French Accentby Maxime
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Do you like sports, music, or maybe spending time creating something with your hands? Whatever your passions, talking about your hobbies is a fantastic and concrete way to start or continue your learning of French. This French course is specially designed for you, English speakers from beginner to intermediate level (A1-A2), and offers you a complete lesson on the topic of hobbies. So, get ready to experience French by talking about what you love!
To begin our exploration of the world of hobbies in French, it is crucial to know the basic words and expressions. We are going to organize this vocabulary by categories to facilitate your learning.
Let's start with sports. Whether you are a passionate athlete or an enthusiastic spectator, here are some common sports in French:
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Le football | Soccer/Football | Je regarde le football à la télé. |
| La natation | Swimming | Elle aime faire de la natation. |
| Le tennis | Tennis | Nous jouons au tennis le week-end |
| Le basket-ball | Basketball | Ils adorent jouer au basket-ball. |
| Le vélo | Cycling/Bike | Je fais du vélo dans le parc. |
| Le ski | Skiing | En hiver, nous allons faire du ski. |
Next, let's explore artistic and creative activities. If you like to express your creativity, these words will be useful to you:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| dessiner | to draw | peindre | to paint |
| chanter | to sing |
| danser | to dance |
| jouer d'un instrument de musique | to play a musical instrument |
| faire de la photographie | to do photography |
For example, we can say:
ou
Now let's move on to cultural activities. For those who enjoy outings and discovery, here are some examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| aller au cinéma | to go to the cinema |
| aller au théâtre | to go to the theater |
| aller à l'opéra | to go to the opera |
| visiter un musée | to visit a museum |
| écouter de la musique | to listen to music |
| lire des livres | to read books |
| voir des expositions | to see exhibitions |
We could say:
or
For moments of relaxation at home, there are many relaxation and leisure activities at home:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| regarder la télévision | to watch television |
| jouer aux jeux vidéo | to play video games |
| lire | to read |
| cuisiner | to cook |
| jardiner | to garden |
| faire du bricolage | to do DIY/crafts |
| tricoter | to knit |
For example:
or
Finally, for those who like to interact with others, here are some outings and social activities:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| sortir avec des amis | to go out with friends |
| aller au restaurant | to go to the restaurant |
| aller en boîte (de nuit) | to go clubbing |
| faire la fête | to party |
| se promener | to go for a walk |
| voyager | to travel |
We can say:
or
To express your preferences, it is essential to know the preference verbs:
These verbs can be followed by a noun or a verb in the infinitive.
For example:
or
It is also useful to know the terms "passe-temps" and "hobby". In French, "loisir" is the general term for an activity practiced during free time for pleasure. "Passe-temps" is another way of saying "loisir," literally something that makes time pass pleasantly. "Hobby" is a word of English origin, also used in French, to designate an interest or activity to which one devotes time and effort.
Now that we have explored the vocabulary, let's look at some essential grammar rules for talking about your hobbies.
A fundamental aspect of French grammar is the use of definite and indefinite articles. Definite articles (le, la, l', les) are used to talk about something specific or general.
For example:
Indefinite articles (un, une, des) are used to talk about something non-specific.
For example:
In the plural, we can say:
It is important to note that after the negation, the indefinite article "des" becomes "de".
For example:
To talk about your hobbies, you will frequently use certain key verbs in the present indicative tense, notably aimer, faire, and jouer.
Here is their conjugation:
| Verb “Aimer” | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | j'aime | nous aimons |
| 2nd person | tu aimes | vous aimez |
| 3rd person | il/elle/on aime | ils/elles aiment |
| Verb “Faire” | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | je fais | nous faisons |
| 2nd person | tu fais | vous faites |
| 3rd person | il/elle/on fait | ils/elles font |
| Verb “Jouer” | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | je joue | nous jouons |
| 2nd person | tu joues | vous jouez |
| 3rd person | il/elle/on joue | ils/elles jouent |
The verb "aimer" is often followed by a verb in the infinitive or by a noun.
For example:
or
It is crucial to understand the difference between using the verbs "faire" and "jouer" when talking about hobbies. In general, we use "faire" followed by the preposition "de" to talk about sports, music (instruments), and activities in general.
example:
The verb "jouer" is used with the preposition "à" for team sports or games.
For example:
However, for musical instruments, we use "jouer" followed by the preposition "de".
For example:
👩 Sophie : Salut Thomas ! Comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ?
🧑Thomas : Salut Sophie, je vais bien, merci. Et toi ?
👩Sophie : Ça va super. Dis-moi, qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire quand tu as du temps libre ?
🧑Thomas : Moi, j'aime beaucoup jouer au basket-ball avec mes amis . Et toi, quels sont tes loisirs préférés ?
👩Sophie : J'adore dessiner et peindre . C'est vraiment relaxant pour moi.
🧑Thomas : Ah, c'est cool ! Tu dessines quoi en général ?
👩Sophie : Souvent des paysages ou des portraits. Et toi, tu joues au basket souvent ?
🧑Thomas : Oui, on essaie de se retrouver au moins deux fois par semaine. J'aime aussi écouter de la musique, surtout du rap .
👩Sophie : C'est intéressant. Moi, en plus du dessin, j'aime beaucoup lire des romans .
🧑Thomas : Tu lis quel genre de romans ?
👩Sophie : J'aime les histoires fantastiques et les romans d'aventure. Et toi, tu regardes des séries ou des films ?
🧑Thomas : Je regarde pas mal de séries sur Netflix . J'aime bien les séries policières.
👩Sophie : Ah oui, c'est prenant ! Bon, Thomas, je dois aller aider ma mère. À bientôt !
🧑Thomas : Salut Sophie, à plus tard !
Connect the French word to its English translation.
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Le football 1 Dessiner 2 Aller au cinéma 3 Lire 4 Faire du vélo 5 |
A To go to the cinema B To draw C To read D Soccer/Football E To cycle/To bike |
Choose the correct definite or indefinite article to complete the following sentences:
Select the correct verb (faire, jouer, or aimer) to complete the sentences:
Write two or three simple sentences in French about your own hobbies using the vocabulary and grammar that you have learned in this lesson.
To truly master the French language, try to integrate it into your daily activities, especially those you already enjoy. If you like cooking, look for recipes in French and try to follow French cooking channels on YouTube. If you are passionate about sports, watch matches with French commentators. For music lovers, discover French-speaking artists in your favorite genres and try to understand the lyrics. You can also search for online communities or forums in French that deal with your interests, which will give you the opportunity to practice the language by communicating with other people. Even when you are practicing your hobbies, try to think of the corresponding French words. For example, if you are gardening, try to name the plants in French. This gradual and natural immersion is an effective and enjoyable way to learn French.
Exercise 1:
Exercise 2:
Exercise 3:
Exercise 4:
Example answer: J'aime lire des livres et faire du vélo le week-end. Je n'aime pas jouer au football.
Congratulations! You have completed this lesson on hobbies in French and you now have the basics to talk about what you like to do. Remember that the key to success in learning a language is regular practice. Continue to explore vocabulary, familiarize yourself with grammar, and above all, try to use French as often as possible in your daily life. If you wish to go further and benefit from personalized support, do not hesitate to explore the individual courses available on the Blog. See you soon for new adventures in French!
And if you want to go further, why not book a personalized course for tailored support? Good luck and see you soon for new lessons!