French Vocabulary: Hobbies, Sports, and Games

Many people have a favorite pastime or two, including sports, games, or other hobbies. Since you are studying French, learn how to talk about your favorites as you expand your vocabulary in the realm of fun activities. When you have completed this lesson, continue to expand your sports vocabulary and have even more fun.

Hobby, Sports, and Games

The specific translations for the terms hobby, sports, and games are as follows:

• Hobby > le passe-temps favoris
• Sports > des sports
• Games >  jeux

Expand your French vocabulary related to these terms by perusing the tables below. In the tables, the word is presented first in English in the left column to make it easier to find the term you need. The French translation for each term is listed in the right column. Many of the French words are linked to audio files. Simply click on the link to listen to the correct pronunciation of the term.

Sports, Games and "To Play"

Many of the terms in this section are similar to the English words with which you are already familiar. To speak about the action of playing these sports, use the verb jouer au (to play) before the name of the sport, as in:

• To play chess > jouer aux échecs
• To play basketball >  jouer au basket

English	French
basketball	le basket
football	le football américain
soccer	le football or le foot
hockey	le hockey
tennis	le tennis
chess	les échecs

Hobbies and "To Make/Do"

This next set of activities includes sports, hobbies, and other things you might do in your free time. The one thing that they have in common is that they use the verb faire (to make or to do). In most cases, you will combine the verb faire de with the noun, as in:

• To garden > faire du jardinage
• To ride a bike > faire du vélo

However, in some instances, you have the option of using a form of the noun itself when you speak about performing that activity. Those special cases are noted in the fourth column of the chart. For instance, you can say faire la cuisine or cuisiner, which both mean "to cook."

English	French Noun	Use with	Or use
biking	le cyclisme, le vélo	faire de
cooking	la cuisine	faire	cuisiner
gardening	le jardinage	faire de	jardiner
hiking	la randonnée	faire de
hunting	la chasse	faire	chasser
jogging	le jogging	faire de
reading	la lecture	faire	lire
sailing	la voile	faire
skiing	le ski	faire de	skier
swimming	la natation	faire de	nager
television (TV)	la télévision (la télé)	regarder
wrestling	la lutte	faire de	lutter

Other Hobbies and Verbs

The following activities use verbs other than jouer au and faire. The same rules apply to this set as has been discussed previously, as in this phrase:

• To go fishing >- aller à pêcher or pêcher

English	French Noun	Use with	Or use
dancing	la danse	danser
fishing	la pêche	aller à (to go)	pêcher
television (TV)	la télévision (la télé)	regarder (to watch)
a movie	un film	regarder (to watch)
music	la musique	écouter (to listen), jouer de (to play)