Lesson 11.2: Talking About Hobbies and Interests – Finding Common Ground

Lesson 11.2: Talking About Hobbies and Interests – Finding Common Ground 🎨⚽📚 #

Small talk is great, but if you really want to connect with someone, talking about hobbies and interests is key. Italians are passionate people—whether it’s about football, food, or their nonna’s secret pasta recipe—so having a few phrases up your sleeve can help you find common ground and make friends for life.

1. Starting the Conversation #

Here are some go-to phrases to kick off a conversation about hobbies:

  • Cosa ti piace fare nel tempo libero?
    (What do you like to do in your free time?)

  • Hai qualche hobby?
    (Do you have any hobbies?)

  • Ti piace lo sport?
    (Do you like sports?)

  • Che tipo di musica ascolti?
    (What kind of music do you listen to?)

Tip: Italians love talking about their interests—especially if it involves food, music, or football. (And sometimes all three at once!)

2. Talking About Your Hobbies #

Use these phrases to share what you enjoy:

  • Mi piace cucinare.
    (I like cooking.)

  • Adoro leggere libri gialli.
    (I love reading mystery books.)

  • Mi piace ascoltare musica rock.
    (I like listening to rock music.)

  • Faccio sport nel tempo libero.
    (I play sports in my free time.)

  • Mi piace viaggiare e scoprire posti nuovi.
    (I like traveling and discovering new places.)

3. Asking About Someone Else’s Hobbies #

Show interest in the other person’s hobbies with these phrases:

  • Ti piace la musica?
    (Do you like music?)

  • Che sport ti piace?
    (What sport do you like?)

  • Qual è il tuo libro preferito?
    (What’s your favorite book?)

  • Ti piace cucinare?
    (Do you like cooking?)

4. Finding Common Ground #

Once you know someone’s interests, you can find things in common:

  • Anche a me piace la musica rock!
    (I also like rock music!)

  • Davvero? Anche io adoro viaggiare!
    (Really? I also love traveling!)

  • Ah, ti piace cucinare? Possiamo scambiarci ricette!
    (Oh, you like cooking? We can exchange recipes!)

Tip: Don’t fake an interest in something you don’t like. Geoff learned this the hard way when he claimed to love opera—only to be invited to a three-hour performance.

5. Example Dialogue – Geoff and Viktor Discuss Hobbies #

Scenario: Geoff and Viktor are chatting over coffee, and Geoff is trying to find common ground.

  • Geoff: Hai qualche hobby, Viktor?
    (Do you have any hobbies, Viktor?)

  • Viktor: Sì, mi piace correre e fare escursioni.
    (Yes, I like running and hiking.)

  • Geoff: Davvero? Anche a me piace camminare… ma fino al bar!
    (Really? I also like walking… but only to the bar!)

  • Viktor: Ah ah! E che altro ti piace fare nel tempo libero?
    (Haha! And what else do you like to do in your free time?)

  • Geoff: Mi piace ascoltare musica rock. Tu?
    (I like listening to rock music. You?)

  • Viktor: Adoro la musica rock! Qual è la tua band preferita?
    (I love rock music! What’s your favorite band?)

  • Geoff: The Rolling Stones!
    (The Rolling Stones!)

  • Viktor: Grande scelta! Anche io!
    (Great choice! Me too!)

Moral of the story: Finding common ground can lead to great conversations—and maybe even a new friend.

Ready to Share More About Yourself? #

Next, practice talking about your hobbies with:

✨ Keep chatting and discovering new interests—buona conversazione! 🇮🇹🎉