Lesson 16.2: Asking About Hobbies – What Do Italians Do for Fun? 🧠🎾🎨 #
Italians love to talk.
And guess what they love talking about (besides food)?
Their hobbies! Especially when they include dancing, traveling, or “just relaxing.”
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask someone about their hobbies, understand answers, and even disagree politely (because no, you don’t have to like fishing).
How to Ask About Hobbies 🎤 #
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Che hobby hai? | What hobbies do you have? |
| Cosa ti piace fare? | What do you like to do? |
| Cosa fai nel tempo libero? | What do you do in your free time? |
| Hai qualche passione? | Do you have a passion? |
| Qual è il tuo hobby preferito? | What’s your favorite hobby? |
How to Answer Naturally #
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Mi piace leggere. | I like reading. |
| Faccio sport il fine settimana. | I do sports on weekends. |
| Adoro viaggiare. | I love traveling. |
| Ogni tanto cucino. | I cook sometimes. |
| No, non mi piace disegnare. | No, I don’t like drawing. |
🎭 Geoff & Viktor at the Hobby Café (with English translations) #
Geoff: Cosa ti piace fare nel tempo libero?
Geoff: What do you like to do in your free time?
Viktor: Pratico karate, leggo e… mangio.
Viktor: I do karate, I read, and… I eat.
Geoff: Anche a me piace mangiare!
Geoff: I like eating too!
Viktor: Sorpresa.
Viktor: Surprise.
Geoff: Hai qualche hobby strano?
Geoff: Do you have any weird hobbies?
Viktor: Studio i manuali del CNR sugli ascensori.
Viktor: I study technical manuals about elevators.
Geoff: …Vabbè, il mio albero genealogico ora sembra normale.
Geoff: …Okay, my family tree sounds normal now.
Bonus Expressions to React #
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Davvero? | Really? |
| Anche a me! | Me too! |
| A me no. | Not me. |
| Che bello! | How nice! |
| Interessante… | Interesting… |
Practice Tip 💬 #
Try asking someone:
- Cosa ti piace fare nel tempo libero?
- Then follow up with Davvero? Anche a me! (or A me no, politely.)
Coming up next: Exercise 16.2 — Time to ask, answer, and maybe lie a little about how often you actually read.