرة طاولة | kurat ṭāwila | table tennis |
| سباحة | sabāḥa | swimming |
| ركض | rakḍ | running |
| ركوب الدراجات | rukūb ad-darājāt | cycling |
| إبحار | ibḥār | sailing |
| تسلق | tasluq | climbing |
| تخييم | takhyīm | camping |
| صيد | ṣayd | hunting |
| صيد الأسماك | ṣayd al-asmāk | fishing |
| رماية | ramāya | shooting / archery |
| مبارزة | mubāraza | fencing |
| جودو | jūdō | judo |
| كاراتيه | kārātē | karate |
| يوغا | yūghā | yoga |
| تمارين | tamārīn | exercises |
Creative Hobbies
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| رسم | rasm | drawing / painting |
| تصوير | taṣwīr | photography |
| تصوير فيديو | taṣwīr fidiyū | videography |
| موسيقى | mūsīqā | music |
| العزف | al-3azf | playing (instrument) |
| الغناء | al-ghinā’ | singing |
| الرقص | ar-raqṣ | dancing |
| الخط | al-khaṭṭ | calligraphy |
| النحت | an-naḥt | sculpting |
| الحرف اليدوية | al-ḥiraf al-yadiyya | crafts |
| الخياطة | al-khayyāṭa | sewing |
| الطبخ | aṭ-ṭabkh | cooking |
| الحدائق | al-ḥadā’iq | gardening |
| القراءة | al-qirā’a | reading |
| الكتابة | al-kitāba | writing |
| التسوق | at-tasawwuq | shopping |
| السفر | as-safar | traveling |
| لعب الألعاب | la3b al-al3āb | playing games |
| المشي | al-mashy | walking |
Sports Vocabulary
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| مباراة | mubārah | match / game |
| فريق | farīq | team |
| لاعب | lā3ib | player |
| حكم | ḥakam | referee |
| ملعب | mal3ab | stadium / field |
| مسابقة | musābaqa | competition |
| بطولة | buṭūla | championship |
| ميدالية | midāliya | medal |
| كأس | ka’s | cup / trophy |
| هدف | hadaf | goal |
| تأمين | ta’meen | insurance (for sports) |
| إصابة | iṣāba | injury |
| تدريب | tadrīb | training |
| مباراة ودية | mubārah wadiyya | friendly match |
| التصفيات | at-taṣfiyāt | qualifications |
| نهائي | nihā’ī | final |
| نصف نهائي | niṣf nihā’ī | semi-final |
Expressing Likes and Dislikes
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أحب | uḥibb | I love / like |
| أكره | akrah | I hate / dislike |
| يعجبني | ya3jibnee | I like (it pleases me) |
| لا يعجبني | lā ya3jibnee | I don’t like |
| أحب كرة القدم | uḥibb kurat al-qadam | I love football |
| أكره الرياضة | akrah ar-riyāḍa | I hate sports |
| أحب السباحة | uḥibb as-sabāḥa | I love swimming |
| أحب القراءة | uḥibb al-qirā’a | I love reading |
| أحب الطبخ | uḥibb aṭ-ṭabkh | I love cooking |
| أكره التسوق | akrah at-tasawwuq | I hate shopping |
| يعجبني التصوير | ya3jibnee at-taṣwīr | I like photography |
| لا يعجبني الرسم | lā ya3jibnee ar-rasm | I don’t like drawing |
Talking About Hobbies
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ما هواياتك؟ | mā hawāyātuk? | what are your hobbies? (to a man) |
| ما هواياتكِ؟ | mā hawāyātuki? | what are your hobbies? (to a woman) |
| أحب كرة القدم | uḥibb kurat al-qadam | I love football |
| ألعب كرة قدم كل أسبوع | al3ab kurat al-qadam kull usbu3 | I play football every week |
| أمارس الرياضة يومياً | amarris ar-riyāḍa yawmiyyan | I exercise daily |
| أذهب إلى الصالة | adhhab ilā aṣ-ṣāla | I go to the gym |
| أقضي وقتي في القراءة | aqḍī waqtī fī al-qirā’a | I spend my time reading |
| أحب مشاهدة الأفلام | uḥibb mushāhadat al-aflām | I love watching movies |
| أحب الاستماع إلى الموسيقى | uḥibb al-istimā3 ilā l-mūsīqā | I love listening to music |
| أحب قضاء الوقت في الحديقة | uḥibb qaḍā’ al-waqt fī al-ḥadīqa | I love spending time in the park |
Hobbies Dialogue
Talking about hobbies
- Amā hawāyātuk?What are your hobbies?
- Buḥibb kurat al-qadam wa s-sabāḥaI love football and swimming
- Aana aydan uḥibb kurat al-qadamI also love football
- Bhal tal3ab kull usbu3?Do you play every week?
- Ana3am, ma3 aṣdiqā'ī yawm al-jumu3aYes, with my friends on Friday
- Bmā hiya hawāyatuk al-ukhrā?What is your other hobby?
- Auḥibb at-taṣwīr aydanI love photography too
- Brā'i3! yumkinuk an taṣūra lī ba3ḍ aṣ-ṣuwarGreat! You can take some photos for me
Sports Dialogue
Discussing sports
- Ahal tamarrisu ay riyāḍa?Do you practice any sport?
- Bna3am, amarrisu kurat al-qadamYes, I play football
- Afī ayy farīq?In which team?
- Bfī farīq al-ḥayyIn the neighborhood team
- Akam marra tal3ab fī l-usbu3?How many times do you play per week?
- Bthalāth marrātThree times
- Amumtāz, hal tashāhadu l-mubārāyāt aydan?Excellent, do you watch matches too?
- Bna3am, ashāhadu mubārāyāt al-muntakhabYes, I watch national team matches
Weekend Plans
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ما خطتك لعطلة نهاية الأسبوع؟ | mā khaṭṭatuk li-3iṭlat nihāyat al-usbu3? | what are your plans for the weekend? |
| أخطط للنزهة | ukhaṭṭiṭ li-n-nuzha | I’m planning a picnic |
| أذهب إلى الشاطئ | adhhab ilā sh-shāṭi’ | I go to the beach |
| أقضي الوقت مع العائلة | aqḍī al-waqt ma3 al-3ā’ila | I spend time with family |
| أشاهد فيلم جديد | ashāhadu film jadīd | I watch a new movie |
| أذهب إلى المطعم | adhhab ilā l-maṭ3am | I go to a restaurant |
| أذهب إلى النادي | adhhab ilā n-nādī | I go to the club |
| أقرأ كتاباً جديداً | aqra’ kitāban jadīdan | I read a new book |
| أتعلم شيئاً جديداً | at3allam shay’an jadīdan | I learn something new |
Cultural Notes
- Football is by far the most popular sport in the Arab world
- Many Arab countries have strong traditions in horse racing and falconry
- Gym culture is growing rapidly in Gulf countries
- Traditional sports include الفروسية (horse riding) and رمية الهدف (archery)
- Swimming and water sports are popular in coastal areas
- Chess and board games are popular social activities
- Many young people enjoy gaming and esports
- Friday is the main day for sports activities (weekend in most Arab countries)
Practice
How do you ask 'what are your hobbies?' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'ما' for 'what'
What is 'كرة قدم' in English?
hint: The most popular sport in the Arab world
How do you say 'I love swimming' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'أحب' for 'I love'
What does 'رياضة' mean?
hint: It's a broad term for physical activities
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
0 / 8Arabic
English
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